 Previously this section of the river flowed further to the west, with the Don collecting Swinden Water before meeting the Brun close to the mill lodge.Bank Hall was formerly the site of a significant coal mine that operated for over 100 years up to 1971, with another near Rowley Hall that operated between 1861 and 1928, and the area was used as a spoil tip for generations.The mine workings caused significant levels of pollution in the river and the diversion scheme also allowed the valley of the old route to be used as a landfill site.