Do you dare?

Thursday, 22 July 2010 16:53

To brave the northern reaches of the navigable River Derwent?

We did! We are glad we did, as it was an experience not to be missed, as well as another "Head of Navigation".

After the junction with the Pocklington Canal, there are a number of places that need attention from the Environment Agency. We shall be notifying the EA, although the SSSI status means that they have to negotiate before doing any work on the River.

The Ferry Boat Inn can almost be missed and is popular with walkers - in fact, it was not until our return journey that we realised it was a pub with moorings!

Broken Bridge is the remains of North Hills Drawbridge - in 1997 it still had an RSJ attached according to the TNC website - clickety click - but today the timbers were the only thing remaining. It is a good job we took the left side, as the right side is full of stones and the uprights have protruding bolts, so it would have been a bit of a problem!

We could hear the "dentist drill" screech of the windmill at Wheldrake Ings Nature Reserve long before we saw it! The trees and banks are so high here that it was impossible to see more on either side of the river.

This section up to Sutton Lock was probably the worst for overgrowing trees, bushes, fallen trees and logs. We had to squeeze through some very narrow gaps, with branches and leaves encroaching into the open bow. John was having to slow Epiphany right down to manoeuvre through narrow gaps, sometimes steering blind because of the dense growth!

If you are interested in experiencing this "African Queen" journey "virtually" have a look at this video - clickety click

John exiting "African Queen" country

We arrived at Sutton Lock just as Rob (the Lock Keeper from Barmby Barrage) drew up in his van. He was to see us through the lock - the routine for about the last 3 years, since there could have been trouble with flooding, because when it was DIY some boaters had left the guillotine gate open. So, contrary to Nicholson, a Watermate key is not necessary - all the locks have been changed! We also had to ask permission from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as they own the bottom gates (and are supposed to maintain them - last done in 1972 we learn). The gates are very leaky and hard to close.

Sutton Lock waiting for us

John helped Rob with the gates and then had to keep them closed whilst Rob opened the sluice on the guillotine gate. Once full, the gate was raised and under we went into the short cut above the lock.

Sutton Bridge, above the lock and weir, has been recently repaired after being hit by a lorry. It was being inspected as we went under it; we were asked not to hit it, as it had been an expensive job! The bridge certainly looked good - the buttress shows the new pointing clearly.

The River Derwent continues northwards through fields, avoiding all villages and hamlets on its way. The only hint of human life is the intake for the water treatment plant north of Sutton on Derwent. Kexby Bridge has been superseded by a modern concrete bridge and a splendid 1846 iron rail viaduct crosses high above the river on the approach to Stamford Bridge.

Stamford Bridge is the limit of navigation and we were to moor just beyond it in what is known locally as the Banana Lock. It is by far the strangest mooring we have ever used and it was difficult to find anything to moor to. However, we managed to find three rings. Just beyond our bows, around the bend, was another guillotine gate, acting as a sluice from the mill stream above.

The village of Stamford Bridge is worth a mention. It was the site of the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. There is an old Roman Road, the old corn mill (now apartments), a number of pubs and an excellent whisky shop selling over 600 single malts (we'll leave you to guess if we went in there!). If you need food as well as drink, there is a Co-Op too. £3.7million was spent on flood defences in 2004, only for the village to be flooded three years later.

Our overnight stay was uninterrupted, but noisy from the sluice water and the occasional night traffic over the Grade lI bridge, built in 1727.

River Derwent, Barmby Barrage to Stamford Bridge

6 hours 5 minutes, 21.19 miles, 1 lock