View source for River Douglas, Lancashire

{{Short description|River in north-west England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Douglas
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = River Douglas at Appley Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 174858.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = River Douglas at Appley Bridge, [[West Lancashire]]
| map                = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[England]]
| subdivision_type2  = 
| subdivision_name2  = 
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length_km = 56
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = 
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = 
| source1_location   = [[Winter Hill (Lancashire)|Winter Hill]]
| source1_coordinates= 
| source1_elevation  = 
| mouth              = confluence with [[River Ribble]]
| mouth_location     = 
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|53|44|4.92|N|2|51|18.26|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = 
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = 
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = [[River Yarrow (Lancashire)|River Yarrow]]
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}

The '''River Douglas''', also known as the '''River Asland''' or '''Astland''',<ref>{{cite book|author=Bland, E|title=Annals of Southport and district. A chronological history of North Meols from Alfred the Great to Edward VII|year=1903|location=Southport|publisher=J J Riley|url=https://archive.org/details/annalsofsouthpor00blaniala}}</ref> flows through parts of [[Lancashire]] and [[Greater Manchester]] in [[North West England]]. It is a [[tributary]] of the [[River Ribble]] and has several tributaries, the major ones being the [[River Tawd]] and the [[River Yarrow (Lancashire)|River Yarrow]].

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Douglas Navigation Act 1719
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of Great Britain
| long_title            = An Act for making the River Douglas, alias Asland, navigable, from the River Ribble, to Wigan, in the County Palatine of Lancaster.
| year                  = 1720
| citation              = [[6 Geo. 1]]. c. 28
| territorial_extent    = [[Great Britain]]
| royal_assent          = 7 April 1720
| commencement          = 23 November 1719{{efn|Start of session.}}
| repeal_date           = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Current
| original_text         = https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=n7ouAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA297
| collapsed             = yes
}}
In 1720, an [[act of Parliament]], the '''{{visible anchor|Douglas Navigation Act 1719}}''' ([[6 Geo. 1]]. c. 28), authorized [[Thomas Steers]] and William Squire to make the River Douglas navigable to small ships between Wigan and its mouth. Despite financial irregularities, the [[Douglas Navigation]] was not completed until 1742. By 1783, it had been replaced by the [[Leeds and Liverpool Canal]],<ref>{{Cite book
  |author1=Charles Hadfield
  |author2=Gordon Biddle
  |title=The Canals of North West England, Vol 1 (pp.1-236)
  |year=1970
  |pages=61–62, 77
  |publisher=David and Charles
  |isbn=0-7153-4956-2}}</ref>
and the river reverted to its natural state. Although the remnants of several locks are still visible between Parbold and Gathurst.<ref>{{cite book
  |author=Nicholson Guides
  |author-link=Nicholson Guides
  |title=Volume 5: North West and the Pennines
  |year=2006
  |page=93
  |publisher=Nicholson
 |isbn=0-00-721113-9}}</ref>
The Rufford Branch of the canal joins the river at [[Tarleton]].
The river rises on [[Winter Hill (Lancashire)|Winter Hill]] in the [[West Pennine Moors]], and flows for {{convert|35|mi|km}} through several towns before reaching the Ribble estuary near Tarleton, with the last {{convert|10|mi|km}} being tidal. In 1892, the Douglas was diverted in Wigan to allow the construction of [[Wigan Central railway station]].

==Etymology==
The ''Douglas'' is derived from the [[Common Brittonic|Brittonic]] elements ''dūβ-'', meaning "black",<ref name="bliton">{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Alan |title=A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence |url=http://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary.pdf |website=SPNS - The Brittonic Language in the Old North |access-date=25 November 2018}}</ref> and ''*glẹ:ss'', "stream, rivulet, watercourse" ([[Welsh language|Welsh]] ''du-glais'').<ref name="bliton" /> This etymology is shared by like-named rivers in [[Hen Ogledd|The Old North]],<ref name="bliton" /> such as the [[Douglas Water]] in Scotland.<ref name="bliton" />

==Route==
The River Douglas rises at Douglas Springs, a series of springs on Rivington Moor close to the {{convert|1440|ft|m|adj=on}} contour close to the summit of Winter Hill. The River Yarrow, one of its major tributaries, rises at springs less than a mile (1.6&nbsp;km) to the north-west. Nearby are [[Anglezarke Reservoir]], [[Upper Rivington Reservoir]], and [[Lower Rivington Reservoir]], which are part of the Rivington Chain, a network of reservoirs built to supply the drinking water needs of Liverpool. This reservoirs alter the natural drainage patterns of both rivers.{{sfn |CFMP |2009 |p=4}}<ref name=osmap>{{cite web |url=http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=365796&y=414642&z=115&sv=365796,414642&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=647&ax=365796&ay=414642&lm=0 |title=1:25,000 map |publisher=Ordnance Survey}}</ref>

