The River Witham, from source to sea

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Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   Text © Copyright April 2020, Tim Heaton; licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons Licence.
Images also under a similar Creative Commons Licence.


The bend east, through the Lincoln Gap, and into the Fens


The Witham valley from Lincoln to Boston was originally formed in glacial times by an earlier course of the River Trent, and forms a northern arm of the Fens draining to The Wash. The fertile marshland environment supported a rich pre-history, and from Roman times the river was an important navigation route to the North Sea. In the Middle Ages it was flowing through one of the most populated parts of the country, with wealth provided by the wool trade supporting the highest concentration of abbeys and monastic foundations in England. But tidal inputs from The Wash, and the meandering course of the river led to silting of the navigation channels, and constant problems with flooding. Starting in the late 18th century an extensive program of dredging and straightening of the channel, with the construction of locks, tidal barrages, drainage dykes and pumping stations resulted in the tamed river of today.

[map SK 9774 7112]
The River Witham through the Lincoln Gap

SK9869 : View over South Common to the cathedral, Lincoln by Tim Heaton
Looking across the Lincoln Gap
A view from the slope of the Jurassic Limestone escarpment south of Lincoln, across the 'Lincoln Gap' to the cathedral on the escarpment north of Lincoln.
The River Witham flows from the (behind) left, through the Gap to the right. It follows the route originally established in glacial times by an earlier course of the River Trent.



Start of the River Witham Canal

SK9771 : The River Witham leaving Brayford Pool by Tim Heaton
The River Witham leaving Brayford Pool beneath the Wigford Way bridge



SK9771 : The River Witham approaching High Bridge ('The Glory Hole') by Tim Heaton
Approaching High Bridge ('The Glory Hole'), reputed to be the oldest bridge in the United Kingdom which still has buildings on it LinkExternal link.



SK9871 : Witham Navigation, Stamp End Lock by David Dixon
Stamp End Lock is the first of only two locks on the entire 36 miles of the canal down to Boston. This reflects the very low altitude of the river at Lincoln, where flood management policy maintains water levels at between only 4.4 and 5.7 metres above sea level.



Leaving Lincoln along the Witham Valley

SK9871 : River Witham by Richard Croft TF0070 : The Witham east of Lincoln by Tim Heaton

TF0070 : Water Rail Way, Cycle Route #1 by Tim Heaton
The Water Rail Way
Exploring the Witham between Lincoln and Boston is best done using the excellent Water Rail Way foot and cycle path (part of National Cycle Route no. 1). Its name references the former 'Witham Loop' railway whose old track bed it uses, and the Water Rail bird.



TF0170 : The River Witham at Washingborough Visitor Moorings by Tim Heaton TF0271 : Viking Way alongside the River Witham by Tim Heaton TF0271 : The River Witham alongside the Water Rail Trail by Tim Heaton

TF0471 : Is the Witham Valley a sacred place? by Tim Heaton
Is the Witham Valley a sacred place?
A mosaic by the River Witham commemorates a nearby bronze age site. A nearby notice board entitled: 'The Witham - a sacred place?' claims that more prehistoric weapons and tools have been found in the River Witham than any other British river except the Thames (examples of some at LinkExternal link ). Tools and weapons were often deliberately placed in rivers as ritual offerings




TF0571 : The River Witham by Tim Heaton TF0571 : Onto Lincoln. by Chris McAuley

TF0671 : The Lady of Shalott; by the River Witham by Tim Heaton
One of several sculptures and other art on the Water Rail Route




The final bend south-east to Boston


[map TF 0806 7176]

TF0771 : Approaching a bend on the Water Rail Way by Tim Heaton
The River Witham, having run due east from Lincoln for six miles, now starts to bend south-east towards Boston



TF0871 : Pumping station on the River witham by Tim Heaton TF0871 : Old River Witham sluice by Richard Croft TF0970 : Barge by Chris McAuley

TF1070 : The 'Old River Witham' by Tim Heaton
The 'Old' River Witham
Part of the river's original meandering course before much of it was canalised in the 18th and 19th centuries



