Flooded pit at Tividale

Image: © Richard Law Taken: 7 Oct 2011

This appears to be a feature once known as Rattlechain Lagoon (or 'The Chemical Pool'), located on the site of the Rattlechain brickworks, and used for a period from the 1940s up to the late 1960s by local firms (most notably the chemical manufacturers Albright and Wilson) for the licensed disposal of soda ash and white phosporous. That particular firm had manufactured chemical weapons for both wars, including grenades, shells and flares. The waste arrived by barge from their works at Oldbury, the contract for its carriage being awarded to the local bargee firm of Alfred Matty of Coseley. Reports by the end of the '60s refer to a build-up of 'light grey silt just below the water level', which would tie in with soda residues. A number of dead and dying swans and other waterbirds have been found on the pool, so it's probably not an ideal place for a summer swim, then.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0