Waterswallows

Waterswallows is a rural-industrial locality on the outskirts of Buxton, in High Peak, Derbyshire, England. Located to the northeast of the town centre, it is known for its historical quarrying activity with the Waterswallows Quarry, distinctive geology and industrial facilities including the Nestlé Waters bottling plant where Buxton water is bottled, it has multiple Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designations related to its basalt intrusion and natural history.

History and etymology

The name Waterswallows likely refers to the area's limestone hydrology, where streams disappear underground through swallets or sinkholes—common features in karst landscapes, It likely references a swallow-hole or spring where water disappears underground into the local Carboniferous limestone. The area was historically agricultural and part of the wider Fairfield district. By the 19th century, Waterswallows included small holdings and infrastructure such as a Wesleyan Methodist chapel built in 1868 on Waterswallows road which later served as a local board hall for the area.

Archaeological surveys conducted in 2011–2012 during the building of the Nestle bottling facility and in 2018 during an extension of the facility revealed evidence of Mesolithic and Neolithic human activity, including stone tools and pit features, indicating that Waterswallows was occupied long before recorded history.

In the 20th century, Waterswallows Quarry became a key industrial site. It extracted basalt (dolerite) from an igneous intrusion for use in construction and road-building. The quarry was eventually abandoned and partially flooded, though the rock faces remain exposed and scientifically significant.

Geology, ecology and conservation

Waterswallows lies on the White Peak limestone plateau. The standout geological feature is the Waterswallows Sill, a dolerite intrusion that cuts through the surrounding Carboniferous limestone. This formation, along with other features of the disused quarry, led to its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Natural England for its geological importance.

In addition to its scientific value, the former quarry and surrounding land have become ecologically significant. Wildflower meadows and tree-planting efforts including through conservation partnerships with Nestlé Waters UK have supported a range of native wildlife including meadow pipits, red-tailed bumblebees, and six-spot burnet moths. The flooded quarry has also become a popular, unofficial location for wild swimming and walking; this has included people "tombstoning", which could be regarded as dangerous.

Industry and infrastructure

In 2013, Nestlé Waters UK opened a bottling and warehousing plant on Waterswallows Lane to produce Buxton Natural Mineral Water. The facility is noted for its sustainable design and energy efficiency, certified ‘Excellent’ by BREEAM.

A short distance from the factory, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK operates a large integrated waste management site. Established in 2007 under contract with Derbyshire County Council, it includes a waste transfer station, in-vessel composting plant, and household waste recycling centre, serving Buxton and much of the High Peak district,