WATER has played a key role in the North West's industries, transport, recreation and environment through the centuries and forms the topic for a special study day.

Water in North West England: some historical perspectives is the theme for Dr Alan Crosby in a series of lectures for the Regional Heritage Centre, part of the history department at Lancaster University.

The study day is being held on Saturday, 20 January 20 at lecture theatre three in the university's Management school.

A spokesperson for the centre said: "North West England contains some of the wettest places in the UK.

"The higher parts of the Lake District are particularly wet, with an average of over 3200mm of rain each year.

"In contrast, the reputedly wet city of Manchester averages only 830mm and more sheltered areas such as the Eden valley in Cumbria are even drier with less than 800mm per year.

"These values can be compared with annual totals of about 500mm in the drier parts of eastern England.

"The prevalence of rainfall and the tarns, becks, rivers and other watercourses that are fed by rain have clearly played a significant role in shaping the geography of the region – but the impact of water on social history is arguably just as significant.

"Dr Alan Crosby of the British Association of Local History will guide us through some of the many facets of this vital issue."

The study day talks start at 10am with a look at the use of water power in the pre-industrial period from 1300 to 1700

Dr Crosby will then discuss A water-based industrial and transport revolution from 1750-1880 before turning to the provision of drinking water in the period from 1750 to 1950.

The day ends with a description of water and the environment from 1800 to 1970 which will include pollution issues and landscape controversies

Attendance at the study day costs £26 and you can find out more by sending an email to mailto:rhc@lancaster.ac.uk or visit the conferences and events section of the website at www.lancaster.ac.uk/users/rhc/