| River Nene, Peterborough Wisbech and Sutton Bridge |
| The River Nene rises in low hills of Northamptonshire near Daventry, flows through Thrapston and Oundle, then beside Peterborough through to the Lincolnshire Fens and Wisbech and then into The Wash at Sutton Bridge (often in the past called The Nen, or Neen) (Below: The River Nene looking west between Oundle and Wansford towards Fotheringhay) |
| The Wash ports include Wisbech, Sutton Bridge, Kings Lynn and Boston. The Nene between Peterborough and Guyhurne was not the origin River Nene. The current name of 'Nene', rhyming with 'clean', was originally called the 'Nen' rhyming with 'Fen'. |
To the left is the Nene as it flows by Fotheringhay Church in Northamptonshire ******** (Do not be fooled by the stillness of the water on a early summer morning, it can be a very angry river during a violent storm) |
| Above is the River Nene as it flows under the A1 (Great North Road) at Wansford to the west of Peterborough and South of Stamford. The Wansford stone bridge is beyond the bend in the far distance. (Not in picture) |
Right: The River Nene just east of Wansford. In the Distance can be seen the same bridge over the A1 as in the above picture on the right. The village of Stibbington is beyond the trees. |
| Below: Is the River Nene as it flows under a stone bridge on the Old Milton Estate to the west of Peterborough. No public motor vehicles are allowed over this bridge nowadays, access to pedestrians only. |
Below: The same view as below just beyond the Bridge. This is the River Nene just to the West of Peterborough. Peterborough Cathedral was where Mary Queen of Scots was orgiinally buried. Below: (Sorry, no birdlife, it flew away. The grassy area and on the left of the picture is Ferry Meadows) |
| At Peterborough the Nene travels towards the Dog in a Doublet sluice on it's way to Wisbech, which was not affected by the 1947 floods. The River Nene has then eventually reached the flat Fens. Below is the Nene prior to arriving at Dog in a Doublet Sluice. (Below right: Morton's Leam flows south of the main river and rejoins the main river again near Guyhirn. |
| Beyond the boats on the right, the tributary divides into King's Dyke and an original Nene that went through Whittlesey Mere After the Dog in a Doublet Sluice which was built in the 1930s the River is still 25 miles from the sea, and the sluice was built to stop the tidal flow from flooding Peterborough. |
| Aerial view of the right location (This bridge is in bottom left hand corner) |
| If you wondering why it is called the 'Dog in a Doublet' Sluice. There is a public house near to the sluice called the 'Dog in a Doublet', and folklore has it that an original licensee owned a small dog with a leather jacket |
| Below is a notice displayed at the bridge on the left which suggests the bridge was originally a toll bridge when it was built, and was no longer a toll bridge from 1903 onwards. At the time the toll was removed, half the bridge was for foot and vehicle traffic, and the other half was for rail traffic, and the public had no access to the railway side. |
| When the Nene reaches The Wash it does not suddenly flow from a deep navigation channel into a deep water bay. The change is gradual. The only noticeable change is the raised banks either side which peal off sharply to the left and right, leaving a twisting water filled channel amidst grass covered mud flats. An area populated by Shelduck and Oyster Catchers. Further out the grass changes to bare mud, which is covered at low tide. At high tide a pilot cutter is required to shepherd the larger boats waiting in the Lynn Deeps through the twisting channel to Sutton Bridge and Wisbech. |
| The Nene washes have their own Bird Reserve in the same manner as the Ouse Welney Washes, although they are not so well known (See bottom of page) |
| John Rennie was asked to comment in the early 1800s on the silting up of the Nene Outfall, and as a result the current River was cut from Gunthorpe Sluice to Crab Hole in The Wash. It was then proposed by Lord William Bentinck to put a bridge across the Ouse so a link could be made between Norfolk and Lincolnshire. In 1794 it was proposed that a canal should be cut through Outwell to make a link between the River Nene and the River Ouse. In 1847 the canal traffic was negligible, and it was formally closed in 1926. (This canal is still in evidence alongside the Wisbech to Outwell Road). The girder bridge at Sutton Bridge, first came into use about 1830 |
