Mossland Reclamation and Refuse Disposal in the Manchester area in the nineteenth century

Abstract

Mossland reclamation is a distinctive feature in the formation of the English cultural landscape. Most mosslands were reclaimed purely for agricultural purposes. Manchester's growth in the later nineteenth century brought acute problems of refuse disposal. Carrington and Chat Mosses were acquired by Manchester Corporation for the dumping of that refuse. Between 1886 and 1910, the two mosses absorbed 20 per cent of all refuse. At the same time, but originally less important these two mosslands were converted into agricultural land. The reclamation of Carrington and Chat Mosses is a fine example of the influence of towns in the nineteenth century on the agricultural development of their hinterlands.