Weir

A walk along the side of the River Nidd at Birstwith.The weir was used to power Birstwith Mill. It was once known as Wreaks Mill and there was originally a corn mill nearby until in the 1790’s a cotton spinning mill was erected. It was taken over by the Greenwood family in 1805. There is a date on the goit gates of 1822 which is presumably when the weir was built. The river is unusually straight – it may have been straightened when the weir was built.