Mersey

Mersey, an important river of England, separates, in its lower course, the counties of Chester and Lancaster, and has its origin in the junction of the Etherow and Goyt, on the borders of Derbyshire, east of Stockport. It flows in a west-south-west direction, and is joined on the right by the Irwell 6 miles below Manchester, from where it was made navigable to Liverpool for large vessels in the year 1720, and has had great influence on the subsequent progress of the two towns. Besides the Irwell the chief affluents are the Bollin and the Weaver from Cheshire. At its junction with the Weaver the Mersey expands into a wide estuary which forms the Liverpool channel. The estuary is about 16 miles long and from 1 to 3 miles broad; opposite Liverpool it is a mile and a quarter in width, with a considerable depth at low-water. In this estuary on the Cheshire side is the entrance to the Manchester Ship-canal. The estuary is much obstructed by sandbanks, but the excellent system of pilotage in practice, combined with the skilful and admirable construction of the sea-walls, renders the navigation comparatively secure. Entire length, with the estuary, 70 miles. A tunnel connecting Liverpool and Birkenhead by railway carried beneath the estuary has been in successful operation since January 20, 1886. The alluvial meadows on the banks of the Mersey are famous for their fertility, and in recent years, by embanking the river at points where it overflowed after heavy rains, many thousands of acres of the most valuable land in the two counties have been reclaimed. The basin of the Mersey extends over an area of 1706 sq. m., which includes the larger portion of Lancashire and Cheshire.