River Stink

[kestrelx]

Anyone recall the river as it came out from under the Car Park - you could climb down and walk along under some factories and there were massive rats running about.

[Tealeaf]

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

It is actually quite remarkably clean these days, except when it has been raining hard, then it fills with mud.

When did you last have your nose near it Tealeaf?

I do not think I would use the term "remarkably clean" to describe the Stink; it has certainly improved, as I said in my original post but not to the extent that I would want to clean my teeth in it. Yes, there are some largish fish to be occaisionally seen in it, but then the Thames has salmon in it again, despite the fact it receives substancial sewage discharges in bad weather (700,000 tons on one occaision in september). I would'nt want to clean my teeth in there either.

Two weeks ago today I walked over the bridge at Church, next to the Sports Centre and there was a horrible looking discharge entering the river from the outlet just the other side of the bridge. I only noticed it because I smelt it. It did'nt look to nice, either.

[staggeringman]

that will be the waste water from the swimming baths t-leaf wouldnt want to brush my teeth in there either!!!

[jelly baby]

Originally Posted by kestrelx

Anyone recall the river as it came out from under the Car Park - you could climb down and walk along under some factories and there were massive rats running about.

This is probably the part which ran at the back of Croft St.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Can you help me with the location of this Croft Street in relation to what is there now?

[Uncle Mick]

Willow, if you stand on the corner of the Aldi carpark nearest the petrol station, with the river on your left then thats Croft Street. You would be looking towards Bradleys Transport garage with Conveyer and Elevators works and I think a tripe/black pudding making place on your left against the river. God the whole of Bull Bridge/Milnshaw Lane/Hyndburn Road has changed since I was a kid...and I`m only 42!!

[WillowTheWhisp]

Thanks Uncle Mick.

I remember some of the way that area used to look, the Ambulance Drill Hall, Ken Clegg's TV shop, a blacksmith, The Australian.

[vorlon24]

Is that river in the picture at the top part of the Stink?

[WillowTheWhisp]

That looks more like the canal to me.

[vorlon24]

I only asked because I'm not familiar with your part of the world

[WillowTheWhisp]

If I had time today I'd take a photo of the river for you but it's going to be a bit of a hectic day.

Finding the river could be quite a challenge for anyone who doesn't know the town. You'd even be forgiven for thinking we didn't have one. Most of it is underground. I can understand why it was better off hidden in the olden days when it did indeed stink but I think we should make more of a feature of it now and open up the areas where it is still visible - turn it into an attraction.

As for the canal. It doesn't actually come through Accrington but it features in parts of Hyndburn such as Clayton le Moors, Church, Rishton and there are some very pleasant walks along its bank these days. At one time it was full of rubbish and the towpaths were in a right old state but it has been cleaned up a lot. When I worked in Clayton and in Rishton I enjoyed a stroll by the canal in my lunch hour.

[Atarah]

Hi, two old photos showing the Croft Street area of town. Sorry about quality. This might help people to remember the area.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Thanks Atarah. That helps me try to visualise it all much better.

[Mick]

how is this hehe

[Terry]

At last Atarah. Somewhere I recognise. That's the street that leads up to the clock garage. That's the st. where I mentioned in another post we used to come down on our billy carts. Milneshaw st. I had forgotten but now rings like bell. What a ripper. Now all that is familiar territory.