The River Irwell is a river that runs for 39 miles through the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in the north west of England. The river rises at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor one and a half miles north of the town of
Bacup in Lancashire. The river does not issue directly into the sea, instead feeding into the
River Mersey near Irlam. The river has been much modified over time and large sections of it were remodelled during the making of the
Manchester Ship Canal . The Irwell played a vital role in kickstarting the
Industrial Revolution and consequently became heavily polluted and completely devoid of fish but is now gradually being returned to health.
More British Natural features?
Other Lancashire Naturals
The Pennines
Forest of Bowland
Pendle Hill
River Ribble
Arnside and Silverdale
Morecambe Bay
River Wyre
Rossendale Valley
River Duddon
River Lune