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River Irwell
River
none The River Irwell at Salford, looking towards Manchester City Centre
The River Irwell at Salford, looking towards Manchester City Centre
Country England
Tributaries
 - left Croal
 - right Roch, Irk, Medlock
Source
 - location Cliviger, Lancashire
Mouth
 - location River Mersey, Salford
Discharge for Adelphi Weir
 - average 17. Salford lies at the heart of the City of Salford, a Metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. Manchester City Centre is the Central business district of both Manchester and Greater Manchester, in North West England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The River Croal is a River located in Greater Manchester, England. The River Roch (pronounced "roach" is a River in Greater Manchester in North West England, a tributary of the River Irwell that The River Medlock is a River of Greater Manchester in north west England that flows for 10 miles before joining the River Irwell in central Cliviger is a small village and Civil parish in Lancashire, England, within the borough of Burnley. Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea See also Mersey River (Tasmania and Mersey River (Nova Scotia. Salford lies at the heart of the City of Salford, a Metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. 72 m³/s (626 cu ft/s)

The River Irwell is a river in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in England. CM3 redirects here If you were looking for the 3rd game in the Cooking Mama series abbreviated as CM3 see here. The second ( SI symbol s) sometimes abbreviated sec, is the name of a unit of Time, and is the International System of Units The cubic foot is an imperial and US customary (non- metric) unit of Volume, used in the United States Canada and the United Kingdom The second ( SI symbol s) sometimes abbreviated sec, is the name of a unit of Time, and is the International System of Units "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea Greater Manchester is a Metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2 England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland It is one of several rivers that helped facilitate the Industrial Revolution in North West England and thus became the first river in the world to be polluted by industry. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the North West England is one of the nine official Regions of England.

The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, about 1. 5 miles (2. 4 km) north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire. Bacup is a town within the Rossendale borough of Lancashire, England. Cliviger is a small village and Civil parish in Lancashire, England, within the borough of Burnley. The Irwell flows through (and separates) the city centres of Manchester and Salford, before joining the River Mersey. Salford lies at the heart of the City of Salford, a Metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. See also Mersey River (Tasmania and Mersey River (Nova Scotia.

Contents

Course

The River Irwell is about 39 miles (63 km) in length. [1] Rising on the moors above Cliviger the Irwell flows south through Bacup, Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom and Bury before merging with the River Roch near Radcliffe. Cliviger is a small village and Civil parish in Lancashire, England, within the borough of Burnley. Bacup is a town within the Rossendale borough of Lancashire, England. Rawtenstall (pronounced "Rottenstall" ˈrɒtənˌstɔːl or ˈrɒʔnˌstɔːl is a town at the centre of the Rossendale Valley, in Lancashire, Ramsbottom is a small town on the border of Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England. Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, north-northwest of the city of Manchester, west-southwest of The River Roch (pronounced "roach" is a River in Greater Manchester in North West England, a tributary of the River Irwell that Radcliffe is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. Turning west it is joined by the River Croal near Farnworth and runs south east through Kearsley, Clifton and Agecroft then meanders around Lower Broughton and Kersal, Salford Crescent and the centre of Manchester, joining the rivers Irk and Medlock. The River Croal is a River located in Greater Manchester, England. Farnworth is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. Kearsley (or archaically Kersley) is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England Clifton is a small town within the Metropolitan district of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse also known as an oxbow loop or simply an Oxbow. Broughton is an Inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. Kersal is an Inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England The River Medlock is a River of Greater Manchester in north west England that flows for 10 miles before joining the River Irwell in central Again turning west, from Salford, it meets the Mersey south of Irlam, where the route of the river was altered in the late 19th century to form part of the course of the Manchester Ship Canal. Irlam is a town within the Metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. The Manchester Ship Canal is a wide long river navigation in North West England, opened on 21 May 1894

Natural History

Before the Industrial Revolution the Irwell was well stocked with fish, and the people who lived in the houses near Manchester Cathedral drew flagons of water from it for drinking and other domestic purposes. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the Manchester Cathedral is a Medieval church located on Victoria Street in central Manchester and is the seat of the Bishop of Manchester. However, in the 19th century chemicals from the expanding industries poured into the river in increasing amounts. These pollutants were fatal to fish, the last of which were seen about 1850. [2]

The Irwell flowing past The Cliff through Kersal Dale Country Park
The Irwell flowing past The Cliff through Kersal Dale Country Park

