the district. Since 1837 great alterations have been effected in the channel of the river by the Ribble Navigation Improvement Company. The stream for the larger portion of its extent from Preston to the Naze Point has been confined within stone embankments, and its bed considerably deepened by dredging. During the progress of these improvements wide tracts of land have been reclaimed both north and south of the current. From Freckleton the river rapidly widens as it approaches the sea, so that a direct line drawn from Lytham to Southport across its mouth would pass over a distance of seven or eight miles. The channel here is shallow, while the sands on each side are flat and extensive, and midway in the estuary, at its lowest part, lies the far-famed Horse-bank, which divides the stream into a north and south current, scarcely discernible, however, after the tide has risen above the level of the bank. About one mile from the town of Lytham, in the direction of Preston, is a pool of moderate dimensions, having an open communication with the river, and formed into a small harbour or dock for yachts and vessels connected with the coasting trade. In the bed of the river, a little higher up than that locality, trunks of large trees are occasionally observed at low water, and many such remains of a once noble forest, which is believed to have extended from near the Welsh coast as far even as Morecambe, have been raised at different times during the operation of dredging.
The following descriptions of the Ribble, its source, course, and tributaries, were written, respectively, by the ancient topographer Harrison, and the poet Drayton, whose accounts of the Wyre have been previously quoted:—
"The Rybell, a river verie rich of Salmon and Lampreie, dooth in manner
inviron Preston in Andernesse, and it riseth neere to Ribbesdale above Gisburne.
It goeth from thence to Sawley or Salley, Chatburne, Woodington, Clitherow
Castell, and beneath Mitton meeteth with the Odder, which ryseth not farre from
the Cross of Grete in Yorkshire, and going thence to Shilburne, Newton,
Radholme parke, and Stony hirst, it falleth ere long into Ribble water. From
thence the Ribble hath not gone farre, but it meeteth with the Calder. Thys
brooke ryseth above Holme Church, goeth by Townley and Burneley (where
it receiveth a trifeling rill), thence to Higham, and ere long crossing one
water that cometh from Wicoler, by Colne, and another by and by named Pidle
brooke that runneth by Newechurch, in the Pidle: it meeteth with ye Calder,
which passeth forth to Padiam, and thence (receyving a becke on the other side)