TF1069 : Confluence on the River Witham by Oliver Dixon

TF1070 : Bardney Lock by Tim Heaton
Bardney Lock
This northern arm of the Fens is so flat that this is the only lock on the River Witham between Lincoln and Boston



TF1167 : The River Witham south of Bardney by Tim Heaton TF1366 : River Witham by Richard Croft TF1366 : The river bank, Dunston Washway by Jonathan Thacker TF1466 : The River Witham by Jonathan Thacker TF1465 : The Water Rail Way alongside the River Witham, south-east of Southrey by Tim Heaton TF1565 : Upstream on River Witham at ferry across from site of Stixwould station by Ben Brooksbank

TF1565 : Catchwater Drain by Tim Heaton
Flowing through an intensively farmed rural landscape, the water quality of the Witham is mainly impacted by high levels of agricultural nutrients in the water of drainage dykes pumped into the river. In 2018 the release of ammonia from an agricultural fertilizer company is estimated to have killed over 100,000 fish in the Witham



TF1564 : Boston Rowing Marathon by Richard Croft TF1664 : The River Witham and National Cycle Route 1 on the Water Rail Way by Tim Heaton TF1663 : Looking across the Witham to Black Horse Farm by Tim Heaton TF1663 : River Witham: Blankney Dales to Kirkstead Bridge (aerial 2014) by Chris TF1663 : River Witham by Richard Croft TF1762 : Kirkstead Bridge over The Witham by Tim Heaton TF1860 : Weedy Witham by Chris
TF1859 : Approaching the turnoff to Thorpe Tilney Drove by Tim Heaton TF1957 : Witham Bank road alongside the Witham by Tim Heaton

TF1956 : Tattershall Bridge, senior by Tim Heaton
Tattershall bridges
The brick bridge was built in 1815 to replace an earlier bridge of c. 1795 LinkExternal link but is now itself replaced by the steel bridge behind. The cottage on the right is early 18th century.



TF2055 : Dogdyke Pumping Station across the Witham by Tim Heaton
Dogdyke Pumping Station
The station pumps water from the Mill Drain into the Witham. Built in 1856, its steam engine is still in working order (see video at LinkExternal link



TF2054 : Kyme Eau by Richard Croft
'Pointing Doors’ on Kyme Eau.
This simple mechanism, a common sight on dykes along the Witham, ensures that water only flows from the dyke into the Witham; the doors automatically closing if the level of water in the Witham (behind camera) rises.



TF2152 : The River Witham, south of Chapel Hill (view upstream) by Tim Heaton TF2450 : The Witham near Holland Fen by Tim Heaton

TF2647 : Langrick Bridge gauging station by Tim Heaton
Langrick Bridge gauging station
According to LinkExternal link the typical water level is between 0.74 and 1.66 metres above mean sea level, mild flooding occurring above this. The highest recorded level was 3.58 metres.



TF2647 : River Witham on Boston Rowing Marathon Day by Clive Nicholson
Long, straight stretches of water, with little current, and with embankments providing some shelter from wind may provide ''rowing on probably the best stretch of water for rowing in the country'' (Boston Rowing Club)



TF2747 : River Witham east of Langrick Bridge by Kate Jewell TF2847 : National Cycle Route 1 alongside the River Witham by Tim Heaton TF3047 : River Witham by Richard Croft

TF3047 : Lock on Anton's Gowt by Tim Heaton
With the (former) lock-keeper's cottage. The 'Gowt' (= drain outlet) is the gateway to the Witham Navigable Drains, a network of channels draining the fens north of Boston. Named after Sir Antony Thomas, who helped finance these important drainage improvements in the 1630s. [Information from British Waterways notice board]
by Tim Heaton



TF3046 : The Boston Pendulum, a 'staircase to the sky' by Tim Heaton
Installed in 2007 as part of Sustrans' art on the Lincoln to Boston section of National Cycle Route 1. LinkExternal link describes its artistic significance. It allows good views of the Witham in a landscape devoid of elevation.
by Tim Heaton



Approaching Boston

TF3145 : River Witham near Boston by Martin Clark
Looking south-east along the River Witham Navigation towards Boston, Lincolnshire, with St Botolph's Church ("Boston Stump") dominating the horizon.
by Martin Clark


KML

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