Despite its industrial past, fish stocks in the River Irwell are improving and brown trout are becoming an increasingly common sight. Fish stocks are subpopulations of a particular Species of Fish, for which intrinsic parameters (growth recruitment mortality and fishing mortality are The brown trout ( Salmo trutta morpha fario and S trutta morpha lacustris) and the sea trout ( S Coarse fish now predominate throughout the river's course and beyond into the Manchester Ship Canal. Coarse fishing is an angling method mostly popular throughout the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. The Manchester Ship Canal is a wide long river navigation in North West England, opened on 21 May 1894 Water fowl, herons and cormorants are also resident on the river. The herons are wading Birds in the Ardeidae family Some are called Egrets or Bitterns instead of herons The Bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 Species of cormorants and shags. New problems became apparent with the redevelopment of the Salford Quays area of the Manchester Ship Canal. Salford Quays is an area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. The Manchester Ship Canal is a wide long river navigation in North West England, opened on 21 May 1894 Years of runoff from sewers and roads had accumulated in the slow running waters of this area and decomposition of the organic matter was causing oxygen depletion of the water. For other uses of the term "hypoxia" see Hypoxia. Hypoxia or oxygen depletion is a phenomenon that occurs in aquatic environments In 2001 a compressed air injection system was introduced, which raised the oxygen levels in the water by up to 300%. The resulting improvement in water quality has led to an increase in the number of invertebrate species, such as freshwater shrimp, to more than 30. True shrimp are swimming decapod Crustaceans classified in the Infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh Spawning and growth rates of fish species such as roach and perch have also increased to such an extent that they are now amongst the highest in England. Spawning is the production or depositing of large quantities of eggs in water Perca is the genus of fish referred to as perch or sometimes yellow perch, a group of freshwater Fish belonging to the family Percidae England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland [3]

Two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are located close to the banks of the Irwell where it flows through Moses Gate Country Park, between Prestolee and Little Lever. Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of the Sites Moses Gate Country Park also known as Crompton Lodges ( National Grid Ref SD 749063) is a 300 Hectare (750 Acre) site situated at Moses Gate Prestolee is a small village within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. Little Lever is a large village within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. The first is Nob End, an 8. 8 hectare (21. 7 acre) site which has been designated because of its biological interest, based on the predominance of flora typical of limestone grassland including some nationally rare herbs and orchids. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Grasslands (also called greenswards) are areas where the Vegetation is dominated by Grasses ( Poaceae) and other Herbaceous (non-woody Nob End is also designated as a Local Nature Reserve. A Local Nature Reserve or LNR is a Statutory designation made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by principal This alkaline soil habitat was formed by the dumping of toxic alkaline waste from the Leblanc process between 1850 and 1870, which subsequently weathered into calcium carbonate, permitting the establishment of chalk-loving vegetation. The Leblanc process was the industrial process for the production of soda ash ( Sodium carbonate) used throughout the 19th century named after its inventor Nicolas Calcium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula Ca[[Carbon C]] O 3 Limestone grassland is not normally found in Greater Manchester, and many of these species are not found elsewhere in the county. [4][5] The second site is Ashclough, a site of geological interest that is described below in the Geology section. These two SSSIs are among the 21 found in Greater Manchester. Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of the Sites

In Salford the river flows through Clifton Country Park and Kersal Dale Country Park, both of which have been designated as a Local Nature Reserves (LNRs). Clifton Country Park is a Local Nature Reserve in the Irwell Valley at Clifton Greater Manchester, Salford, Greater Manchester A Local Nature Reserve or LNR is a Statutory designation made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by principal [6]

Geology

A tributary of the Irwell flowing over the new red sandstone at Clifton
A tributary of the Irwell flowing over the new red sandstone at Clifton

