RISHTON PAPER MILL WEIR

Beautiful place to visit

Situated in beautiful surroundings, it's well worth a look.

RISHTON WEIR OR KNOWN LOCALLY AS DUNKENHALGH WEIR IS A LARGE CONCAVE, VERTICAL WEIR THAT LIES ON HYNDBURN BROOK. AS WITH ALL WEIRS DUNKENHALGH IS POSING A BARRIER TO THE MIGRATION OF FISH.THE WEIR IS CLOSE TO A PUBLIC FOOTPATH AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH PASTURE FIELDS, MAKING IT A POPULAR SPOT FOR WALKING, SWIMMING, AND PICNICKING. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WEIR IS A DISUSED INDUSTRIAL SITE. THIS IS THE SITE OF HOLT CORN MILL, AND IT IS THOUGHT THAT THE WEIR ONCE PROVIDED WATER FOR THIS MILL TO HELP POWER THE MACHINES. MORE RECENTLY THE WEIR PROVIDED WATER FOR THE RISHTON PAPER MILL.THE NEW TRAVERSE FISH PASS HAS NOW BEEN CONSTRUCTED ALONG THE LEFT-HAND CORNER OF THE WEIR AS YOU FACE THE WEIR. THIS WILL PROVIDE THE DUEL BENEFIT OF MAKING THE WEIR PASSABLE TO FISH AND REINFORCING THE STRUCTURE AS THERE IS SOME EROSION DAMAGE IN THIS AREA.