| Route of the Old Nene (or Nen) The current River Nene from Peterborough to The Wash is not the original River Nene. The Original River Nene Took many routes across the Fens, when one route became silted up, it rook another route. Although one route can be completely traced and takes a completely different way towards The Wash, and did not go through or near Sutton Bridge. This original river also became silted up, and the current River Nene was dug. (The natural rivers meandered across the fens, the modern man made rivers tend to flow in a straight line). In olden times, this original River Nene crossed the waterlogged Fens by a different way. It left the modern route of the Nene at Peterborough and travelled northwards through Fengate, east of Peterborough, then to Shepeau Stow near Crowland and is now known as 'Catswater' or 'Muscat', further towards the Wash it is known as 'Lady Nunn's Old Eau'. and also 'Old South Eau' (Eau is French for Water). It then flowed eastwards towards Parson Drove, and the most obvious route that can still be detected nowadays is 'Throckenholt'. (Before someone says this is a bank, not a river bed, please bear in mind that silt does not shrink, but peat does). Shrinkage of the surrounding land is why the bed stands higher than the peat lands that can be seen either side of it. Therefore it was ideal for road construction as it did not move, and was also ideal for house foundations for the same reason).The route of this river then travels to Harold's Bridge at Parson Drove and generally takes the route of the North Level Drain known as Lady Nunn's Old Eau (Eau is French for Water and gives a clue as to who dug the drain). On its journey to The Wash from this location, it becomes a shallow depression in the silt, but prior to Parson's Drove it can be traced by the bank. With the peat shrinking and the silt washed down from midland hills, the river eventually silted up. In places this bank (river bed) can be up to twelve feet high. A second route of the original Nene was southwards of the current Nene and via Whttlesea Mere and Ramsey. Vermuryden had the bright idea that it would be a good idea to link this route with the Ouse, and it was one of his first undertakings in The Fens. This was originally known as Vermuyden's Drain, but is now better known by the name 'Forty Foot Drain' (This is the distance wide, not the depth). It eventually emptied into the Old Bedford River. A third route that the Nene took to the Sea, was again via Whittlesey Mere, then on to Benwick and to March, and then to Welney at Salter's Lode Sluice The original River then crossed the course of the modern River Nene, and then into the silt land to the east. It took the general route of Garner's Lane towards Terrington St Clements, and then followed Hospital Road, which is about two miles east of the current river, and it's location can often be detected from other occasional shallow depressions in the silt. It then entered the Wash about two miles further east to the modern channel. Please bear in mind that the Old Nene meandered and the more modern water courses are straight. This Old River route then meanders north of the drain and is called Hall Bank and flowed in the general direction of Tydd St Giles. The river continued to Tydd St Giles, under Tritton Bridge, and still takes on the appearance of a watercourse at this point. It eventuallly flowed through Tydd Gote, where it still takes the form of a shallow depression, and crossed the South Level Main Drain to a place called Foul Anchor. A depression can still be seen in the silt land at this location, and to the east and running parallel is 'King John Bank. This would be the most likely location where King John allegedly lost the Crown Jewels while trying to cross the 'Old Nene' in it's semi-silted up state. (It has already been searched with negative results). The loss is reputed to be in 1215 while on his way from Lynn to Scotland to stop an invasion |
| Left: The River Nene frontage to the south of Wisbech looking towards the town centre. Note: The tide is high and the Dog in a Doublet sluice is about 10 miles upstream |
| Below:: The dockland area of Wisbech with the shipping lane leading northwards towards The Wash via Sutton Bridge. Note: Although the river is high there are no sea going ships at anchor as they are all traversing the shipping lane Washwards |
| Fotheringhay Castle (now a ruin and not in picture) is where Mary Queen of Scots was incarcerated and beheaded on 8th February 1587 |
(The Village of Elton is to the left, out of the Picture)
| Both these pictures are the same River Nene, but opposite ends of Wisbech Town, reputed to be 'Capital of the Fens. The two locations are about a mile apart and are in complete contrast. Aerial view of Wisbech and these locations (At top of picture is the below location, and at the bottom of picture is the above location |
| Note: The Port and Town of Sutton Bridge are to the right, and out of the above picture, and the left side carriageway of the bridge was originally a railway line now the westbound lane of the road. The port is designed to take ships up to 3,500 tons |
| Where the Nene meets The Wash at low tide. The Guys Head Lighthouses can be seen on either bank, the one on the right was once inhabited by Peter Scott |
| The River Nene at Sutton Bridge at high tide a busy shipping channel, with the swing bridge returning to allow the road traffic on the busy A17 to cross. The ship is on route to Wisbech to unload it's cargo. |
Foul Anchor is a village at the junction of the North Level Drain and
the River Nene, which has it's source near Shepeau Stow about five
miles north of Peterbrough. There is obviously a sluice at the end of
the North Level Drain to avoid the water from the tidal Nene flowing
back into it. This sluice is a masterpiece of engineering which was
originally built by George Robert Stevenson in 1859 and has since
been repaired in 1881, 1945 and 1967, much of it built in wrought iron
and sports a plaque.