The Irwell is all that remains of the shallow seas that covered most of south-east Lancashire in the Upper Carboniferous era when deposits of mud and sand were laid down. Clifton is a small town within the Metropolitan district of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian period about 359 These later became beds of shales and sandstones alternating with layers of gritstone. Shale (also called mudstone) is a fine-grained Sedimentary rock whose original constituents were Clay minerals or Muds It is characterized by Sandstone is a Sedimentary rock composed mainly of Sand -size Mineral or rock grains. Gritstone — otherwise called Millstone grit — is a Sedimentary rock composed of coarse sand grains with inclusions of small stones There are also beds of new red sandstone and Manchester Marls. The New Red Sandstone is a chiefly British geological term for the beds of red sandstone laid throughout the Permian (280 million years ago to the beginning Marl or Marlstone is a Calcium carbonate or lime -rich mud or Mudstone which contains variable amounts of Clays and Aragonite [7] The glaciers of the Pleistocene period further shaped the landscape and then retreated, leaving behind deposits of sand, pebbles and boulder clay that formed the fluvioglacial ridges of the Irwell Valley. "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period Boulder clay, in Geology, is a deposit of Clay, often full of boulders which is formed in and beneath Glaciers and ice-sheets wherever they are found but Fluvioglacial landforms are Landforms moulded by glacial meltwater The Irwell Valley extends from the Forest of Rossendale in North West England through to the cities of Salford and Manchester. [8] Ashclough, a 5. 8 hectare (14. 3 acre) site which comprises the steep banks of the river between Prestolee and Little Lever, has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its geological interest, primarily because it is the best site in the area displaying Ashcough Marine Band and its associated strata. Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of the Sites Marine band is a Geological term for a bed of rock, commonly black or dark grey shale containing an abundance of Fossils of marine Organisms Ashclough is a site of national importance for interpreting the coal measure paleogeography of Great Britain. [9]

History

The River Irwell divides the cities of Salford and Manchester.
The River Irwell divides the cities of Salford and Manchester. The City of Salford is a Local government district of Greater Manchester, England with the status of a city and Metropolitan borough.
The Irwell at night
The Irwell at night

The origins of the name Irwell are uncertain but many accept the Anglo-Saxon origin: Ere-well, meaning "hoar or white spring". [10]

The first known human settlements were those of the Celtic tribe, the Brigantes, who farmed the uplands and lower reaches of the river. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts The Brigantes were a Celtic tribe who in pre-Roman times controlled the largest section of Northern England and a significant part of the Midlands In 79 AD the Romans conquered these tribes, built forts at the confluences of the Irwell and the rivers Irk and Medlock, calling the town Mamucium. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The River Medlock is a River of Greater Manchester in north west England that flows for 10 miles before joining the River Irwell in central [11] They also built a ford with rectangular stone blocks at Cornbrook, which is thought to be the first man-made structure to span the river. [12] and built their villas along the river. For four hundred years the Pax Romana brought peace but the Romans withdrew in 410 AD leaving the tribes to be overun by the Saxons who renamed the town Manigceastre. Pax Romana ( Latin for " Roman Peace " was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes. The Danes seized and all but destroyed Manigceastre and the tribes were dispersed or absorbed by the Danes. The Danelaw ruled until 920 AD when the Norsemen were expelled by Edward the Elder. The Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (also known as the Danelagh; Old English: Dena lagu; Danish: Edward the Elder ( Old English: Ēadweard se Ieldra) (c 870 &ndash 17 July 924) was King of England (899 &ndash [13][14]

In the Middle Ages the town, which was now known as Manceastre (later to be known as Manchester), grew and prospered and trading vessels plied along the river. [15]

During the Industrial Revolution factories, mills and terraced hovels grew up along the river banks. Edward Corbett, the Borough Engineer of Salford wrote in his book The River Irwell published in 1907, that his father had told him that, about 1819, he had seen from the New Bailey bridge, (now Albert Bridge) in the centre of Manchester "large shoals of fish, chiefly gudgeon but also other fish, were rising to the flies. " Such chemicals as gas-tar, gas-lime and ammonia water were fatal to the fish stocks and by 1850 they had all disappeared. In 1860 the Irwell was described as "almost proverbial for the foulness of its waters; receiving the refuse of cotton factories, coal mines,print works, bleach works, dye works,chemical works, paper works, almost every kind of industry. "[16]

Since the late 19th century many attempts have made to improve the quality of the water in the Irwell. In 1891 the Mersey and Irwell Joint Committee was formed. This body ordered local authorities to provide sewage treatment facilities and industrial concerns were told to use the best practical means of preventing pollution. Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing Contaminants from Wastewater, both Runoff ( Effluents In 1939 this body was superseded by the Lancashire Rivers Board, but wartime conditions brought about further deterioration of the river. In 1951 the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act was passed and this board disappeared to be replaced by the Mersey River Board, which was replaced in turn by the Mersey and Weaver River Authority in 1965. In 1974 all the river authorities were merged into the Regional Water Authorities. [17] Since then there has been a gradual improvement in water quality,[18] and today wildlife is returning to the Irwell.

