The Rivington Reservoirs. 227 



Resuming by the embankment that divides the Riving- 

 ton and Anglezark reservoirs, we ascend through the 

 little wood upon the left, and so onwards, through the 

 fields abreast of the water, to the " Blackamoor's-head," 

 which lies just at the foot of the former, on the side op- 

 posite that which we reach from the station. Behind 

 the hotel, at the distance of half-a-mile or so, is " Dean- 

 wood," a beautiful glen, which may be reached by the 

 . fields and going up past the lodge. At the upper end 

 there is a waterfall, which descends in white shreds into 

 the ravine. 



The Act of Parliament authorising the construction of 

 these great reservoirs was obtained in 1847. The works 

 were commenced in 1850, and water from them was first 

 delivered in Liverpool, January 2, 1857. The area of 

 the reservoirs is 500 acres : the contents, when they are 

 full, amount to 3170 millions of gallons, of which the 

 "Rivington" alone holds 1800 millions. The supply, 

 like that of the Manchester water-works in the upper 

 Etherowe valley, is obtained from the high grounds above, 

 or from a space of 10,000 acres, chiefly moorland, whence 

 the slight discoloration of the water. The rivers Doug- 

 las, Yarrow, and Roddlesworth, with other streams, are 

 the chief feeders. After heavy and continuous rain, 

 when the reservoirs are full, the great steps intended for 

 overflows are the scenes of superb waterfalls. In a word, 

 whether upon a level with them, or surveying from above, 

 these great lakes, provided there be plenty of water, form 



