River Yare
Yare | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | England |
Region | Norfolk |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | west of Shipdham |
• coordinates | 52°37′11″N 0°50′19″E / 52.6196°N 0.8386°E |
• elevation | 79 m (259 ft) |
Mouth | Breydon Water |
• location | Burgh Castle |
• coordinates | 52°35′17″N 1°38′33″E / 52.58798°N 1.64262°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Length | 83.5 km (51.9 mi) |
Basin features | |
River system | River Wensum |
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The River Yare is a river in the English county of Norfolk. In its lower reaches it is one of the principal navigable waterways of The Broads and connects with the rest of the network.
The river
The Yare is the frequent subject of landscape paintings by members of the early 19th century
The river is navigable to small coastal vessels from Norwich to the sea, and in former times carried significant commercial traffic to that city. At Reedham the river is joined by the Haddiscoe Cut, a canal which provides a direct navigable link to the River Waveney at Haddiscoe avoiding Breydon Water.
The river provides a navigable link between
The size of vessels that could reach Norwich was limited by the shallow channel crossing Breydon Water, and so all goods arriving from the North Sea had to be trans-shipped to smaller vessels at Yarmouth. In order to improve the situation the merchants of Norwich asked William Cubitt to look for a solution in 1814. His proposal consisted of dredging a new channel to the south side of Breydon Water and making various improvements to the river. This was costed at £35,000, but the plan was opposed by Yarmouth Corporation when it was made public in 1818. John Rennie, acting for the corporation, concluded that the plan might result in silting of the harbour, and so Cubitt proposed an alternative, which would link the Yare to Lowestoft. This was also opposed by Yarmouth Corporation, but despite the cost being more than double,[clarification needed] and assurances from Thomas Telford and James Walker that improved navigation to Norwich would not harm Yarmouth, this was the plan that was laid before Parliament in 1826.[5]
The Act would authorise dredging of the Yare between Norwich and Reedham, from where a 2+1⁄2-mile (4 km) canal would be built to connect to the River Waveney at Haddiscoe. Oulton Dyke would be enlarged, and a cut and lock built to link Oulton Broad to Lake Lothing, and hence the North Sea. At the formal enquiry, six engineers gave evidence for the proposal, but the opposition of Yarmouth and local landowners who feared potential flooding resulted in the bill being narrowly defeated. Similar plans were submitted in the next parliamentary session, with Yarmouth spending £8,000 to ensure its defeat. Evidence for the plan included details of widespread theft during the transshipment process at Yarmouth. A man had hidden in a wicker basket to record the conversations and activities of the thieves, and ultimately 18 men were convicted of taking the goods and one of receiving it. The Act was granted on 28 May 1827.[5]
The Act allowed the Norwich and Lowestoft Navigation Company to raise £100,000 as capital, with an additional £50,000 if necessary. Work started at the Lowestoft end, with Alderman Crisp Brown of Norwich cutting the first sod in the autumn. The lock and channel between Oulton Broad and Lake Lothing were completed by 1829, and the first vessel used Lowestoft harbour on 3 June 1831. Costs overran, and to complete the Haddiscoe cut, the additional £50,000 authorised by the Act was raised by taking a loan from the Exchequer Bill Loan Commissioners. The cut was completed in 1832, and the improvements of the remaining 32 miles (51 km) to Norwich were finished by the autumn of 1833. A grand opening was held on 30 September 1833, when it was planned that the Jarrow would tow two vessels, the City of Norwich and the Squire, which were moored at Lowestoft, to Norwich. Unfortunately, the Jarrow was at Yarmouth, and the Corporation refused to open the bridge at the head of Breydon Water to allow the vessel to pass. The captain eventually cut down the funnel, but the delay resulted in him missing the tide, and he had to wait to cross Breydon Water. The convoy reached Norwich the following day, where 10,000 people lined the banks of the river to witness the event.[5]
Despite high hopes, the venture was not a success, as operating costs exceeded revenue, and the loan from the
The river is tidal as far as Trowse Mills, with a tidal range of 2+1⁄2 to 3 feet (0.76 to 0.91 m) at Reedham and 1+1⁄2 to 2 feet (0.46 to 0.61 m) at Norwich. High water at Reedham occurs some 1+1⁄2 hours after high water at Yarmouth, and at Norwich it is 4+1⁄2 hours after Yarmouth.[6]
Hydronymy
The derivation of the name has been the subject of debate,
Wherryman's Way
Opened in 2005, the 35 mile long Wherryman's Way follows the route of the historic Broads trading wherries between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. It winds through existing footpaths, open marshes, reedbeds, grazing meadows and riverside villages along the banks of the River Yare. The path passes numerous information panels, sculptures and audio posts which seek to bring to life the characters and history of the route.[9]
External links
- "Wherrymans Way". Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- River Yare Literary Links
References
- ^ Ordnance Survey of Great Britain
- ^ Norwich Boundary Crosses Archived 2006-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 0-319-23769-9.
- ISBN 0-319-21868-6.
- ^ OCLC 3650731.[page needed]
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84623-010-3
- ISBN 1909496707.
- ISBN 9780859915717.
- ^ "Wander the Wherryman's Way - Broads Authority". Archived from the original on 30 April 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.