Mark Addy

One of the most famous characters associated with the river was Mark Addy, who lived in a tenement in The Parsonage near Blackfriars Bridge in Manchester, known as Stage Buildings. His father owned several racing boats and pleasure craft for hire on the river and, even before he learned to swim, young Mark had already saved two people from the water, one by floating out on a plank and the other by wading up to his neck in the river. He became a strong swimmer and, after he married, acquired a tavern on the Salford side of the river. Salford lies at the heart of the City of Salford, a Metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. Whenever anyone was in difficulties the cry would go up "Bring Mark Addy" and he would race to rescue them. He was awarded a number of medals including the gold and silver medals from the Humane Society for the Hundred of Salford, and the Royal Humane Society's bronze medal. The hundred of Salford was an ancient division of the historic county of Lancashire, in Northern England. The Royal Humane Society was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering "first aid" In 1878 he became the only civilian ever to be awarded the Albert Medal (first class), the predecessor of the Victoria Cross. This article describes the Albert Medal for Lifesaving. For the Albert Medal for distinguished merit in promoting Arts Manufactures and Commerce See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since [19]

His last rescue was on Whit Monday 1889, when he saved a young boy from the river. Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday (also known as Monday of the Holy Spirit) is the Holiday celebrated the day after Pentecost, a Movable feast He died of tuberculosis the following year, at the age of 51, by which time he had rescued over 50 people from the river. [19] There is a large memorial to him in Weaste Cemetry, Salford. Salford lies at the heart of the City of Salford, a Metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. The Mark Addy Footbridge crosses the Irwell between Regent Road and Pomona Docks, the Mark Addy Award (a swimming trophy) and an oil painting of him in Peel Art Gallery wearing his medals. Salford Docks, sometimes called Manchester Docks, was an area of nine docks in Salford and Trafford in Greater Manchester, at the east end of Salford Museum and Art Gallery, in Peel Park Salford, Greater Manchester, was founded in 1850 [20] There is also a public house, named "The Mark Addy", built in the old coal wharves on the Salford side of the river near New Bailey Street.

Commerce

Barton Swing Aqueduct
Barton Swing Aqueduct

In the late 17th century, the Warrington businessman Thomas Patten, had made the River Mersey navigable as far as Warrington and suggested that there would be significant commercial value in extending this along the Irwell as far as Manchester. Warrington is a large town borough and Unitary authority area in Cheshire, England. See also Mersey River (Tasmania and Mersey River (Nova Scotia. In 1721, Parliament authorised the alteration with the "Mersey and Irwell Navigation Act", and by 1736 work had been completed by creating eight canal locks along the 20 miles (32 km) route from Warrington to Manchester, allowing access to boats of up to 50 long tons (51 t/56 ST). TalkParliament#Screen-size. -->A  parliament is a Legislature, especially in those A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal Waterways. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. The short ton ( S/T) is a unit of mass equal to 2000 lb (around 907 The waterway played a central role in the cotton industry of the 18th century that spear-headed the Industrial Revolution. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the

When James Brindley built the Bridgewater Canal, the task of crossing the Irwell Valley was one of the main obstacles he faced. James Brindley (1716 &ndash 30 September 1772) was an English Engineer. The Bridgewater Canal is a Canal in North West England, connecting Runcorn, Manchester, and Leigh. The Irwell Valley extends from the Forest of Rossendale in North West England through to the cities of Salford and Manchester. His solution was to build a canal-carrying bridge across the river, the world's first commercially driven aqueduct. An aqueduct is an artificial channel that is constructed to convey water from one location to another The bridge consisted of three arches, and measured 12 metres (39 ft) high, 200 metres (656 ft) long and 11 metres (36 ft) wide. Upon its opening in 1761 it earned the nickname of "the Castle in the Air" and proved hugely successful in the industry of the area. The Mersey and Irwell Navigation and the Bridgewater Canal competed for trade to and from Manchester for the next 120 years and specially designed barges with a shallow draft, known as "Mersey flats", were used on both waterways. The draft (or draught) of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the Waterline and the bottom of the hull ( Keel) with the thickness A Mersey flat is a two masted doubled-ended Barge with rounded Bilges carvel build and fully decked Over the years both trade and rivalry continued to grow with each company offering reduced freight charges or special rates and concessions to gain business from the other. The most important cargo carried was raw cotton from Liverpool to Manchester but timber, dyewoods, pig iron, lead, copper, nails, tar, sand, grain and flour were also carried. Pig iron is the intermediate product of Smelting Iron ore with coke, usually with Limestone as a flux Passenger services had been operating on the Bridgewater Canal for some years and in 1807 the Irwell and Mersey Navigation Company began to compete with daily services between Runcorn and Manchester. Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England In 1816 they began to use packet steamers, however, in 1830 the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened, packet boat services went into decline, and ceased to operate completely in the 1860s. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR was the world's first inter-city passenger Railway in which all the trains were timetabled and were hauled for most of the distance Packet trade generally refers to any regularly scheduled cargo passenger and mail trade conducted by ship [21] In Manchester two other canals used the Irwell as a point of access – the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal from 1809, and the Manchester and Salford Junction Canal from 1839. The Manchester and Salford Junction Canal was a Canal in the city of Manchester. Both are now non-navigable however the former is under restoration.

