The whole area was heavily glaciated during the Pleistocene and the retreat of the glaciers formed a deep overflow channel from Brinscall to Horwich. The Valleys follow faults in the bedrock along a roughly south-east to north-west axis, this deep valley is now occupied by the Anglezarke and Rivington reservoirs.

I have included a series of 10 screenshots linked here in PDF format showing the old and current maps using Mario overlay of all the buildings, land, road and footpaths, showing the exact OS location under water, the file covers all of the chain of reservoirs. The maps are courtesy of Lancashire County Council.

The provision of clean water may seem today an obvious solution where the workforce in a booming industrial economy were stricken by illness due to poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water, however in the years before the Rivington Pike Scheme the notion of paying out money for the poorer citizens to have access to clean water was controversial, after a decade of campaigning the first local victory for the public health movement for the provision of clean water was the Chorley Waterworks Act 1846.¹⁾

In Liverpool average life expectancy by class ranged from 15 years for the poor to 35 years for the well to do. Liverpool had a significant public health problem and hired Dr William Duncan as its medical officer of health and sought a solution.²⁾ Three engineers were engaged in the 1846, Mr Hawksley, Mr Cubitt and Mr Rendel were to investigate various schemes to obtain clean water. Mr Hawsley proposed to take the waters from the River Douglas and Roddlesworth to form a reservoir between Heath Charnock and Rivington Pike, many early plans were dismissed and the schemes met with opposition, competing engineers at the time had various proposals, one being to take water from Wales, to adjudicate railway engineer Robert Stephenson was brought in to arbitrate, the 'Rivington Pike Scheme' as we see today designed by Thomas Hawlsey was chosen and then presented to parliament.^3) 4)

The Scheme was proposed in a private bill to the House of Lords⁵⁾ along with full plans⁶⁾ and was enacted as the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks Act, 1847, however by 1850 the Lords were presented a petition against the 1847 Act from Robert Andrews of Rivington Hall, Chorley Waterworks company and ratepayers of Liverpool. The petition was dismissed due to many signing who were not Liverpool ratepayers. The committee on review of evidence presented by the Earl of Hardwicke did make provisions to ensure that Liverpool would not take water that Chorley had right to.⁷⁾ The public health movement had campaigned for a decade and the introduction of public health measures was at the time politically controversial, in the case of Chorley the opposition was from fear that the borough would see its supply of clean water Siphoned off to Liverpool. In Liverpool opponents wanted to use local sources of water to the city, thus saving money, they became known as the 'Anti-Pikists', whilst the 'Pikists' took the position that no other means of supplying water was viable. ⁸⁾,⁹⁾.

The Rivington Pike Scheme commenced by the creation of a dam at Rake Brook, creating the Rake Brook and Upper Roddlesworth reservoirs on the River Roddlesworth near Abbey Village in Lancashire which is connected to the Rivington system by the 'Goit'.^10) 11) The three principle reservoirs are Anglezarke, Upper Rivington and Lower Rivington in a 6km chain and straddle three valleys. The source of the water is principally the River Yarrow, with additional water being diverted to the Lower Rivington reservoir from the river Douglas. They are Thomas Hawksley's first reservoir designs and are shallow, with seven embankments that total 3km in length. The combined high-water area is 188 hectares and total volume 12.7 million litres. The two reservoirs today are popular with tourists and were mostly completed by 1857, five years later than the Anglezarke Reservoir to the north.¹²⁾ In 1852 the local children seem to have been distracted by the building of the Rivington Reservoirs, attendance was down at Lee Chapel School in the neighbouring town of Horwich. A reservoir created in 1850 on a parcel of land sold to Chorley by Thomas Pilkington, then owner of High Bullough¹³⁾ was expanded in 1870. ¹⁴⁾¹⁵⁾

High Bullough Reservoir was designed by John Frederic Bateman of Chorley Waterworks Company and was taken over by the Liverpool Corporation in 1856. The Yarrow Reservoir begun in 1867 and was designed by Thomas Duncan. The filter beds were set up at the Horwich Embankment and from here from a single pipeline runs 27.35km to the service reservoirs at Prescot, outside Liverpool.

