Discovering Our Own ‘Little Lake District’ and Its Origins

Explore how Lancashire’s stunning reservoirs came to be, shaping local life.

Discovering Our Own ‘Little Lake District’ and Its Origins
Discovering Our Own ‘Little Lake District’ and Its Origins

Rivington: Back in the 19th century, Britain was growing fast, and with that came a big need for water. To keep up, they started huge projects like the Thirlmere Aqueduct to supply cities like Manchester. But what about Liverpool? They decided to flood a bunch of countryside in Lancashire to get their water.

This led to what many now call Lancashire’s own “little Lake District.” Rivington became a popular spot for walking and fishing, thanks to its beautiful scenery, which was made even better by the reservoirs.

Believe it or not, just over 170 years ago, the area was just fields and rivers. In 1846, three engineers were hired by the Liverpool Council to figure out how to solve the water problem. They looked into various options, like digging wells or sourcing water from Lake Bala in Wales, but those ideas didn’t stick.

Instead, Thomas Hawksley suggested damming the Rivers Douglas and Roddlesworth to create a reservoir in the valley between Rivington Pike and Heath Charnock. After some debate, Parliament approved the plan in 1847, but there was some pushback that delayed things.

Meanwhile, the Chorley Waterworks Company built their own reservoir in 1850. Eventually, Liverpool Corporation bought it, agreeing to supply water to Chorley in the future.

Construction of the main reservoir system at Rivington kicked off between 1850 and 1857, and by August 1857, the first water from Rivington reached Liverpool. But demand was still high, so more reservoirs were built, including one at Tockholes and another in the Yarrow Valley.

The whole project was a huge deal, with a series of reservoirs feeding into the Lower Rivington Reservoir, which then sent water through filters to Prescot. It was a groundbreaking water supply system, setting a standard for others worldwide.

Even though the water was filtered, it was a bit discolored at first due to peat and vegetation. But that didn’t last long, and soon people in Liverpool were pleasantly surprised by the quality. Today, United Utilities still manages the area, keeping Merseysiders hydrated.

Disclaimer: All images comply with fair use for educational and informational purposes. Sourced from public platforms. Have questions? Contact us.
Fact-Checking Policy: Accurate information is our focus. If errors are found, please let us know, and corrections will be made swiftly.