208 Radcliffe. 







the present instance, by the Irwell, which was evidently, 

 at one time, by no means the narrow stream it is to- 

 day. How broad was the roll of water is shown by 

 the remains of the ancient "river-terraces" of the Irwell- 

 valley, the date of which is, nevertheless, not of the geo- 

 logical kind, indefinitely remote, but probably as near to 

 our own period as that of the first inhabitants of the 

 island.* The source of the Irwell is near Dirpley-hill, a 

 little above Bacup. Some, however, consider it to begin 

 in a rivulet that takes its rise upon Cridden-hill, and 

 which joins the former at Tottington Higher-end. Sub- 

 sequently it receives the Roch, and (after a well-known 

 and sinuous course through Broughton,) the Irk, and 

 the Medlock. 



At Clifton Junction the line divides, the left-hand rails 

 conveying us to Bolton, while those upon the right, going 

 over Clifton Viaduct, bear away to Bury, and constitute 

 the old "East Lancashire." Taking the latter, in a 

 few minutes we are at Radcliffe, or the village by the 

 " red cliffs," which here are rather bold and conspicuous, 

 though the scenery is by no means equal to that of 

 Prestwich. Radcliffe is noted as the ancient seat of the 

 very old and distinguished family of that name; and 

 illustrates the truthfulness of Camden's remark, that no 

 county more abounds than Lancashire with ancient 



* See, upon this, and every other point connected with our local 

 geology, Mr John Taylor's admirable " Geological Essays, and the 

 Geology of Manchester." 1864. 



