An Earth Dam to protect Middlesbrough

In the 1970s, Marton Westbeck underwent a transformation to become a flood defence system for the growing town of Middlesbrough. The beck  (stream) was widened, and a man-made island was created. This, along  with the construction of a low earth dam with a spillway, resulted in  the formation of a flood defense lake. This transformation not only  secured the town from flooding but also breathed new life into the  former ornamental garden of Gunnergate Hall, turning it into a verdant  oasis between Marton and Coulby Newham.