![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Ladyshore_irwell_old_supports.jpg/200px-Ladyshore_irwell_old_supports.jpg)
Lever Bank Bleach Works was a Bleach Works at Ladyshore, near Little Lever, Bolton. The works was owned by Thomas Ridgway & Sons. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would appear to be a direct descendant of this family.[1]
Location
The works was located between the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal to the north, and the River Irwell to the south, in the area known as Ladyshore in the Irwell Valley.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Irwell_weir.jpg/200px-Irwell_weir.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Lever_bank_bleach_works_ladyshore.jpg/200px-Lever_bank_bleach_works_ladyshore.jpg)
Accessed from Ladyshore Bridge, over the canal, the cobbled pathway is still very much evident. Stanchions across the river still stand although the bridge/pipework they supported no longer exists. A weir was built on the nearby River Irwell and water diverted through a small channel into a reservoir. High quality stone walls are still evident along the banks of the river.
The weir collapsed in June 2012.[2]
References
- ^ "This is Lancashire". Blair's family tree has branches in Bolton!. Archived from the original (HTTP) on 3 January 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
- ^ Historic weir falls victim to flooding, theboltonnews.co.uk, 13 July 2012, retrieved 6 August 2012
External links
53°33′13″N 2°21′39″W / 53.553651°N 2.360789°W