As the 19th century progressed, the increasing need for large freight carriers led to Liverpool's dominance as a port. Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Manchester became increasingly reliant on its Merseyside neighbour for its export industry but the handling charges and dues charged by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board made goods from Manchester uncompetitive. Merseyside is a Metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1365900 The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC is the current incarnation of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board which itself had replaced Liverpool Dock Trustees who A solution was to build the Manchester Ship Canal. The Manchester Ship Canal is a wide long river navigation in North West England, opened on 21 May 1894 [22] In 1887 the Bridgewater Navigation Company was purchased by the Manchester Ship Canal Company with a cheque for £1,710,000, which was at the time the largest cheque ever written, and the building of the Manchester Ship Canal began. [23] The Manchester Ship Canal, made by the expansion of the route of the Mersey and Irwell Navigation, opened in 1894. Although it came too late to save the cotton industry that had made the region the centre of the Industrial Revolution, it transformed Manchester into England's third largest port, despite being 40 miles (64 km) inland. As the canal was built, it became clear that Brindley's famous aqueduct would have to be demolished, as it allowed insufficient headroom for the freighters that the canal would carry. Fortunately, in 1896 the councillors of Eccles paid to have the aqueduct moved to the spot it occupies today, alongside the canal. Instead, the Bridgewater Canal is now carried over the Irwell/Ship Canal by the equally celebrated Barton Swing Aqueduct, which was completed in 1893 with the novel idea of "opening" by rotating 90 degrees to allow ships to pass. The Bridgewater Canal is a Canal in North West England, connecting Runcorn, Manchester, and Leigh. The Barton Swing Aqueduct is a moveable Aqueduct in Barton upon Irwell in Greater Manchester, England.

Ontario Basin Salford Quays
Ontario Basin Salford Quays

The construction of the Manchester Ship Canal and the Salford Docks led to the development of Trafford Park as a centre of heavy industry and brought employment to the area for the next eighty years. Salford Quays is an area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. The Manchester Ship Canal is a wide long river navigation in North West England, opened on 21 May 1894 Salford Docks, sometimes called Manchester Docks, was an area of nine docks in Salford and Trafford in Greater Manchester, at the east end of Trafford Park is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England However, by the 1960s the UK began to lose its position as an industrial world power. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The decline of the heavy industries in the area, the increasing size of freight carrying ships and competition from road transport brought about the decline of Salford Docks and they eventually closed in 1982. Salford Docks, sometimes called Manchester Docks, was an area of nine docks in Salford and Trafford in Greater Manchester, at the east end of A large urban regeneration project, The Salford Quays Development Plan, was published in 1985 and work began a few years later to redevelop the site for residential, business and leisure purposes. Salford Quays is an area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. The Salford Quays waterside development has made living by the Irwell, and the Manchester Ship Canal into which it flows, fashionable once again. [24]

There are further plans to "turn the tide on the years of neglect and once again embrace the River Irwell as a fundamental part of Manchester and Salford's heritage and future economic and social growth. The vision is to reinvent the central Manchester conurbation as the major waterfront destination in Northern England. " A number of key stakeholders are involved in the development of this regeneration vision. These include Manchester, Salford and Trafford councils, Manchester Ship Canal Company, Environment Agency, Mersey Basin Campaign, local businesses, landowners, community groups and the wider Manchester, Salford and Trafford communities. [25]

