A taste of things to come ....

Wednesday, 21 July 2010 20:59

The River Derwent has been called "African Queen Country"

Today it was Epiphany Country as we "oohed" at the river views and "aahed" at the encroaching trees and branches. Rob the Barmby Lock and Barrage Keeper had told us we were the only "visiting narrowboat" and all the locals would be moored up. In places we were very glad that we knew we would not meet another boat.

Cruisers moored at Breighton, further up the river

It was to be a day of contrasts, beginning with Drax pumping out clouds of smoke behind us and wind silently powering a water treatment plant. Drax provides 10% of the country's electricity and (as yet) wind power has not caught up, sadly.

The River Derwent is also a river of contradictons and has a long history beginning with the Ice Age. The Romans, the Medieval years and the industrial 18th century have all had their effect on the river. Abstraction, effluent disposal, navigation and conservation all contribute to give the river its character.

Wressle, a farming village has a station and railway crossing and the railway crosses the river before Wressle Castle comes into view. The castle was built for Thomas Percy; it now stands in ruins and is not open to the public.

We had an inkling of what was to come as we entered a much narrower section of the river just past Wressle and before Breighton.

Two splendid bridges followed - first a disused rail bridge stretched either side of the river. (The photos are of the arches ahead and then looking back) Much of the material used to construct the Scarborough line of the York and North Midland Railway was carried on the River Derwent.

Ironically the railway was then the death knell to trade on the river and in the 1920s LNER took responsibility for the navigation and administered its decline. I love that last phrase - will we say that about management of the canals in 100 years time?

Derwent Bridge, at Bubwith, is a beautiful elegant arched bridge carrying the A163. The old bridge of 1793 appears to have been extended with the brick arches.

All Saints Bubwith has an enviable position right on the river bank and a very smart house and landing stage beside it.

After Bubwith the river flows north past distant villages and through very flat countryside. After just over four miles, the junction with the Pocklington Canal is seen at Cottingwith. The canal turns off north eastwards and the entrance is being dredged. We shall return here later!

Ahead of us was a very narrow opening that was the main River Derwent. From here on I thought we needed a "bendy boat" as we negotiated our way to Sutton Lock.

It looked lovely though!

To be continued!