the River Nene, which has it's source near Shepeau Stow about five
miles north of Peterbrough. There is obviously a sluice at the end of
the North Level Drain to avoid the water from the tidal Nene flowing
back into it. This sluice is a masterpiece of engineering which was
originally built by George Robert Stevenson in 1859 and has since
been repaired in 1881, 1945 and 1967, much of it built in wrought iron
and sports a plaque.
| White plaque in the centre states 'Constructed for the North Level Commissioners by Geo. Robt. Stevenson Esq in A.D 1859 - Repaired A.D. 1881 - Repaired A. D. 1945 - Repaired A.D.1967' (See readable image) |
To the right on the east side of the Nene at Sutton Bridge are two relics of the past. The Victorian Steel girder Bridge in the above picture and a telephone box. The town of Sutton Bridge is right of telephone box on the opposite side of the river. |
| To the right is a good example of silt bed of the Old Nene called Throckenholt, a 'bank' or 'Rodden' (fossilized river bed) between Gedney Hill and Parson Drove, where houses can be seen at the side of the bed leaning back with their fronts in the silt and their backs in the shrunken peat. (Note the size of the car compared to the height of the 'bank') |
| (Note the heron standing in the water under the central arch. Fishermen can often be seen on the bank under the right arch) |
(Note: Do not be fooled by the idyllic scene, just to
the right is a place where heavy lorries park, together
with the attendant rubbish)
the right is a place where heavy lorries park, together
with the attendant rubbish)
| Reflection in the Nene of the bridge that carries the Peterborough to March Railway Line. Note: Do not be duped by the peaceful setting, because Peterborough city centre is just to the right |
Junction of Morton's Leam with the River Nene. Also a route of an old Nene to Whittlesey Mere
< New Nene (originally Smith's Leam) via Dog in a Doublet Sluice
Upstream>
| These locations can be viewed on the Ordnance Survey Map 142 (1:50,000 series), and further east would be Map number 143 in the same series. |
| These locations and further north towards The Wash can be viewed on Ordnance Survey Maps 143 and 131 (1:50,000 scale), and further west can be viewed on Map 142 of the same series. |
| The river at this point, and the docks are designed to take ships up to 2,000 tons. |
| The origin of the name Wisbech is from the words 'Ouse Beach' |
| The' lighthouses' as they are now called were never lighthouses, just designed to look like lighthouses. They were in fact constructed to house the workers in 1830 who constructed the outfall. |
| Click on below image to see a readable version of the sign just prior to the bridge. |
See also: Car Parking, Walking and Picnicing
| BIRD WATCHING ON THE NENE WASHES RESERVE This is a similar type of location to Welney Washes between the Bedford Level Rivers, but is more open. It has a total of 665 acres and it is a SSI grade 1site The entrance is on the B1040 Whittlesey to Thorney Road, just prior to travelling over the River Nene bridge from the direction of Whittlesey, where parking is available. There is no cover at present, and the general location is a few miles from Peterborough on the Wisbech side and on the opposite side of the river to the Dog in a Doublet public House and near the sluice. It is described as being several miles in length, of marshy ground, between the River Nene and Morton's Leam, and the Warden lives at 21a East Delph, Whittlesey, and permission must be gained before entering the location. The whole area is controlled by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). The following birds can be seen at various times of the year: Black Tailed Godwit, Gadwall, Red Shank, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Shelduck, Shoveler, Sedge Warbler,Snipe, Yellow Wagtail. The area floods in the winter, and it is then populated by Bewick Swan's together with Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, and Wigeon. (See aerial view of location - The River Nene runs across the top of the picture, and the bridge over the river is next to the Dog in a Doublet public house). The reserve is South of the River in the fields. |
| It is a common belief the Fens in Lincolnshire are a flat and boring place. Visually they may be. Consider standing on one of the banks near a Nature Reserve, or The Wash and shutting the eyes tight. That will mean a reliance on the other senses, e.g hearing and smelling. The observer will then be able to smell the flowers and other vegetation, and hear sound that had never been noticed before e.g., the calling of seabirds, and detect the direction of the calling. |