River Roddlesworth facts for kids
The River Roddlesworth is a river in Lancashire, England. It is also known as Rocky Brook. This river flows into the River Darwen, making it a "tributary" – a smaller river that flows into a larger one.
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The River's Journey
The River Roddlesworth starts high up on the slopes of Great Hill. Here, it is just a tiny stream called Calf Hey Brook. Another stream, which also sometimes gets called Roddlesworth, joins Calf Hey Brook. This second stream flows past the old ruins of Hollinshead Hall.
From there, the river flows north through a forested area called Roddlesworth Plantations. It passes by two large reservoirs that collect its water. The river then continues through the Stanworth Valley in Livesey. Here, another stream called Stockclough Brook joins it. The Roddlesworth then flows under the M65 motorway and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
The Stanworth Valley area was once a place where people tried to protect nature. In 1995, there was a big effort to save the river and its woodlands from a new road. People wanted to protect this special natural area. You can find more information about the M65 motorway here.
Soon after this, the Roddlesworth goes into a large underground pipe, called a "culvert," near the Star Paper Mill.
The Roddlesworth then flows into the River Darwen at a place called Moulden Brow. In this last section, between Stockclough Brook and the River Darwen, locals often call the river Moulden Water or Moulding Water.
For almost its entire journey, the Roddlesworth river acts as a natural border. It separates Chorley Borough from the area known as Blackburn with Darwen. Long ago, in the Middle Ages, this river also marked the edge of important historical lands.
The name "Roddlesworth" was first written down around the year 1160. It likely means "the homestead of Hrothwulf" – a very old name!
Nearby Places
The Roddlesworth river flows through a beautiful, wooded valley. It passes close to several towns and villages, including Tockholes, Roddlesworth, Abbey Village, and Stanworth. Finally, it joins the River Darwen near Feniscowles.
Water Storage Areas (Reservoirs)
The River Roddlesworth helps fill several important reservoirs. Reservoirs are like big lakes built to store water for people to use.
- Abbey Village Reservoir
- Lower Roddlesworth Reservoir
- Upper Roddlesworth Reservoir
- Rake Brook Reservoir also gets water from Rake Brook, which is another stream that joins the Roddlesworth.
Streams That Join the Roddlesworth (Tributaries)
Several smaller streams, or "tributaries," flow into the River Roddlesworth.
Finnington Brook
Finnington Brook joins the Roddlesworth close to where the Roddlesworth itself flows into the River Darwen. This brook starts from several small streams that drain areas like Riley Green. It flows east in a small, wooded valley. The brook passes by the small village of Finnington, picking up other streams. It flows past a fish hatchery and through a reservoir before joining the Roddlesworth.
Stockclough Brook
Stockclough Brook flows into the Roddlesworth in the Stanworth Valley. This brook starts near Potter's and flows west and southwest. It passes under Stockclough Lane and the M65 Motorway. Another stream called Whitehalgh Brook joins it. Stockclough Brook then flows under the Stockclough Viaduct, which was once a railway bridge, before joining the Roddlesworth. Whitehalgh Brook itself starts where three smaller brooks from Tockholes combine.
Rake Brook
Rake Brook begins at Brown Hill on Withnell Moor. It flows north, collecting water from the west side of Cold Within Hill. It then flows through Birch Clough and feeds Rake Brook Reservoir. The place where Rake Brook meets the River Roddlesworth is in Benson's Wood. Rake Brook Reservoir also gets water from another unnamed stream that flows north, separating Withnell Moor from Wheelton Moor.
