River Beal

The Beal is a small river in Greater Manchester, England, 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.

River Beal
River Beal at Firgrove.
Location
CountryEngland
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationStoneleigh Park, Derker
 • coordinates53°33′14″N 2°5′46″W
Mouth 
 • location
River Roch, Belfield
 • coordinates
53°37′40.41″N 2°7′55.68″W

Course

From its source at Beal Valley, it flows north through Shaw and Crompton in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, where Old Brook and Pencil Brook are tributaries. It continues north through Newhey and Milnrow in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, 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

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
Next confluence upstreamRiver RochNext confluence downstream
Ash Brook River Beal Stanney Brook
  • 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
  1. Brownbill, J; William Farrer (1911). A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Victoria County History. pp. 92–108. ISBN 978-0-7129-1055-2.
  2. Brownbill, J; William Farrer (1911). A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Victoria County History. pp. 108–12. ISBN 978-0-7129-1055-2.
  3. "Ellenroad Steam Museum". ellenroad.org.uk. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  4. Mersey Basin Campaign. "Local Action / Action Irk & Roch". merseybasin.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  5. Stephen Foster (2005-08-03). "Leak turns Beal into dead river". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
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