History of the River Irwell
In 1752, the River Irwell was famously used by James Brindley to pump water in order to clear the flooded Wet Earth Colliery. Six years later he built the remarkable Barton Aqueduct taking the Trent & Mersey Canal and its coal-carrying barges over the River Irwell: the sight of 'ships sailing over ships' was considered a wonder of its age.
These days the River is much cleaner than in days gone by.
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