Why is the River Mersey brown?

The distinctive murky brown colour of the River Mersey is not due to pollution as many believe, instead it's a result of the silt and sand that is kicked up by the fast current of the river. read more

The Mersey is formed from three tributaries: the River Etherow, the River Goyt and the River Tame. The modern accepted start of the Mersey is at the confluence of the Tame and Goyt, in central Stockport, Greater Manchester. read more

Through the centre of London flows the River Thames, the ancient base for the city which helped it grow so rapidly through the centuries. Growing up the older generation would tell you about how the big brown river was dead and toxic and how any romance of the visible aspects of the river were lost in the fact that it was so heavily polluted. read more

The River Mersey represents part the historical boundary between the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. However, today it flows through the metropolitan county of Merseyside. In Anglo-Saxon times, the Mersey might have been the border between Northumbria and Mercia. read more