The water is sourced mainly from the Roddlesworth, Flake, Yarrow and Douglas. From the Roddlesworth and Rake reservoirs, a channel, known as the Goit was cut to carry the water to join the main system, rainfall is collected by earth embankments and carried across the natural valleys, in total the Rivington Watershed now comprises of 10,000 acres.¹⁶⁾

The area is today known as the 'Lancashire Lakes' or 'The little lake district'.

During the building of the reservoirs one of the complaints came from Bickacre bleach works who protested on pollution of the water supply in 1853. ¹⁷⁾ The scheme's earliest failure in 1860 led to water being sought from elsewhere. In the period prior the wealthy were paying to buy in clean water privately in and having sewage taken away.¹⁸⁾¹⁹⁾. In Liverpool the water from the reservoirs was not at first well received due to its brown colour and more locally the Horwich Vale print works, in existence from 1799 took legal action regarding the compensation water which was claimed was to be no longer suitable for its use as a result of the scheme. The print works engaged Liverpool in a legal battle and the end result was the closure of the works in 1860, with massive job losses causing lower Horwich depopulation. Cooke & Nuttalls Paper mill later took over the mill. ²⁰⁾, ²¹⁾ The Vale Print works in Horwich had previously closed between 1846 and 1849.²²⁾

On completion the scheme water shortage occurred due to a drought of 1864 leading to inadequate supplies for 18 months, followed by nine leaks in 1865 and also continued drought, requiring additional reserves of water to brought in and Chorley baths to be closed, the situation resolved itself by October of the same year. ²³⁾,²⁴⁾,²⁵⁾,²⁶⁾.

Rivington Lakes, photograph taken at Anglezarke View Point, April 2011. To expand the view to show the Lower and Upper Rivington reservoirs in addition to Anglezarke reservoir above please click on the picture.²⁷⁾

Rivington Lakes, 1872, view from Stones House (today known as Anglezarke View Point). The painting is named 'Rivington Lakes' by Frederick William Hulme 1816-1884. The development of the reservoirs kick started a tourist industry by the mid 19th century which continues today, with the area becoming known as 'The Little Lake District'. The house in the centre is The Street, Dill Hall Brow, Heath Charnock, Chorley PR6 9HD. ²⁸⁾, ²⁹⁾

The painting by Frederick William Hulme is on display in Bolton Museum and Art gallery and a copy is at Ridgmont House, Horwich.

The Street has survived and is today private apartments.

The Street, Dill Hall Brow, Heath Charnock, Chorley PR6 9HD, built in 1850 by Horwich industrialist and philanthropist Peter Martin, is near the site of a much older dwelling. The painting 'Rivington Lakes' by Frederick William Hulme depicts the this property in the centre. The house known has survived, although much internally altered from its original construction, the building has been converted and restored.

Buildings were demolished and foundations submerged for the reservoirs these were Lady Hall and Stack Hall at the lower rivington reservoir, Anderton, Turners House and Farm were cleared for the Yarrow reservoir and the Black a'Moors Inn near the Church Hill Wood at the Upper Rivington reservoir, Walker Houses were on the Anderton side of the Upper Rivington reservoir and were also wiped off the map and another property called Street Bottoms, located between the Island that now exists and the Street, still standing. Three of the buildings were later rebuilt nearby but were again demolished. Part of the old road Bolton & Nightingale Trust road is also under this part of the Reservoir. The Millstone Embankment road was added to replace that section.

Turners farm stone was used to construct Dean Wood House, its foundation is under the Yarrow.³¹⁾,³²⁾

Anderton had three halls, the Anderton Old Hall, The New Anderton Hall (Stoners) and Lady Hall. Stoners Anderton Hall could be accessed by the reservoir via four sets of steps of the type as seen on the image. The hall was known for its gardens, it was from here that the fire brigade was called to Leverhulmes bungalow in 1913.

