REGARDING the sorry state of Jack's Key Lodge in Darwen (LET, August 9), there was no need to empty it as it was always a popular place to spend a Sunday.

I and many more Darreners have many happy hours swimming in the lodge.

In fact, it was a reservoir and used to have boats on it. It was the place to go - if it was sunny.

Lots of Darreners spent a lot of time on 'Sandy Bay.' We used to paddle in the lake and fish in it. It was like Blackpool sands.

To walk round the lodge was a treat - round 'Nelson's Bay' then over the fields up Cranberry Fold.

It is only since poor little Darwen got involved with Blackburn that it's history has been destroyed.

Another reason the lodge was emptied was that Dimmock's paper mill - Darwen Paper Company - which closed down in 1970, used the water for their mill.

G PILKINGTON (Mr), St Michael's Court, Daisyfield, Blackburn.

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