River Beal

The River Beal at Firgrove

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