The remains of the original Ladyhall otherwise known as Ladyhough at Rivington now sits underwater at the lower Rivington Reservoir at SD 6110 2360.³³⁾,³⁴⁾ The Hall was home of the Cunliffe family, part owners of the manor of Anderton.

Stoners Anderton Hall was built on the west bank of the Rivington Reservoir. The Hall was built in 1863 by the Stoner family to replace Lady Hall, the large mansion in the image was located across the water on the Anderton side near the current Anderton Centre and across the water from Go Ape. The house was the home of Charles James Stonor of Anderton Hall had married Maud Mary Welman of Norton Manor, Somerset, 1865. The hall was sold in 1897 to 237 acres Richard Bond, George T. Brown and Augustine Bond and in 1899 to Liverpool Corporation and leased to Alderman Lawrence, owner of the Lyons Lane Mill, Chorley, it was demolished in 1930. Today its armorial stones that once surrounded the building now form a garden wall at Rivington Hall.

This image is taken from an old publication and depicts a view with the house known as the original building named 'The Street' on the left and looking toward what is now the 'View Point', where once stood 'Stones House'. The view also predates the expansion of the quarry which expanded to provide stone for the reservoirs.

Rivington looking toward Anglezarke View Point (Stones House) on the horizon with The Street on the left. ³⁵⁾

The area of the valley shown here is today underwater.

Sir Alfred East R.A created four paintings while a guest of Leverhulme at Rivington in 1910. One was “The Fair Lands Of The North”.³⁶⁾

Rivington Water, Sir Alfred East, 1910 ³⁷⁾³⁸⁾

View From Bungalow, Rivington Sir Alfred East, 1910 ³⁹⁾⁴⁰⁾

Alfred East Art Gallery is located in Kettering and is named in memory of the well known painter who became a Knight in 1910 and gifted his painting 'Midland Meadows' to Kettering that year, by 1911 he gifted a further 70 works of his art to his home town. Details of his art can be viewed at the link here.

