Queen Adelaide Pits

Queen Adelaide Pits lie to the east of the river and Adelaide Way. They are very important for wetland birds including bittern, marsh harrier, bearded tits, hobbies and a variety of wildfowl.The pits are in private ownership but can be viewed from Adelaide Way.

Queen Adelaide Pits are known to older residents as the Beet Factory Settling Ponds. What is now the Potter site at Queen Adelaide was a sugar beet factory until May 1981. Sugar beet were washed prior to processing and the muddy water pumped into the pits so the soil particles could settle before water was released into the river. Later in the processing lime was used.

You can listen to this and other stories about the settling ponds, past and present Memories of Ely Pits and Meadows.