The Douglas descends rapidly, dropping below the {{convert|430|ft|m|adj=on}} contour before flowing into the Lower Rivington Reservoir, just north of [[Horwich]]. Below the dam, the river's flow is maintained by compensation water released from the reservoir, marking the county boundary between Greater Manchester and Lancashire. The river is crossed by the [[M61 motorway]] near [[Rivington services]], and then turns to the north-west to reach the southern edge of [[Adlington, Lancashire|Adlington]]. It flows in a generally southwesterly direction and is crossed by the [[Leeds and Liverpool Canal]],<ref name=osmap/> via a [[grade II listed]] aqueduct designed by [[John Rennie the Elder|John Rennie]] in the 1790s. The aqueduct has a round arch and is constructed of rock-faced stone.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1356780 |desc=Aqueduct over River Douglas |access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> The river then bypasses Worthington Lakes, three reservoirs built in the 1860s to provide drinking water for Wigan, and now managed as a country park by [[United Utilities]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Leisure/Greenheart/Worthington-Lakes.aspx |title=Worthington Lakes |publisher=Wigan Council |access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> The river ceases to form the county boundary just before the lakes and re-emerges from a tunnel below the reservoir dam, passing east of [[Standish, Greater Manchester|Standish]]. It continues southwards to [[Wigan]], where it flows through a long culvert under the railway near [[Wigan North Western railway station|Wigan North Western station]], is crossed again by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and heads northwest, closely paralleling the canal.<ref name=osmap/>

[[File:Bank Bridge and Warehouse.JPG|thumb|left|The River Douglas passing under [[Bank Hall Estate#Features|Bank Bridge]] at Tarleton.]]
It is crossed by the [[M6 motorway]] and the [[Manchester-Southport line]] near [[Gathurst railway station|Gathurst station]], passes by the village of [[Appley Bridge]], and at [[Parbold]] the canal crosses for the third time, as the river turns to the north and north-west.<ref name=osmap/> The aqueduct was designed by John Longbotham, has a semi-elliptical arch, and dates from 1791 to 1792.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1297537 |desc=Nerburgh Aqueduct |access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> The river drops below the {{convert|33|ft|m|adj=on}} contour at Parbold, and continues across open countryside where it is joined by the [[River Tawd]], flowing north from [[Skelmersdale]], becoming tidal before it reaches the village of [[Rufford, Lancashire|Rufford]]. White Bridge at Rufford is a grade II listed structure with three spans, constructed of squared sandstone. It carries the B5246 Station Road over the river, and dates from the time of the construction of the Douglas Navigation, between 1720 and 1742.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1072502 |desc=White Bridge |access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> Below the bridge, the channel is rather straighter.<ref name=osmap/> Until 1805, the river was joined by the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Sollom Lock, but the lock was abandoned and a new one built further downstream at [[Tarleton]]. In order to do this, a new channel was created for the river further to the east, and the original channel was reused by the canal.{{sfn |Hadfield |Biddle |1970 |p=158}} On the new section, Great Hanging Bridge is similar to White bridge, both in date and in its three arches, and it carries the [[A581 road]]. Below it, the river is joined by the River Yarrow, which has taken a more direct route from its source to this point.<ref name=osmap/> At Tarleton, another three-span bridge carries the [[A59 road]] over the river. It is built from rock-faced sandstone blocks, and the keystone on the southern side indicates it was constructed in 1821. The north side is of red sandstone, with indications that it might once have been part of a narrower bridge.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1073123 |desc=Tarleton Bridge |access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> After its junction with the canal at Tarleton Lock, the final {{convert|4|mi|km}} of the river to its junction with the [[River Ribble]], here also known as the River Asland, is used by boat traffic transferring from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to the [[Lancaster Canal]] since the opening of the [[Ribble Link]] in 2002.{{sfn |Cumberlidge |2009 |p=252}}

==Hydrology==
The reservoirs of the Rivington Chain capture and store run-off from Winter Hill and Rivington Moor, much of which is used to provide a public water supply to areas of Lancashire and Greater Manchester. However, as a result of the original statutes that allowed them to be built, the water company is required to maintain some flow in the river below the reservoirs, and this compensation flow provides a fairly steady baseline flow in the river throughout the year. It is only normally exceeded if the reservoirs become full.{{sfn |CAMS |2013 |p=15}} On the upper reaches of the Douglas, the river bed is relatively steep, and consequently the river level can change quickly as a result of rainfall. As the river progresses to the west, the gradient lessens, and level changes occur more slowly.{{sfn |CFMP |2009 |p=4}}

