River Derwent, Yorkshire

Flood protection weir at the river mouth in the Ouse

Template: Infobox River / Obsolete

The Derwent is a river situated in the North of England Yorkshire. The historically important river is now used mainly for water sampling and for leisure activities, but is also home to several wildlife sanctuaries along its river course.

River

The river rises in the North York Moors, approximately 12 km north- west of Scarborough. First, it flows towards the south, then bends at the confluence with the Hertford westward into the Vale of Pickering from. In West Ayton, at the outlet of the river from the Moors, branches of the Sea Cut, an overflow channel in the North Sea at high water, from. Until then, the river has a catchment area of 127 km ². Shortly before the mouth of Rye, the longest tributary of the Derwent, the river swings south, towards the Vale of York. Near the place Barmby on the Marsh Derwent finally flows into the Ouse.

The middle reaches of the river is bordered to the north by the North York Moors and the Cleveland Hills, in the south of the Yorkshire Wolds. The area along the river is sparsely populated; especially in the upper reaches are extensive moorland encountered during the subsequent land use is mainly agricultural. Several sections along the river are protected.

Flow history

Before the last ice age, the upper reaches of the Derwent drained eastward into the North Sea; the Rye, the middle reaches of the Derwent and the Hertford dewatered further south without being connected to the upper reaches also into the North Sea. The two rivers, however, were blocked during the Ice Age through the lateral moraine of a glacier, so that at the end of the Ice Age formed a lake in the Vale of Pickering. This enlarged more and more, until the water overflowed at the lowest point and its present course was looking to the south.

It is believed that the unusual mouth of the Derwent has arisen in the Ouse artificial. Presumably it was the Romans that a faster connection achieved by this shortening of the waterway at nine miles out towards York upstream. The first weir was built in the time at Wheldrake in order to regulate the flow level can.

During the reign of King John Lands (1199-1216), a water mill, the monks of Fountains Abbey was bestowed on the Derwent. Later in the 13th century there was a weir at this point. As of 1462, the channeling of the river from the mouth to Sutton upon Derwent by the Lord Mayor of York was commissioned. To 1597 was at Sutton upon Derwent a grain mill. It was rebuilt in 1836 and was until 1960 in operation. More water mills are located at Stamford Bridge, Buttercrambe, Howsham, Kirkham and Malton.

Before the 18th century coal was usually transported inland by water from Newcastle or Sunderland on. For this reason, efforts were made to increase the navigability of the Derwent until after Malton. In 1702, the project was granted by an act of parliament. The builders of the industrialization of the river were entitled to levy duties on goods transported across the river.

The owners of the adjoining land to the river complained in 1722, the recently constructed locks and dams would flood their fields, leading to yield losses. In 1793, 39 barges transported coal upriver and downriver in return grain to and from West Riding of Yorkshire. Practically every village had its own jetty on the river.

1845, the York and North Midland Railway was built to create a rail link from the West Riding over Malton to Scarborough. Since then, most goods were transported through the lower rail. 1890 commercial transport has been set on the river eventually.

With the beginning of the 20th century, the movement of recreational boats on the river increased. 1935, the controversial decision was made to revoke the permit traffic from Sutton upon Derwent above. Discussions to lift the ban on traffic again, continue to this day.

The water of the river is now partially used for drinking water supply of cities Hull, Leeds, York and Scarborough. The water quality is with a BOD value of 2 mg / l throughout the year generally good. Sewage treatment plants along the river exist in Malton, Stamford Bridge, Elvington, Wheldrake and Bubwith. Immediately prior to the confluence with the Ouse flood a bulwark ensures that a is located behind the water extraction point on the tide of the North Sea and thus spared by salt water remains. The military has two sluice gates, each with seven meters wide and five meters high.

Conservation

The river, its tributaries and the surrounding wetlands are very important for nature conservation, the ecology and the landscape. Therefore, the area has many designated nature reserves. These are divided into:

  • European bird sanctuaries ( engl: SPA 's), they offer protection for birds and their breeding sites
  • Special Areas of Conservation (SAC 's), they contribute to the diversity of soil animals in
  • Ramsar sites ( RGs ), these are wetlands of international importance, see Ramsar Convention
  • And Sites of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSI 's)

Inflows (selection)

  • River Hertford (left side), catchment area: 83 km ²
  • River Eye ( right side ), catchment area: 854 km ²
  • Pocklington Canal (left side), artificial water connection according to Pocklington
East Riding of Yorkshire Humber River Ouse, Yorkshire Scarborough, North Yorkshire City of Sunderland Biochemical oxygen demand Malton, North Yorkshire
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