The Sutton Brook in Sutton, St.Helens

A Sutton artery that connects with the St.Helens Canal

THE SUTTON BROOK flows throughout Sutton and ultimately into the St.Helens / Sankey Canal. The brook has been in existence for hundreds of years and attained notoriety during the mid-nineteenth century when it was colloquially referred to as the Stygian brook (i.e. dark and dismal) or 'Stinky' brook. At this time Sutton was at its industrial peak and the brook became the dumping ground for much industrial and chemical waste.

sutton brook gateway sign
The Sutton Brook Greenway sign in Watery Lane, photographed in September 2008.

Like the other brooks in St.Helens, Sutton Brook also acted as a sewer. Bernard Dromgoole of the St.Helens Newspaper complained in his editorials of:

The brooks which flow through our midst and which for
miles are perfect pests and horrible stinking cesspools.

Early in the twentieth century part of Sutton Brook was dug as a relief channel to help prevent the Sutton Manor Colliery from flooding.

The Sutton Brook in Sutton, St Helens
The Sutton Brook about to pass under Clock Face Road photographed in March 2006

The upper reaches of Sutton Brook are known as Pendlebury Brook which flows under Prescot, Whiston and Rainhill and enters Sutton under a bridge at Walkers Lane. It then traverses Sutton Manor park (aka King George V playing fields) and flows across Brickfields, adjacent to the former Ibstock Brickworks.

The exact point of delineation between Pendlebury Brook and Sutton Brook is a matter for debate. However the stream is certainly Sutton Brook when it passes by and under Chester Lane and Clock Face Road and into the Sutton Mill Dam Wildlife Park. Here it forms a lake behind the dam measuring 360 metres in length. Leaving Sutton Mill Dam as a waterfall, (pictured left), Sutton Brook flows adjacent to the Wheatsheaf pub and then under Mill Lane. For many years it was referred to at this point as 'Dickies Bruk', named after local farmer Dickie Rimmer. Nearby land used to be quite boggy, but in the 1950s the St.Helens Corporation deepened the brook and tipped refuse and earth onto the ground near the Wheatsheaf Hotel, ameliorating the situation.

The stream continues its journey under the Liverpool to Manchester railway line and into the former Gerards Lane adventure playground. It used to be quite deep here after passing through "a beautiful hillside of farmland and wild life" as described by Frank Bamber - who was born in 1910 - in his memoirs. Much of the land and streams between the Mill Dam and the Reservoir (or Monastery) Dam was originally bought by the London and Manchester Plate Glass company to supply their works with a regular supply of water or was farmed by the Whalley family. This has largely been replaced by the former Beth Avenue estate, now Ridgewood Drive.

The stream then flows under Robins Lane and Ellamsbridge Road and then along Worsley Brow by the side of the former Sutton National School. At this point, it was always locally referred to as the 'School Brook'.

From here it traverses under Watery Lane, near to the Bowling Green pub and turns from flowing north to flowing back east before turning north again in the area of Jackson Street and Parr Industrial Estate where it is joined by the Hardshaw Brook.

At the point where the Hardshaw Brook joins the Sutton Brook, the water becomes the Sankey Brook. As it flows through Parr and Broad Oak, it's joined by the Rainford Brook and the Black Brook. This area is known as the Sankey Valley and the water flows via the Sankey Canal through Earlestown, Newton, Winwick, Penketh and Great Sankey.

The sign in Watery Lane pictured at the top of this page and located close to where this photograph (right) was taken, is indicative of the wildlife, birds and wildflowers that can be found on Sutton Brook's route through the former township as is traverses towards St.Helens town centre. Part of the sign reads:

There is a wide range of birds to be seen along its route including blackbirds, chaffinches, sparrows and thrushes. Amongst the banks and waterway you can see kingfishers, moorhens, grey wagtails, coots and mallards. Providing shelter and food for the birds you will find trees such as willow, ash, oak, hazel, cherry, crab apple and elder.Along the route you will find many species of wildflowers including foxglove, yellow loosestrife and red campion. Grasses and herbs are also found and these encourage butterflies and moths. Living in the brook and on its banks are water voles which should not be mistaken for rats. Fish like the roach can be found in the brook especially near the outfalls.

Header picture: Sutton Brook in February 2007 as it approaches Mill Lane by the Wheatsheaf

Sutton Brook Photo-Album | Flash Slideshow | Research Sources

This website has been written and researched and most images photographed by the Sutton Beauty & Heritage site owner, Stephen Wainwright. All rights are reserved but my pictures and text content can be re-used, although I would prefer a credit. High resolution versions of many photographs can be supplied on request at no charge. Other images are used for heritage and educational purposes and are believed to be in the public domain. This site takes a responsible attitude to copyright and, where appropriate, I endeavour to obtain permission from rights holders. This is not always possible and you are encouraged to contact me via the contact page to resolve any rights issue or if you require accreditation for the use of any photograph on this site.

Sutton Beauty & Heritage strives for factual accuracy at all times. Please do also get in touch if you believe that there are any errors, with details of any corrections contained within the site's update history page, which also details the regular updates. Many individuals from all over the world have kindly contributed Sutton information or photographs. If you would like to participate in this project, I would be delighted to hear from you and this website always credits any assistance given. Do also consider contributing any recollections of old Sutton that you might have for the Sutton Memories pages, which are proving very popular. I respond quickly to all emails and if you haven't received a response within 12 hours, please check your junk mail folder or send your message again. Thank you! SRW