The Dumbreck Marsh site is practically unrecognisable from what the site looked like 50+ years ago. The site previously had a long association with farming and mining and to a lesser extent textile weaving.
Weaving
Textile weaving was a cottage industry in the surrounding area outside of the reserve but we understand water upstream was diverted to the mills for use by the weavers.
Farming
Some areas were farmed up at Dumbreck until the 1970s and although no real remnants of this era remain it is remembered fondly by many residents. Some seasonal cattle grazing still takes place but the animals are walked onto site and are limited to a specific area to prevent them from damaging habitats.
Mining
During the time when the mines were in operation there were buildings, railway tracks, coal working machinery and other structures, although long gone some features of this past use can still be seen.
