Drinkwater Park

Drinkwater Park is an urban park set along the Irwell Valley, notable for a disused railway viaduct with 13 monolithic stone arches. A long narrow reservoir runs through its center, crossed by flat, well-maintained pathways.

The land was owned by Peter Drinkwater, a Manchester textile mill operator who built Irwell House in 1790. The property passed to local councils in 1902.

The site is part of the Kingfisher Trail, where visitors can spot kingfishers at Damshead Lodge and various birds of prey near the viaduct. These bird populations have adapted to the water features and historic structures, shaping what people notice when walking through the grounds.

The park can be accessed through Park Lane in Whitefield or Buckley Lane in Prestwich, with flat, quality paths particularly available from the Buckley Lane entrance. The level walkways make the grounds accessible to visitors of varying mobility.

Damshead Lodge was hand-dug in the 1780s and contains a deep overflow drain shaft resembling a submerged mill chimney, around 15 meters (50 feet) deep. This hidden water engineering detail is a rare glimpse of early industrial water management.

Location: Bury

GPS coordinates: 53.52111,-2.29889

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:02