Hollingworth Lake in Manchester is haunted by the chilling memory of a drowned village, fatal tragedies and eerie sightings, writes GEMMA JOHNSON
Hollingworth Lake is technically a reservoir created in 1800 to serve as a water supply for the Rochdale Canal, which was constructed in 1804.
It can hold 400 gallons of water and became a popular tourist attraction for Victorians due to the development of the nearby railway connecting Manchester, Bradford and Leeds.
Today, it continues to be a popular way to spend leisure time, indulging in food, long walks and water sports.
On a beautiful sunny day, the lake is packed with families, with the sound of laughter, barking dogs and the chime of ice cream vans providing the soundtrack.
However, beneath the calm waters of the lake, beyond the family fun, lie darker tales that send a shiver down the spine.
When the lake was being planned, it was decided that a rural location would be most suitable; however, there was a small farming village situated on the proposed site.
The owners were compensated and relocated, leaving the buildings empty.
Rather than remove them, they were flooded when the lake was filled.
It is an eerie thought: right at the centre of the lake, the deepest part, sit old and decaying buildings.
During severe drought conditions, such as those in 1934, the structures emerge from the depths of the lake, revealing a ghostly village.
The lake is 24 feet at its deepest.
The waters are dark, and many different forms of wildlife have made them their home.
What is the Roch-Ness Monster?
One of these is a strange creature referred to as the Roch-Ness Monster, which washed up on the shores of the lake in 2015.
It was five feet in length and had a full mouth of razor-sharp teeth, capable of piercing flesh.
There are two schools of thought on the discovery.
Some believe that it is a pike, a species of fish known to inhabit the lake.
Others say that pike only grow to four feet in length; this was much larger and so must be a prehistoric creature that found its way into the lake.
Regardless of belief, people became far more cautious about entering the water following the discovery.
Tragedy surrounds Hollingworth Lake
There are many tragic tales that surround the lake, leading to stories of a more ghostly variety.
The first relates to an accident involving a horse and cart in 1869.
Returning from Todmorden, two young ladies were enjoying the journey home.
Upon reaching the shores of the lake, the horse saw something that made it panic.
It reared up on its hind legs and, in doing so, the cart shifted so that it backed towards the lake.
Still spooked, the horse began to move backwards, and the cart fell into the water.
The wheels continued turning, drawing it into the deeper waters of the lake, with the young ladies trapped inside and unable to escape.
Their screams echoed across the still, dark waters.
Local legend claims that the panicked horse, the crashing cart and those same screams can still be heard.
Drownings have become part of the lake’s history, with many documented across its 200-year past.
Many of the accidents occurred during the Victorian era due to a lack of safety measures.
In winter during the 1850s, the lake froze over.
Crowds flocked to witness the spectacle and to walk upon the ice.
However, the ice was not as thick as believed.
With hundreds of people gathering on the surface, disaster followed.
The ice cracked in the centre of the lake.
Hearing the noise, many were able to flee, but some were not so fortunate.
Several people fell into the icy water, becoming trapped beneath the surface.
Haunting screams heard coming from lake
Locals report hearing screams and cries during the winter months, as though the lake is replaying the tragedy.
Boating has long been a popular pastime at the lake, never more so than during the Victorian era.
Families would gather in boats of different shapes and sizes, enjoying the gentle breeze and scenery.
However, the lake would quickly become overcrowded, creating dangerous conditions.
In 1861, two boats collided, capsizing and sinking into the lake.
Five people lost their lives in that incident.
Figures have been spotted beneath the water, waving their hands as though signalling for help.
They vanish without a trace.
Hollingworth Lake is a classic example of not judging a book by its cover.
On the surface, it is an idyllic, picturesque spot to spend a summer’s day.
Yet beneath that surface lie darker tales waiting to be told.