There are two locations on the river where water is abstracted to maintain levels in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. On many sections of the river, flows are augmented by the discharge from sewage treatment works.{{sfn |CAMS |2013 |p=15}} Major treatment works are located at Horwich on the upper river, at Wigan Wastewater Treatment works in Lathom on the lower section, and at [[Skelmersdale]] on the River Tawd.{{sfn |DMC |2014 |p=23}} Upgrades to the Wigan and Skelmersdale Treatment Works have been carried out, to improve the quality of the final effluent before discharge into the river system, while in Wigan, the sewage system has been improved, to reduce the amount of raw sewage discharged into the river by combined sewer overflows. In Standish, the pumping station at Chorley Road has been upgraded to reduce its impact on the river, while in Horwich, there was an ongoing scheme in 2014 in which volunteers walked the river to identify pollution points, which were then followed up by officers from the Environment Agency. Run-off of nutrients and other pollutants from agricultural land has also been addressed through the Catchment Sensitive Farming project, run jointly by [[Natural England]], the Environment Agency and the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]].{{sfn |DMC |2014 |p=23}} Another joint initiative between the Environment Agency and the [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]] has seen sea defences improved and {{convert|370|acre|ha}} of saltmarsh created as part of the Hesketh Outmarsh Coastal Realignment project.{{sfn |DMC |2014 |p=24}}

==Tributaries==
{{Location map+|Lancashire
 |caption={{center|Settlements near the River Douglas<br />(shown with other rivers and canals in [[Lancashire]])}}
 |label=Rivers and canals in Lancashire
 |float=right
 |width=350
 |AlternativeMap = Rivers of Lancashire.png
 |places =
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.7  |long=-2.85 |label=[[Hesketh Bank|Hesketh&nbsp;Bank]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.678|long=-2.842|label=[[Tarleton]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.633|long=-2.819|label=[[Rufford, Lancashire|Rufford]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.597|long=-2.764|label=[[Parbold]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.579|long=-2.721|label=[[Appley Bridge]]|label_size=85|position=bottom}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.545|long=-2.632|label={{lower|[[Wigan]]}}|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.586|long=-2.664|label={{lower|[[Standish, Greater Manchester|Standish]]}}|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.617|long=-2.599|label=[[Adlington, Lancashire|Adlington]]|label_size=85|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.593|long=-2.559|label=[[Horwich]]|label_size=85|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.630|long=-2.515|label=''[[Winter Hill (North West England)|Winter Hill]]''|label_size=85|mark=Mountain sign.svg|position=right}}

   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.96|long=-2.44|label=''{{lower|2em|[[River Hodder]]}}''|label_size=70|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=left|marksize=1}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.78|long=-2.27|label=''[[River Calder, Lancashire|River Calder]]''|label_size=70|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=1|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.70|long=-2.47|label=''[[River Darwen]]''|label_size=70|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=1|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.90|long=-2.34|label=''[[River Ribble]]''|label_size=70|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=1|position=right}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.80|long=-2.81|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=1|label_size=70|label=''[[Lancaster Canal]]''|position=left}}
   {{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.54|long=-2.95|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=1|label_size=70|label=''[[Leeds and Liverpool Canal]]''|position=right}}
}}
[[File:River Douglas, Bretherton Feb 2010.JPG|thumb|right|River Douglas from the gardens at [[Bank Hall]]. ]]

*Longton Brook
*Centre Drain
*Carr Heys Watercourse
*Tarra Carr Gutter
**Hall Pool
*Dunkirk Dib
*Rakes Brook
*Carr Brook
*Strine Brook
*[[River Yarrow (Lancashire)|River Yarrow]]
**tributaries of the Yarrow listed under River Yarrow

{|
|valign="top"|
*Main Ditch
*Eller Brook
**Wham Ditch
**Black Brook
**Abbey Brook
***New Park Brook
***Castle Brook
***Sefton Brook
****Dungeon Brook
****Dicket's Brook
*****Goose Brook
|valign="top"|
*Mill Ditch
**New Reed Brook
**Bentley Brook
*[[River Tawd]]
**Slate Brook
**Grimshaw Brook
*Middlehurst Brook
*Dock Brook
*Alder Lane Brook
*Sprodley Brook
*Calico Brook
*Lees Brook
|valign="top"|
*Dean Brook
**Sand Brook
*Ackhurst Brook
*Mill Brook
*Bradshaw Brook
*Close Brook
*Barley Brook
*Smithy Brook
**Poolstock Brook
***Ince Brook
****Hawkley Brook
****Reed Brook
*****Park Brook
|valign="top"|
*Clarington Brook
*Bradley Brook
*Bucklow Brook
**Moss Ditch
**Buckow Brook
***Hic-bibi Brook
****Stars Brook
*****Almond Brook
*****Tunley Brook
*Pearl Brook
*Arley Brook
|}
{{clear}}

