Recovery
After 22 years, the chalk quarry closed 1931, leaving the navvy
abandoned where it stood. It was felt at the time too costly to recover,
and others since had abandoned the venture also finding the costs of
salvaging the machine prohibitive.
Contrary to what some might say, that the quarry ‘filled up over
night’ – it actually took two years to fill, and then just the top of the
jib and part of the boiler were visible above the water line, once the
water level had risen. Minerals from the chalk and clay in the water
made it deep blue in colour, giving rise to the local name of the pit –
The Blue Lagoon.
For many years the 306 was a feature of the lake, with a
local sailing club using it as a marker to sail around. The pit also
attracted divers, fishermen and summer bathers to the local
‘beauty spot’, the latter even used the