Sport on the Irwell

There has been rowing on the Irwell in Manchester and Salford since 1823. A regatta was inaugurated on 12 September 1842, on a straight course from Throstle's Nest Weir to Regent Road Bridge. Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 1842 ( MDCCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Racing continued in Manchester with events such as Agecroft Regatta and Warburton Regatta. At the turn of the century, rowing was very popular in the area with many local clubs such as Nemesis, Prince of Wales, Minerva, Didsbury and Agecroft all competing regularly. However, the state of the river declined, and by the Second World War only Agecroft and Broughton rowing clubs were still active. [26]

Agecroft Rowing Club was formed in 1861, making it one of the oldest open membership rowing clubs in the world. Agecroft Rowing Club currently operates from Salford Quays, England [27] The club originally held regattas and participated in rowing events but was primarily a social club for rowing enthusiasts[28] and was based near to Agecroft Hall. Agecroft Hall is a Tudor estate currently on the James River in Virginia, United States, though originally built in Pendlebury, It now operates from a boathouse next to the Salford Watersports Centre at Salford Quays which it shares with the University of Salford Boat Club. Salford Quays is an area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. The University of Salford is a Plate glass university based in Salford Greater Manchester, England, with approximately 20000 registered students The boathouse also hosts the Northern Universities Boat Race, which was held on the river from 1972, but moved to the Quays in the early 1990s. Sister to the Southern Universities Association (SUA the Northern Universities Association (NUA is an informal grouping of University Change Ringing Societies in the UK who [29]


Irwell Sculpture Trail

The Irwell Sculpture Trail is one of the largest public art initiatives and the longest sculpture trail in the UK. The Irwell Sculpture Trail is the largest Public art scheme in England, commissioning regional national and international artists [30] The trail consists of a scenically varied, 30 mile walking route based on the well-established Irwell Valley Way, stretching from Salford Quays to the moors above Bacup. Since 1987 over 30 pieces of public art have been commisioned from regional, national and international artists. [31]

Flood defences

The lower reaches of the Irwell have flooded many times in its history, the most well documented being the floods of 1866, 1946, 1954, 1980, and 2007. Two flood storage basins with a capacity of 650,000 cubic metres (850,000 cu yd) have been constructed to the west of Littleton Road, Kersal, at a cost of around £11 million, to alleviate the flood problem and protect some 3,000 properties in Kersal and Lower Broughton against the 1 in 75 year flood as part of the River Irwell Flood Defence Scheme. CM3 redirects here If you were looking for the 3rd game in the Cooking Mama series abbreviated as CM3 see here. A cubic yard is an Imperial / US customary (non- SI non- metric) unit of Volume, used in the United States, Canada and Kersal is an Inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England [32] However, it is said that a 1 in a 100 year flood would breach these defences and cause some £55 million damage to property]]. [33] The defences proved successful on 2008-01-22, when the worst flooding to hit the region in thirty years caused the Irwell to burst its banks further downstream in the centre of Manchester. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. [34]

Tributaries

Moving upstream from the Mersey Confluence, the tributaries include the following: -

Confluence of the Roch and Irwell at Bury
Confluence of the Roch and Irwell at Bury
The Irwell at Cromwell Bridge, Broughton
The Irwell at Cromwell Bridge, Broughton

