Page "River Irk" Paragraph 4

According to The New Gazetteer of Lancashire ( 1830 ) the Irk had more mill seats upon it than any other stream of its length in the Kingdom.

" and that " the eels in this river were formerly remarkable for their fatness, which was attributed to the grease and oils expressed by the mills from the woollen cloths and mixed with the waters.

"< Ref > However, by the start of the 20th century the Irk Valley between Crumpsall and Blackley had been left a neglected river, " not only the blackest but the most sluggish of all rivers ".

Recently a project has been set up to rejuvenate the river and remove the pollution.