I joined a Facebook group recently to try and identify a photograph from the Lancashire County Council’s Red Rose Collections. Thus far, I have not been successful. Nobody has recognised it.
As I am now a member of the group, I see other photos that people have posted for identification. A photograph appeared on the group today that I immediately recognised. It was not the specific picture that I knew, I don’t think that I have ever seen this one before. However, I definitely recognised the view. These falls were on the River Darwen, so are referenced as ‘Darwen Falls’ in most cases. However, they are also known locally as ‘Red Rocks’. They consisted of a soft red sandstone and sadly washed away in heavy flooding, as I remembered it, either at the end of the last century or the beginning of this one.
On the photograph, you can see some wooden supports on the top level. The natural falls were modified to make a weir and raise the water levels to serve an attached mill. Ultimately, this probably contributed to their later destruction.
The building in the distance is Bannister Hall. You can see the glass all around the back. This is indicated on the Ordnance Survey map of 1912, which is available from the NLoS (National Library of Scotland) website.
NLoS: https://maps.nls.uk/view/126517655
The Red Rock Falls were in Higher Walton, which was then possibly still known as Moon’s Mill. The name changed later to Higher Walton.
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The message, and address, on the postcard read as follows:
Dear Miss Kirkham
I send you this to tell you I have not forgotten you. It is a view of Walton. I hope you have had a nice time at Liverpool, my Brother and his young lady are coming to Kirkby Lonsdale on Saturday.
Annie Dewhurst
67 Victoria Rd,
Walton le dale
Nr Preston
I dont think I shall get again this year, I am very busy at work. My Brother Harry wishes to be remembered to you,
with best love
Annie
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Darwen Falls, Higher Walton. Preston No. 248.
A sepia postcard RPPC (Real Photograph Post Card) by Evans, publisher.
From the Preston Digital Archive.
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It appears that the falls, as they once were, collapsed in heavy flooding during 2012.
On the 29th December 2012, around 9am, due to the high level of water in the River Darwen following the floods earlier in the year, the weir at Red Rocks, originally built for the mill downstream, collapsed. This caused the level of the Darwen in that area to drop approximately 4 metres and thus changing the landscape. Prior to this, the river cascaded over the top of the weir in a dramatic way, and it has now gone back to the course it followed before the mill weir was built.
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