| River Beal | |
| River | |
 River Beal at Firgrove.
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| Country | England |
|---|---|
| Source | |
| - location | Beal Valley |
| Mouth | |
| - location | River Roch, Belfield |
| - coordinates | 53°37′40.41″N 2°7′55.68″W / 53.6278917°N 2.1321333°W |
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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.
Contents |
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, then joins the River Roch.
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 believed to come from the Brythonic word "Bel" meaning "raging torrent".[citation needed]
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]
circa 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 ? (name uncertain)
- Old Brook
- Brushes Brook (formerly Leornardin Brook) [6]
- Pencil Brook
- Besom Hill Brook ? (Name uncertain)
- Hodge Brook ? (name uncertain)
| Next confluence upstream | River Roch | Next confluence downstream |
| Ash Brook | River Beal | Stanney Brook |
Gallery
 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
- ^ Brownbill, J; William Farrer (1911). A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Victoria County History. pp. 92–108. ISBN 978-0712910552.
- ^ Brownbill, J; William Farrer (1911). A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5. Victoria County History. pp. 108–12. ISBN 978-0712910552.
- ^ "Ellenroad Steam Museum". ellenroad.org.uk. http://www.ellenroad.org.uk/. Retrieved on 2009-09-14.
- ^ Mersey Basin Campaign. "Local Action / Action Irk & Roch". merseybasin.org.uk. http://www.merseybasin.org.uk/page.asp?id=2864. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
- ^ Stephen Foster (2005-08-03). "Leak turns Beal into dead river". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/168/168174_leak_turns_beal_into_dead_river.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
- ^ Crompton Moor History Trail
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