The Beck

The Beck is an artesian spring-fed pond that sits between the churches of St Mary’s and St Peter’s and is said to have been used by St Chad for baptisms. The Beck has been the centre of debate throughout its history and a major concern for Barton Civic Society. In the early 1970s, The Beck was very dry in the summer months and many were concerned that the artesian springs would not flow again. A plan was drawn up to encourage water retention within the Beck that included ideas proposed by Chad Varah and Phillip Pape.

In 1979, the local council was considering various courses of action with respect to the Beck. The pond was empty in summer months and considered unsightly However, before any work could be undertaken, The Beck’s springs returned with great force in the early months of 1980, causing a severe flooding risk to local housing. Water had to be pumped out of The Beck at great speed, into the sewer at Beck Hill. The amount of water being pumped out of The Beck at this time was up to 2,600 gallons per minute; equal to around 23,640 bottles of water!

Currently Barton Civic Society and North Lincolnshire Council have an ongoing initiative to restore the Beck and create a feature that benefits the town of Barton.