River Irk

The River Irk is a river in North West England that flows through the northern suburbs of Manchester before merging with the River Irwell in the city centre. Rising to the east of Royton and running west past Chadderton and Middleton, it became polluted and its course was extensively altered during the Industrial Revolution. HistoryHistorically, the Irk was also known as Iwrck or the Irke, names thought to have been derived from the Roebuck, suggesting that at one time it was a swift-running river. In medieval times, there was a mill by the Irk at which the tenants of the manor ground their corn and its fisheries were controlled by the lord of the manor. In the 16th century, throwing carrion and other offensive matter into the Irk was forbidden. Water for Manchester was drawn from the river before the Industrial Revolution. A bridge over the Irk was recorded in 1381. The river was noted for destructive floods. In 1480, the burgesses of Manchester described the highway between Manchester and Collyhurst which "the water of Irk had worn out". In 1816, of seven bridges over the Irk, six were liable to be flooded after heavy rain but the seventh, the Ducie Bridge completed in 1814 was above flood levels.

The River Irk is a river in North West England that flows through the northern suburbs of Manchester before merging with the River Irwell in the city centre. Rising to the east of Royton and running west past Chadderton and Middleton, it became polluted and its course was extensively altered during the Industrial Revolution. HistoryHistorically, the Irk was also known as Iwrck or the Irke, names thought to have been derived from the Roebuck, suggesting that at one time it was a swift-running river. In medieval times, there was a mill by the Irk at which the tenants of the manor ground their corn and its fisheries were controlled by the lord of the manor. In the 16th century, throwing carrion and other offensive matter into the Irk was forbidden. Water for Manchester was drawn from the river before the Industrial Revolution. A bridge over the Irk was recorded in 1381. The river was noted for destructive floods. In 1480, the burgesses of Manchester described the highway between Manchester and Collyhurst which "the water of Irk had worn out". In 1816, of seven bridges over the Irk, six were liable to be flooded after heavy rain but the seventh, the Ducie Bridge completed in 1814 was above flood levels.