Lost wartime decoy reappears at Rochdale reservoir during drought

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 19:30

By David Murphy

A rare glimpse of a submerged World War Two relic has resurfaced at Warland Reservoir above Rochdale, sparking fresh curiosity and historical intrigue among local residents and walkers.

Low water levels at Warland Reservoir have once again revealed the decaying remains of a mysterious sunken boat, believed to be one of three boats used during the Second World War to stop enemy aircraft from landing.

According to local lore, the skeletal frame, partially visible during periods of drought, belongs to a wartime defence strategy thought to have been implemented in the 1940s. The story goes that three boats were bound together using cables and intentionally sunk to deter German seaplanes from using the reservoir as a makeshift landing strip or tactical refuelling point.

While there is no official record confirming the tale, the boat’s sudden reappearance after years underwater has reignited interest in Rochdale’s wartime history. The remains are only visible when water levels are unusually low, and locals say the last time they were spotted was during the dry summer of 2018.

In the years since, the remnants have deteriorated further, with the wood and metal visibly eroding with time and weather. Still, for many who walk the high moors around Warland and the Pennine Way, it remains a haunting and tangible reminder of how even remote reservoirs were part of Britain’s wartime preparations.

Ian Lord, who runs the popular ‘Rambling Around Rochdale’ Facebook page, first flagged the boat’s reappearance to Roch Valley Radio.

The reservoir, managed by United Utilities, has been impacted by recent dry spells, with long stretches of exposed stone and earth revealing more of the hidden history below the surface.

While there are no current plans to formally excavate or investigate the site, local historians say the story underlines how the Rochdale area played a quiet but critical role in wartime infrastructure.

While no official records have yet confirmed the tactic, the story has been passed down through generations and resurfaces whenever the remains become visible during periods of drought, and this information is available on multiple websites.

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