Sutton Brook, St.Helens
Sutton Brook Gets Pumped!
10 February 2007
Well, we all need a little help at times and Sutton Brook is no exception. Although technically it's Pendlebury Brook which is currently requiring the assistance of a special pumping unit until a new bridge can be constructed. As Pendlebury Brook enters Brickfields under Walkers Lane, it evolves into Sutton Brook which flows throughout Sutton and eventually into the St Helens / Sankey Canal. The water ingresses Brickfields via a bridge on Walkers Lane which, as you can see from the picture below, is rather ancient and has of late endured considerable volumes of traffic going over it. Indeed last year residents of Walkers Lane mounted a protest against the number of buses using the narrow road. So a 14 week project began on January 22nd to replace the old bridge with a new concrete structure.
Oh and by the way if you are wondering why Brickfields has recently been given that name, the answer lies in Ibstock brickworks (pictured left) which is immediately to the right of the site as one enters it from Chester Lane. Ibstock are part of an Irish group with about fifteen other brick and clay factories throughout the UK and have been in Sutton for quite a while.
Sutton Brook is now moving like greased lightning throughout Brickfields! I don't think I've ever seen it flow quite so fast. I took this picture yesterday by clambering down the bank where the water is being pumped in. It didn't do my dignity (or trousers) any good!
I have also noticed that further down Walkers Lane there's a building marked Pendlebury Pumping Station which has clearly been in existence for some years although I haven't noticed it before. If anyone knows how this fits into the overall scheme of things, I would be keen to hear from you.
The water is being sucked out of Pendlebury by a pumping station.
Note the old bridge in the background.
In the meantime until the new bridge is constructed, the water from Pendlebury is being pumped into Brickfields by an imposing pumping unit complete with generator. The Sutton Brook has been in existence for hundreds of years so it's nice to know that they have gone to the trouble of ensuring that the flow continues while the construction work takes place.
UPDATE 12/02/2007
I have also noticed that further down Walkers Lane there's a building marked Pendlebury Pumping Station which has clearly been in existence for some years although I haven't noticed it before. If anyone knows how this fits into the overall scheme of things, I would be keen to hear from you.
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