Mill owners would though have prior rights of supply, meaning water could be drawn into the canal only when the river ran above a certain level.

It is essential to understand that in the end, no such extensions were ever made, either to the east or west from their canal termini in Bury and Bolton respectively.

Although still far from complete, early commercial activity was reported upon the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal from around 1796,[7] and it quickly became clear that water supply measures were inadequate.

The Company’s Annual General Assembly received a report the same year, prepared by William Crosley, on the state of the canal and measures to supply it with water, or otherwise.

Among the options to increase water supply was a proposal to make a reservoir at Bank Top, upon the boundary of Radcliffe and Elton.

[9] Lord Grey de Wilton and the Earl of Derby meanwhile maintained throughout that they would be guided always by their tenant mill owners’ satisfaction with essential additional water supply measures brought forward by the Company.

A special meeting of the proprietors of the canal was held in 1800 at which plans were outlined for a possible ‘feeder’ to convey river water to their proposed reservoir.

In 1802, The company placed an advert for canal diggers to tender for work to make the reservoir, and feeder, by separate lots.

[15] It was reported that construction commenced in 1802,[16] although it is worth noting that the account of John Gorst shows an agreement for land in Elton was not actually signed until the January of 1804.

However, a Company account of 1906 reports all such works to have been completed 1839-40 by which time the top water surface area had been increased to about 55 acres.

[20] A newspaper report of the time indicates they would have been completed closer to 1842[21] although there would be a delay strengthening an embankment meaning the Company was unable to take fullest advantage of their enlarged reservoir until 1844-5.