River Bollin

The River Bollin is a major tributary of the River Mersey in the north-west of England.

River Bollin
The River Bollin flows beneath the southern runway of Manchester Airport in this tunnel
The River Bollin and its tributaries within its catchment area. The direction of flow is east to west. Also shown is the sub-catchment area of the River Dean.
Location
Country	England
Counties	Cheshire, Greater Manchester
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Macclesfield Forest, Cheshire
• coordinates	53.2418°N 2.0397°W / 53.2418; -2.0397
• elevation	300 m (980 ft)
Mouth	Manchester Ship Canal
• location	Warburton, Greater Manchester
• coordinates	53.3961°N 2.4786°W / 53.3961; -2.4786
• elevation	11 m (36 ft)
Length	49 km (30 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries
• right	River Dean

It rises in Macclesfield Forest at the western end of the Peak District, and can be seen in spring form, from the Buxton to Macclesfield road. The stream then descends the 10 miles (16 km) through Macclesfield and The Carrs Park in Wilmslow where it has a confluence with the River Dean, near to Styal Prison. For the following 10 miles (16 km) it defines the southwestern portion of the border between Greater Manchester and Cheshire before merging with the River Mersey north of Lymm. It flows through the Styal country park and was used in the cotton calico factory there, Quarry Bank Mill, as a source of power. Near to the Quarry Bank Mill site there is a natural weir. The Bollin is culverted underneath the southern runway of Manchester Airport.

The town of Macclesfield used to dispose all its waste and sewage into the Bollin. The profusion of human sewage in the Bollin was still common in 1850.