EPW016447 ENGLAND (1926). The River Irk passing under the Rochdale Canal and the railway line, Chadderton, 1926

Site of a further breach of the canal bank on Saturday 23rd April 2005. This occurred next to the Irk Aqueduct, emptying a mile of canal between Lock 63 and the Rose of Lancaster pub. It happened on a mile-long pound, so a considerable amount of water was swept into the River Irk, presumably along with fish and other wildlife. The embankment each side of the Irk Aqueduct is made up largely of sand, which may have contributed to the seriousness of the breach. The aqueduct itself did not suffer any structural damage.

Mills Hill Co-Op

Chadderton Golf course

The Duke of Bridgewater public house 1842-1956

Chadderton Hall Lake. On July 11th 1927, the swollen River Irk to the left of the lake, overflowed its banks in torrential rain and caused the lake bank to collapse. This then added to the already swollen river, the force of which caused the canal bank to collapse which led to the Middleton Flood.

This is the point where the canal embankment collapsed on July 11 1927 causing the catastrophic flood resulting in the deaths of 3 people in Middleton.

Lime Field.

Lock & footbridge.

Lock & footbridge.

Turnings.

This basin, created when the canal was built c1804 and the railway c1839, held millions of gallons of canal and river water which was then pressured through the twin culverts beneath the railway embankment. The force of the flood water knocked out several bridges between the railway and Middleton town centre.

This is the Rochdale Canal bridge that was undermined by a very swollen river Irk on 11 July 1927. The flood was worsened when the bank of Chadderton Hall Lake (just visible top right) collapsed and emptied into the Irk. 3 Middleton people died as a result of the flood.

Mills Hill House

Rose of Lancaster

Irk Vale Chemical works

Original Mills Hill Railway Station Building. the station was closed when Middleton Junction was Opened

Mills Hill Church

Mills Hill School