 Up to 2,000 labourers were engaged at any one time.The result was successful for about 60 years, but in 1755, five years after the lease had expired, the sea broke in, almost destroying all that had been done.In 1781, draining operations were resumed by Thomas Eccleston of Scarisbrick but it was not until after the middle of the 19th century that Sir Peter Hesketh succeeded in converting the tract of fertile land to profitable use.