River Calder, Lancashire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids River Calder
The River Calder at Altham
Country	England
Physical characteristics
Main source	Calderhead, Cliviger, Lancashire 758 ft (231 m)
River mouth	River Ribble near Brockhall Village 100 ft (30 m)
Length	20 miles (32 km)

The River Calder is an important river in Lancashire, England. It flows into the River Ribble. The River Calder is about 20 miles (32 km) long. It gets its name from an old British language, meaning "hard water" or "rapid river."

Journey of the River Calder

The River Calder starts in Cliviger, a place in Lancashire. Its source is very close to where two other rivers begin: the River Irwell and another River Calder in West Yorkshire.

From Source to Burnley

The river flows northwest through a valley called Cliviger Gorge. Along the way, it passes two old fish ponds. It also collects water from smaller streams like Green Clough and Black Clough. As the valley gets wider, the Calder meets Easden Clough. It then flows past Walk Mill and under the A646 Burnley Road. Before reaching Towneley Park, it collects Dick Clough. Inside Towneley Park, Everage Clough joins the river.

Through Burnley Town Centre

On the Burnley side of Towneley Park, the river flows past Unity College and Fulledge Recreation Ground. It goes under the Hand Bridge, which carries the A671 Todmorden Road. The river then flows along the northern side of the Burnley Wood area. It goes through a hidden tunnel, called a culvert, under the Burnley Embankment of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The River Calder continues through the town centre. It goes into more culverts, passing under Centenary Way and Parker Lane. It also runs under Chaddesley House and Manchester Road, near the Town Hall and Mechanics Theatre. After being crossed by Hammerton Street, it flows under the old Empire Music Hall and Cow Lane. The river then winds west and is crossed by St. James's Street. Just before the Active Way bridge, the River Brun joins the Calder.

Leaving Burnley and Beyond

The river turns north and flows under the East Lancashire railway line viaduct. It passes through the area where Burnley College is located. Then, it goes under the M65 motorway as it leaves Burnley. Near Royle, Barden Clough joins the river. Soon after, Pendle Water meets the Calder at the Burnley Wastewater Treatment Works. This is on the edge of the Reedley Hallows parish.

Towards Whalley and the Ribble

The River Calder then turns sharply southwest. It collects water from Spurn Clough and Moor Isles Clough. It flows past Ightenhill and picks up Whitaker Clough near Gawthorpe Hall. The river continues through the town of Padiham, where Green Brook joins it. Castle Clough Brook also joins as it passes the old Padiham Power Station. After collecting Dean Brook and Shorten Brook, it flows past St James' Church in Altham.

The A678 Burnley Road crosses the river here. The Calder then turns northwest, making more bends. Simonstone Brook, Syke Side Brook, and Hyndburn Brook join it near Great Harwood. The river continues its winding path, passing under the old railway viaduct at Martholme. Soon after, Sabden Brook joins, just before the river flows under the A680 Accrington Road at Cock Bridge.

The river turns north and then west again. Rodger Hey, Egg Syke Brooks, and another Dean Brook join it. Finally, the River Calder reaches Whalley. Here, it flows over the corn mill weir and under Whalley Bridge. It passes the ruins of Whalley Abbey and then goes under the red brick Whalley Viaduct. After flowing under the A59 bypass, it collects Bushburn Brook. The River Calder then meets the River Ribble near Brockhall Village.

History of the River Calder

The name "Calder" is quite common for rivers. It likely comes from an old British language. The first part might mean "hard," and the second part "water." This suggests the name means "rapid river."

For a long time, people weren't sure if the river's name always followed its current path near Burnley. At the point where it meets Pendle Water, the Calder is actually the smaller river. An old map from 1786 even showed the lower part of Pendle Water as the Calder. However, older writings from 1577 and later seem to agree with the river's name and path as we know it today.

Old Fish Ponds and Furnaces

The fishponds in Cliviger are very old, possibly over 200 years old. They were fixed up in 1990 by a fishing club. In the 1840s, there was even a third pond further upstream. Near Pot Oven Farm, you can still see parts of an old iron furnace. This furnace was built around 1700. By 1760, it had become a pottery. It is thought to be the first furnace of its kind built in Lancashire.

Bridges and Changes

The railway viaduct in Burnley is about 400 meters (1,300 feet) long. It has 15 arches made of sandstone. This impressive bridge was built between 1847 and 1848 for the East Lancashire Railway.

East of Padiham, the river's path was changed in the 1800s. It was moved away from Gawthorpe Hall because of pollution. But in the 1960s, the river was put back on its original route.

A weir was built in the 1950s so Padiham Power Station could take water from the river. This weir was removed in 2010. Other improvements were also made to help fish swim upstream more easily.

The main part of the bridge at Whalley might be as old as the abbey itself. However, it has been made wider many times over the years, most recently in 1914. An old Roman road used to cross the Calder further downstream, near where it meets the Ribble.

Modern Energy and Floods

In 2014, a special type of hydropower station was built on the old weir at Whalley. It uses an Archimedes' screw to generate electricity from the river's flow. This project also helped preserve the weir and added a fish pass. The station started working at the end of 2014. It is expected to make about 345,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.

In December 2015, very heavy rain caused record water levels in the river. This led to flooding in Whalley and Padiham.

Towns and Villages Along the Calder

The River Calder flows through or near several towns and villages:

• Brockhall Village
• Whalley
• Altham
• Padiham
• Burnley
• Walk Mill
• Holme Chapel

Tributaries of the River Calder

A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. Here are some of the rivers and brooks that flow into the River Calder:

• Sabden Brook
• Hyndburn Brook
  • River Hyndburn
• Green Brook
• Pendle Water
  • Walverden Water
  • Colne Water
    • Trawden Brook
    • Wycoller Beck
    • River Laneshaw
• River Brun
  • River Don

Images for kids

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  The source of the Calder in Cliviger Gorge.

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  The upper fish pond at Cliviger.

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  Todmorden Road, Burnley

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  After collecting Pendle Water near Ightenhill.

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  Padiham c. 1844, highlighting the modified route.

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  Near the old Padiham Power Station.

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  The weir at Whalley.

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  Whalley Viaduct.