Bealey's weir was built across the River Irwell at Warth Fold in 1811 to provide a water supply to Bealey's bleachworks one and half miles away.

Bealey's weir was construction from quarried blocks of local sandstone. After the blocks were positioned during the construction of the weir they were tied together using wrought iron tie-bars. To ensure the bars did not become loose, they were 'run in with lead' and you can see in the photograph 194 years later the joints were still sound. KH