• Bolton Chronicle 14th November 1846: Notice of an application to Parliament by Liverpool Corporation to dam Rake Brook and the river Roddlesworth to provide a water supply for Liverpool.
• Bolton Chronicle 5th June 1847: An estimate of the cost of investigation into the proposed Water Scheme at Rivington would be £30,000.
• Bolton Chronicle 6th November 1847: Two reservoirs planned, to be called Anglezarke Reservoir and the Rivington Pike Reservoir.
• Bolton Chronicle 24th June 1848: After a heated discussion it was decided by Liverpool Council with a vote of 24 to 20 not to proceed with the Rivington Pike Scheme, but to order a survey of the probable cost.
• Bolton Chronicle 5th August 1848: Another vote taken at Liverpool on the resolution to suspend for twelve months all proceedings on the Rivington Pike Scheme. It was defeated by 30 votes to 15.
• Bolton Chronicle 13th January 1849: A vote at Liverpool on the continuance of the Rivington Pike Scheme. Mr. Harbord warned that if they introduced the Scheme, dysentery, ague and other ailments would prevail amongst the rich and poor of the Town every Autumn. It was voted 21 to 13 to suspend all operations.
• Bolton Chronicle 27th January 1849: A Petition by the ratepayers of Liverpool for a Public Meeting to discuss the Rivington Pike Scheme.
• Bolton Chronicle 17th February 1849: It was voted to stop the Rivington Pike Scheme.
• Bolton Chronicle 12th May 1849: A report by the Engineers recommended sinking more wells in Liverpool
• Bolton Chronicle 19th May 1849: The council voted to abandon the Rivington Pike scheme, sacrificing £50,000 already spent.
• Bolton Chronicle 17th November 1849: Notice was published of the abandonment of the Rivington Pike scheme.
• Bolton Chronicle 30th March 1850: A letter from a Liverpool tradesman supporting the Rivington Pike Scheme after a visit to Bolton and observing the fire-fighting arrangements.
• Bolton Chronicle 6th April 1850: Publication of Mr. Robert Stephenson’s report which favoured the Rivington Pike Scheme and dismissed the sinking of extra wells in Liverpool .
• Bolton Chronicle 13th April 1850: It was voted by the Committee to re-adopt the Rivington Pike Scheme by 37 votes to 12.
• Bolton Chronicle 4th May 1850: The Rivington Pike Scheme was sanctioned. `
• Bolton Chronicle 7th June 1851: Expenditure on the Rivington Scheme so far: 1848 £ 27,454 12s 4d, 1849 £ 22,876 8s 11d, 1850 £104,831 14s 3d, 1851 £ 30,335 3s 2d, Bolton Chronicle 13th September 1851, Tenders for work accepted.
• Bolton Chronicle 15th January 1853: Discussion on the progress of the Rivington Scheme.
• Bolton Chronicle 29th January 1853: Description of the Contracts of the Scheme. Contract no. 3 Roddlesworth, Mr Isherwood £22,000. Contract no. 4 The Anglezarke or Knowsley Messrs. Miller and Lawton £22,080. Contract no. 5 Extends from Horwich to Knowsley about two miles and includes the Main Works, Messrs. Scott and Knowell £ 65,000. Horwich pool will have about 300 acres, upwards of a mile in length and in some places half a mile across and is partly crossed by the Black Boy bank. A Goit 4 ½ miles long will join the Knowsley pool and the Roddlesworth.
• Bolton Chronicle 28th May 1853: Report of a compensation claim by Mrs. Mary Ann Bibby in respect of her farm at Rivington and Heath Charnock. The Corporation had acquired all the land needed except for this and had been unable to come to terms. Mrs. Bibby requested £200 and the Corporation had offered £45 The Farm was 22 ½ statute acres and the rent was £30 . It had been held by Mrs. Bibby and her husband for about 11 years. Postponed until June 11th pending a settlement.
• Bolton Chronicle 4th June 1853: Protest from Birkacre Bleach Works for pollution of the river Yarrow by the works at Rivington.
• Bolton Chronicle 6th January 1855: Discussion on the Rivington Scheme. About £430,000 spent so far and £29,000 still required.
• Bolton Chronicle 26th January 1856: Completion Certificate due to be signed, the reservoirs expected to be full in a week or two.
• Bolton Chronicle 16th February 1856: Reservoirs filling rapidly - Anglezarke full.
• Bolton Chronicle 11th October 1856: Notice of sale of equipment used on the Rivington Water Scheme includes rails, sleepers, engines and 600 wheelbarrows.
• Bolton Chronicle 25th October 1856: A description of the completed Water Works.
• Chorley Standard 22nd July 1865 A shortage of water reported following a drought of 1864, there being below average rainfall for 18 months.
• Chorley Standard 19th August 1865: A report on the Reservoirs — 9 leaks was reported in the pipeline, 6 had been repaired and 3 were in hand. Additional reserves of water were required.
• Chorley Standard 30th September 1865: Report on the Reservoirs — average rainfall in the last fortnight was only 0.046 inches. Reservoir levels still dropping.
• Chorley Standard 14th October 1865: Water shortage continues, average rainfall only 0.13 inches. It is recommended that Chorley Baths be closed.
• Chorley Standard 28th October 1865: Water levels are rising due to rainfall.

• Victorian Water Engineers” by G.M. Binnie, Thomas Telford, London, 1981
• Reservoirs from Rivington to Rossendale, by N. Hoyle, North West Water Authority, Warrington, 1987

It is possible to view the first OS map 1:10,000 with an overlay of the current OS map using the Mario site, the maps are located at http://mario.lancashire.gov.uk/agsmario/.