River Lugg, Herefordshire

[tepapa]

How would you put that clay back?

Well we can't ask the guys who put it there they're long gone

 

[onthehoof]

Think it wasbthe duke of Bedford who bought in Vermuyden to to the work in the fens. Hence the “ Bedford level”

It wasn't Vermuydens scheme as such, the 'plan' to drain the Great level was first mooted in about 1595, a chap named John Hunt proposed cutting the new channel across the Fens in about 1605, thereafter it couldn't be agreed how to pay for it until about 1629, although Vermuyden signed the initial contact he didn't get the job and it was awarded to the Duke of Bedford and his Adventurers. The Duke was to be awarded 95,000 acres on completion of the work, however the first scheme known as the Bedford River - now Old Bedford River failed.
The Civil war then interrupted things until Vermuyden was brought in by King Charles 2 to complete the works in 1651 by digging a second river parallel to the Old Bedford River known as the Hundred Foot river allowing the land in between to flood when needed

 

[Exfarmer]

It wasn't Vermuydens scheme as such, the 'plan' to drain the Great level was first mooted in about 1595, a chap named John Hunt proposed cutting the new channel across the Fens in about 1605, thereafter it couldn't be agreed how to pay for it until about 1629, although Vermuyden signed the initial contact he didn't get the job and it was awarded to the Duke of Bedford and his Adventurers. The Duke was to be awarded 95,000 acres on completion of the work, however the first scheme known as the Bedford River - now Old Bedford River failed.
The Civil war then interrupted things until Vermuyden was brought in by King Charles 2 to complete the works in 1651 by digging a second river parallel to the Old Bedford River known as the Hundred Foot river allowing the land in between to flood when needed

Thanks!

 

[Tubbylew]

It wasn't Vermuydens scheme as such, the 'plan' to drain the Great level was first mooted in about 1595, a chap named John Hunt proposed cutting the new channel across the Fens in about 1605, thereafter it couldn't be agreed how to pay for it until about 1629, although Vermuyden signed the initial contact he didn't get the job and it was awarded to the Duke of Bedford and his Adventurers. The Duke was to be awarded 95,000 acres on completion of the work, however the first scheme known as the Bedford River - now Old Bedford River failed.
The Civil war then interrupted things until Vermuyden was brought in by King Charles 2 to complete the works in 1651 by digging a second river parallel to the Old Bedford River known as the Hundred Foot river allowing the land in between to flood when needed

Amazing feat of engineering for its time, I really am surprised at the lack of national news coverage.

 

[onthehoof]

The confusing part is not the "Old" as it is the original course of the Great Ouse, but the West part, as it is the Eastward section of the river.

You used to be able to easily see the tidal range at Earith against the clear bank, but there's so much crap along the edges now its hard to see. Definitely tidal up to the Staunch, recall the range used to be about 3 feet when we fished there as kids.

It depends how far back you go but the original Ouse split in two at Earith with one branch heading East to Ely and the other heading North via Chatteris and Benwick to join the Nene, and eventually to the sea at Wisbech this branch was known as the West Water and was the main channel. As said the other branch went to Ely but not to the outfall at Kings Lynn - it turned west again across the Fens via Upwell and joined the West Water/Nene at Wisbech

 

[steveR]

Think it wasbthe duke of Bedford who bought in Vermuyden to to the work in the fens. Hence the “ Bedford level”

Duke of Sutherland around here...

Built some top notch farmhouses and buildings too. The estate Cottages are high quality as well.

 

[steveR]

How would you put that clay back?

Coffer dams and BFO pumps...? Or a plygene liner!!!

 

[TheTallGuy]

The confusing part is not the "Old" as it is the original course of the Great Ouse, but the West part, as it is the Eastward section of the river.

You used to be able to easily see the tidal range at Earith against the clear bank, but there's so much crap along the edges now its hard to see. Definitely tidal up to the Staunch, recall the range used to be about 3 feet when we fished there as kids.

I can't say that I've measured it, but I would say it's rare to see 3ft of tide these days - partly because they keep the level so high now. I went by today & the gates to the Old Bedford were shut despite the southern bank of the Ouse overtopping. The funny thing is that they renewed the sills & gates a few years ago due to them leaking - I'm certain that they leak more now than they ever did before.

 

[onthehoof]

I can't say that I've measured it, but I would say it's rare to see 3ft of tide these days - partly because they keep the level so high now. I went by today & the gates to the Old Bedford were shut despite the southern bank of the Ouse overtopping. The funny thing is that they renewed the sills & gates a few years ago due to them leaking - I'm certain that they leak more now than they ever did before.

Are you sure? the gates were fully open yesterday afternoon

 

[TheTallGuy]

Are you sure? the gates were fully open yesterday afternoon

Definitely down around 5pm when I passed

 

[Adeptandy]

The Old Bedford Counter Drain was so high last Christmas it was coming through the banks across the road and back into our IDB drains, to be pumped back into the Old Bedford

 

[le bon paysan]

Few pics of what the EA have been doing, when it was built in 1651 the river had an average depth of 6ft, it was lined with clay by Scottish prisoners, the river now sits about 15ft above tens of thousands of acres of the best land in the country.
Apparently the contractor wasn’t supervised and had no spec to work to, going by the length of the jib it would appear that he is digging down about 10ft and digging the clay bed out going through to the peat below.
The EA have now walked away blaming farmers for halting the work, leaving a he spoil where it is

View attachment 992999View attachment 993000View attachment 993001
They are putting the spoil on top of the cradge bank, this bank was designed to be at a critical level so that in flood situations the bank overtops allowing water into the Washes and relieving pressure on the barrier bank.

View attachment 993002

The bank is already starting to collapse into the river due to being undermined.

Asking for a friend, how many H&S rules may have been broken?
Life jacket worn be digger driver, any ropes and lifebelts about within 50 metres and perhaps a banksman. Any visible signs and or tapes to keep the public safe?

 

[JD6920s]

How would you put that clay back?

Massive job, that section needs to be emptied, cleaned up and re lined, but now the peat is wet it’ll be like working on a blancmange and very difficult to seal

 

[Exfarmer]

Duke of Sutherland around here...

Built some top notch farmhouses and buildings too. The estate Cottages are high quality as well.

Duke of Sutherland, more renowned for his Highland clearances

 

[steveR]

Duke of Sutherland, more renowned for his Highland clearances

Aye, not sure which generation of Sutherland was responsible for that abomination, mind...

 

[yellowbelly]

Took 11,000 men a year to dig all 21 miles, all they used was spades wheelbarrows and planks they hoped to do it in 6 months but the 'bottoming' took much longer than expected

One helluva job to do but it's amazing what could be achieved. This pic is supposed to be from when the Forty Foot Drain was dug in South Lincs.

I don't know if Vermuyden did actually do everything that he's credited with, but if he did, he was involved in a lot of projects stretching from the Isle of Axholme right down through Lincolnshire, into Cambridgeshire and beyond.

 

[onthehoof]

Massive job, that section needs to be emptied, cleaned up and re lined, but now the peat is wet it’ll be like working on a blancmange and very difficult to seal

Where does the water go in the meantime

 

[Adeptandy]

Where does the water go in the meantime

Pump it around the dammed area at a guess or into the wash

 

[grainboy]

Best get on with a repair job pretty quick,
Flood season is looming,
Someone, or department wants there arses kicking,

 

[grainboy]

I’m Bedford end, and all our water comes your way.