River Beal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Beal |
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River Beal at Firgrove.
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| Country | England |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Stoneleigh Park, Derker 53°33′14″N 2°5′46″W / 53.55389°N 2.09611°W |
| River mouth | River Roch, Belfield 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, 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.
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.
1892: Ellenroad Cotton Mill was built on the bank of the Beal, and made fine cotton yarn by mule spinning.
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.
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.
Tributaries
- Butterworth Hall Brook
- Piethorne Brook
- Jubilee Brook
- Old Brook
- Leornardin Brook
- Pencil Brook
- Besom Hill Brook
- Fullwood Brook
- Hodge Brook
| Next confluence upstream | River Roch | Next confluence downstream |
| Ash Brook | River Beal | Stanney Brook |
Gallery
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The River Beal is sourced from the Beal Valley, between Oldham and Shaw and Crompton
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Infancy in Higginshaw
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Jubilee, Shaw
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Looking downstream from Bentgate, Newhey
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Between the M62 and A640 culverts
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Downstream from Bridge Street
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View from Ashes Lane, Milnrow
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Upstream from Firgrove
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Confluence with River Roch