==Water quality==
The Environment Agency measure the water quality of the river systems in England. Each is given an overall ecological status, which may be one of five levels: high, good, moderate, poor and bad. There are several components that are used to determine this, including biological status, which looks at the quantity and varieties of [[invertebrate]]s, [[angiosperm]]s and fish, and chemical status, which compares the concentrations of various chemicals against known safe concentrations. Chemical status is rated good or fail.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/glossary |website=Catchment Data Explorer |title=Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status) |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=1 August 2018}}</ref>

The water quality of the River Douglas system was as follows in 2016. The section marked Ribble covers the tidal River Ribble and the lower {{convert|4|mi|km}} of tidal River Douglas. Reasons for the quality being less than good include sewage discharge for most of the river, together with physical modification of the channel and poor nutrient management of agricultural land on the lower sections.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Section !! Ecological Status !! Chemical Status !! Overall Status !! Length !! Catchment !! Channel
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Douglas - Upper |asset=GB112070064850 |accessdate=1 August 2018}} 
| {{waterqual_mod}} 
| {{waterqual_good}} 
| {{waterqual_mod}} 
| {{convert|8.8|mi}}
| {{convert|17.78|sqmi}}
| heavily modified
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Buckhow (Hic Bibbi) Brook |asset=GB112070064800 |accessdate=1 August 2018}} 
| {{waterqual_mod}} 
| {{waterqual_good}} 
| {{waterqual_mod}} 
| {{convert|5.9|mi}}
| {{convert|3.64|sqmi}}
| heavily modified
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Douglas - Mid |asset=GB112070064780 |accessdate=1 August 2018}} 
| {{waterqual_mod}} 
| {{waterqual_good}} 
| {{waterqual_mod}} 
| {{convert|5.8|mi}}
| {{convert|6.65|sqmi}}
| heavily modified
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Douglas - Lower |asset=GB112070064820 |accessdate=1 August 2018}} 
| {{waterqual_mod}} 
| {{waterqual_good}} 
| {{waterqual_mod}} 
| {{convert|15.3|mi}}
| {{convert|28.85|sqmi}}
| heavily modified
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Ribble |asset=GB531207112400 |accessdate=1 August 2018}} 
| {{waterqual_bad}} 
| {{waterqual_good}} 
| {{waterqual_bad}} 
| 
|
| heavily modified
|}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book
  |last=CAMS
  |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/300484/LIT7919v3_f881c4.pdf
  |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141222093958/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/300484/LIT7919v3_f881c4.pdf
  |url-status=dead
  |archive-date=2014-12-22
  |title=Ribble, Douglas and Crossens abstraction licensing strategy
  |publisher=Environment Agency
  |date=February 2013
  }}
*{{cite book
  |last=CFMP
  |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293762/Douglas_Catchment_Flood_Management_Plan.pdf
  |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100530161820/http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GENW0309BPTQ-E-E.pdf
  |archive-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=live
  |title=River Douglas Catchment Flood Management Plan
  |publisher=Environment Agency
  |date=December 2009
  }}
*{{cite book
  |last=DMC
  |url=https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/file/3167347
  |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20150320041323/https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/file/3167347
  |url-status=dead
  |archive-date=2015-03-20
  |title=Douglas Management Catchment
  |publisher=Environment Agency
  |year=2014
  }}
*{{Cite book 
  |first=Jane |last=Cumberlidge 
  |title=Inland Waterways of Great Britain (8th Ed.)
  |publisher=Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson 
  |year=2009 
  |isbn=978-1-84623-010-3
  }}
*{{Cite book
  |first1=Charles |last1=Hadfield
  |first2=Gordon |last2=Biddle
  |title=The Canals of North West England, Vol 1 (pp.1-236)
  |year=1970
  |publisher=David and Charles
  |isbn=978-0-7153-4956-4
  }}
{{Refend}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{River item box
|type=confluence
|River=[[River Ribble]]
|upstream=[[Freckleton Pool]] (north)
|downstream=–}}

==External links==
{{commons category|River Douglas|position=left}}
*[http://www.ribblelink.co.uk Ribble Link Trust]
*[http://www.heskethbank.com/history/photos/river.html Photographs of the River Douglas]
*[http://seafishingandwalking.co.uk/2006/08/walking-along-the-river-douglas-lancashire/ A few views of the River Douglas in a personal 'blog']

{{Rivers of Lancashire}}
{{Lancashire}}
{{Greater Manchester}}
{{West Lancashire geography}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Lancashire|Douglas]]
[[Category:Rivers of Greater Manchester|Douglas]]
[[Category:West Pennine Moors]]
[[Category:Douglas catchment| ]]