River Croal

The River Croal at Little Lever

The River Croal is a river in Lancashire and a tributary of the River Irwell.

Rising at the confluence of Middle Brook and Deane Church Brook, the Croal flows eastwards through Bolton, collecting Gilnow Brook and the larger River Tonge at Darcy Lever. Most of the river is culverted through Bolton town centre, running under Knowsley Street; Market Place and Bridge Street.

Before 1836 the River Croal formed the boundary between the townships of Great Bolton and Little Bolton.

The river's name is derived from the Old English croh and wella, the winding stream. It was possibly originally called the 'Middlebrook' along its entire length as early references mention the Mikelbrok, (from mycel broc, meaning "great stream" but not the Croal.

The Croal meets the Irwell at Nob End, Kearsley after a total course of around ten miles.

Tributaries

• Doe Hey Brook (R)
  • Will Hill Brook
• Blackshaw Brook (L)
• River Tonge
  • Bradshaw Brook
  • Astley Brook
  • Eagley Brook
• Middle Brook (Ls)
  • Bessey Brook
  • Knutshaw Brook (R)
• Deane Church Brook (Rs)

Outside links

• Bolton Museums, River Croal Photographs
• Snake Oil UE, River Croal Culverts

References

• Mills, David (1976), The Placenames of Lancashire, Batsford, ISBN 0-7134-5236-6