References

Notes

  1. ^ NDC newletter issue 9 May-June 04 Retrieved on 2008-03-21
  2. ^ Bracegirdle p. Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, north-northwest of the city of Manchester, west-southwest of Broughton is an Inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. The River Medlock is a River of Greater Manchester in north west England that flows for 10 miles before joining the River Irwell in central The River Croal is a River located in Greater Manchester, England. The River Tonge is a short River flowing close to Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. Bradshaw Brook is a River draining parts of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in Northern England. Astley Brook is a Stream in Greater Manchester, England. Rising at the confluence of Dean Brook and Raveden Brook near Eagley Brook (also known during the formative part of its course as Belmont Brook) is a small River of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in The River Roch (pronounced "roach" is a River in Greater Manchester in North West England, a tributary of the River Irwell that The River Spodden is a watercourse in north west England. It rises in the Lancashire Pennine hills above Whitworth and proceeds south through The Beal is a small river in Greater Manchester, England, and is a tributary of the River Roch. The River Ogden is a river in Lancashire, England, formed by Musbury Brook Alden Brook and Swinnel Brook 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. 19
  3. ^ Hindle, P. (1998) (2003-08-21). Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Exploring Greater Manchester - a fieldwork guide: The fluvioglacial gravel ridges of Salford and flooding on the River Irwell (pdf). Manchester Geographical Society. Retrieved on 2007-12-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office p. 18
  4. ^ Nob End citation sheet. English Nature. Retrieved on 2007-02-24. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the
  5. ^ http://biohorizons.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/1/1/61 Retrieved on 2008-05-18
  6. ^ http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/parks/countryparks/thecliff.htm Retrieved on 2008-01-28
  7. ^ Bracegirdle pp 15,16
  8. ^ Hindle, P. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted (1998) (2003-08-21). Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Exploring Greater Manchester - a fieldwork guide: The fluvioglacial gravel ridges of Salford and flooding on the River Irwell (pdf). Manchester Geographical Society. Retrieved on 2007-12-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office
  9. ^ Ashclough citation sheet. English Nature. Retrieved on 2007-02-24. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the
  10. ^ Bracegirdle p. 24
  11. ^ Bracegirdle pp. 16,17
  12. ^ Brereton p. 6
  13. ^ Bracegirdle p. 18
  14. ^ Parkinson-Bailey, John J. Manchester: An Architectural History. Manchester: Manchester University press, p2. ISBN 978-07 19056062.  
  15. ^ Bracegirdle p. 18
  16. ^ Bracegirdle pp. 19
  17. ^ Bracegirdle pp. 153-155
  18. ^ Anon. - Urban Regeneration in Manchester: Tranforming the “Dark River Irwell” (pdf). Environment Agency. Retrieved on 2008-04-24. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to
  19. ^ a b Nicholls (2004), p.  64.
  20. ^ Bracegirdle pp.  133–136.
  21. ^ History of the Mersey and Irwell Navigation
  22. ^ Worthington, Barry (2005). Discovering Manchester: A walking guide to Manchester and Salford. Wilmslow: Sigma Leisure, 240. Wilmslow is a town in the Borough of Macclesfield in Cheshire, England. ISBN 1-85058-774-4.  
  23. ^ Canal Archive:Bridging the years
  24. ^ Burdett, Jill (2004-06-30). "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Spotlight on Salford Quays (http). Home Search. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved on 2008-02-18. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy
  25. ^ Urban River Regeneration in Manchester: Transforming the "Dark River" Irwell
  26. ^ Anon. Rowing in Manchester:History (http). Two Cities Boatrace. Retrieved on 2008-04-25. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar.
  27. ^ Anon. Agecroft Rowing Club (http). Retrieved on 2008-04-24. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to
  28. ^ Anon. Papers of the Agecroft Rowing Club. John Rylands University Library. Retrieved on 2008-04-21. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date)
  29. ^ Anon (2004). Quays to Success (PDF). Campus Report. University of Salford. Retrieved on 2008-04-25. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar.
  30. ^ Anon (2008). Irwell Sculpture Trail (http). Lancashire County Council website. Lancashire County Council. Retrieved on 2008-05-17. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason.
  31. ^ Morland, Joanna (2000). Case Study: Irwell Sculpture Trail (http). Public art online. Public Art Southwest. Retrieved on 2008-05-17. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason.
  32. ^ Anon (December 2006). Current flood risks and management. River Irwell Catchment Flood Management Plan 2006. Environment Agency. Retrieved on 2007-12-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office
  33. ^ Hindle, P. (1998) (2003-08-21). Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Exploring Greater Manchester - a fieldwork guide: The fluvioglacial gravel ridges of Salford and flooding on the River Irwell (pdf). Manchester Geographical Society. Retrieved on 2007-12-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office p. 10
  34. ^ Osuh, Chris (2008-01-22). 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Floods clean-up under way (http). Manchester Evening News. M. E. N. Media. Retrieved on 2008-01-26. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France.

Bibliography

External links

Gallery

The source of the Irwell at Deerplay Mooor

Burrs mill at Summerseat, originally had a water wheel powered by the river

Burrs Weir, constructed around 1800 to divert the water via a small feeder canal to the mills

Downstream from New Hall Hey, Rawtenstall

Confluence with the River Mersey
Summerseat is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. Rawtenstall (pronounced "Rottenstall" ˈrɒtənˌstɔːl or ˈrɒʔnˌstɔːl is a town at the centre of the Rossendale Valley, in Lancashire,
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