River Beal
The Beal is a small river in Lancashire, and is a tributary of the River Roch. It rises in the Beal Valley in green space between Sholver and Royton, before continuing northwards through Shaw and Crompton, Newhey, Milnrow and Belfield.
Course
From its source at Beal Valley, it flows north through Shaw and Crompton, soon joined by Old Brook and Pencil Brook as tributaries. It continues north through Newhey and Milnrow before joining the River Roch at Belfield.
In part, the river forms a boundary between Oldham on one side and Royton and Shaw and Crompton on the other.[1]
History
The name Beal is said to come from the old British language word "Bel" meaning "raging torrent". That does not describe the river today.
1212 : The Beal valley was recorded as part of the thegnage estate of Kaskenmoor, held on behalf of King John by Roger de Montbegon and William de Nevill.[2]
1892 : Ellenroad Cotton Mill was built on the bank of the Beal, and made fine cotton yarn by mule spinning.[3]
During operation of a bleaching and dying works, discharge to the river of used dyes and waste would cause it to change colour from one day to another.[4]
c. 1997 : Littlewoods PLC changed the course of the river slightly to allow development of their Shaw National Distribution Warehouse Centre.
2005 : Raw sewage was discharged to the river, killing thousands of fish and raising health fears among local residents.[5]
Tributaries
- Butterworth Hall Brook
- Piethorne Brook
- Jubilee Brook
- Old Brook
- Leornardin Brook
- Pencil Brook
- Besom Hill Brook
- Fullwood Brook
- Hodge Brook
Pictures
-
The River Beal is sourced from the Beal Valley, between Oldham and Shaw and Crompton -
Infancy in Higginshaw -
Jubilee, Shaw -
Looking downstream from Bentgate, Newhey -
Between the M62 and A640 culverts -
Downstream from Bridge Street -
View from Ashes Lane, Milnrow -
Upstream from Firgrove -
Confluence with River Roch
References
- ↑ A History of the County of Lancaster - Volume pp 92–108: {{{2}}} (Victoria County History)
- ↑ A History of the County of Lancaster - Volume pp 108–12: {{{2}}} (Victoria County History)
- ↑ Ellenroad Steam Museum
- ↑ Mersey Basin Campaign. "Local Action / Action Irk & Roch". merseybasin.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20070814055616/http://www.merseybasin.org.uk/page.asp?id=2864. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
- ↑ 'Leak turns Beal into dead river' - Manchester Evening News, 3 August 2005