River Tonge
Encyclopedia
The River Tonge is a short river
flowing close to Bolton
, in Greater Manchester
, England
.
The Tonge is formed at the Meeting of the Waters, where Astley Brook
, flowing from the Smithills area in the west, meets the southerly-flowing Eagley Brook
. From there, the Tonge flows southwards, to the east of Bolton, past Springfield, where it is joined by Bradshaw Brook
, at the end of its route from the Jumbles and Wayoh reservoirs, close to Tonge Fold. The Tonge joins the River Croal
at Darcy Lever, shortly before the Croal's confluence with the River Irwell
.
Tonge Bridge section is a part of the river north of Tonge Bridge designated as a site of special scientific interest
(SSSI). The site is 0.7 hectares (1.8 acres) and comprises the steep west bank of the river. It was designated an SSSI 1987 for its geological interest, principally the fluvial sandstone
which has yielded pteridosperm seeds, known as Trigonocarpus. The well preserved nature of the seeds make it of considerable sedimentological and palaeogeographic interest. It is one of only seven geological SSSIs in Greater Manchester.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
flowing close to Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The Tonge is formed at the Meeting of the Waters, where Astley Brook
Astley Brook
Astley Brook is a river in Greater Manchester, England.Rising at the confluence of Dean Brook and Raveden Brook near Halliwell in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, it travels eastward to "Meeting of the Waters", where it meets Eagley Brook to form the River Tonge....
, flowing from the Smithills area in the west, meets the southerly-flowing Eagley Brook
Eagley Brook
Eagley Brook is a small river of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in England....
. From there, the Tonge flows southwards, to the east of Bolton, past Springfield, where it is joined by Bradshaw Brook
Bradshaw Brook
Bradshaw Brook is a river draining parts of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in Northern England.Starting life as Cadshaw Brook draining a valley named Green Lowe Clough on Turton Moor, the brook feeds the Turton and Entwistle Reservoir and Wayoh Reservoir...
, at the end of its route from the Jumbles and Wayoh reservoirs, close to Tonge Fold. The Tonge joins the River Croal
River Croal
The River Croal is a river located in Greater Manchester, England. It is a tributary of the River Irwell.Rising at the confluence of Middle Brook and Deane Church Brook, it flows eastwards through Bolton, collecting Gilnow Brook and the larger River Tonge at Darcy Lever...
at Darcy Lever, shortly before the Croal's confluence with the River Irwell
River Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
.
Tonge Bridge section is a part of the river north of Tonge Bridge designated as a site of special scientific interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSI). The site is 0.7 hectares (1.8 acres) and comprises the steep west bank of the river. It was designated an SSSI 1987 for its geological interest, principally the fluvial sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
which has yielded pteridosperm seeds, known as Trigonocarpus. The well preserved nature of the seeds make it of considerable sedimentological and palaeogeographic interest. It is one of only seven geological SSSIs in Greater Manchester.