River Wansbeck

{{Short description|River in Northumberland, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

{{Infobox river

| name = River Wansbeck

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| image = River Wansbeck, Geograph.jpg

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| image_caption = The River Wansbeck near Low Angerton

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| pushpin_map = United Kingdom Northumberland

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| pushpin_map_caption= Location of mouth within Northumberland

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = United Kingdom

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| subdivision_type3 = County

| subdivision_name3 = Northumberland

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| length = {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=on}} {{cite web|url=http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:1305/OBJ/19001149.pdf |title=River factfiles : Get to know your rivers|website=Environmentdata.org|access-date=7 July 2022}}

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| source1 =

| source1_location = West of Sweethope Loughs

| source1_coordinates= {{coord|55.1409|-2.137|display=inline}}

| source1_elevation = {{convert|295|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| mouth =

| mouth_location = North Sea

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|55.1619|-1.5294|display=inline,title}}

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| tributaries_right = River Font, Hart Burn

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The River Wansbeck runs through the county of Northumberland, England. It rises above Sweethope Lough on the edge of Fourlaws Forest in the area known locally as The Wanneys (Great Wanney Crag, Little Wanney Crag; thus the "Wanneys Beck"); runs through the town of Ashington before discharging into the North Sea at Sandy Bay near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

The River flows through the village of Kirkwhelpington, Hartburn, where the tributary Hart Burn joins, the village of Mitford, where the River Font joins, and the town of Morpeth.

The River Wansbeck is nicknamed the River Wanney. The term 'The Wilds of Wanney' is used by people of Tyneside to refer to the rural areas of Northumberland where the Wansbeck rises.

The River lent its name to the former Wansbeck district which was based in Ashington, and included Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Bedlington and Stakeford.

Barrage and navigation

Between 1974 and 75, a £250,000 barrage{{cite web|title=The barrage is a subject within this Durham University Doctoral thesis "Remediation Strategies and Water Quality of estuarine impoundments" by Jens Lamping|access-date=9 June 2014|url=http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3034/1/3034_1058.pdf?UkUDh:CyT|page=107|quotation=The thesis has a colour photo of the lock. The construction dates and details are sourced from the thesis}} with a navigation lock was built near the rivermouth and adjacent to the A189 road bridge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/northstn.html|title=North Seaton Bridge|website=Bridgesonthetyne.co.uk|access-date=7 July 2022}} In so doing the lower three miles of river{{Cite web|url=https://canalplan.org.uk/waterway/urwu|title=River Wansbeck – Gazetteer – CanalPlanAC|website=Canalplan.org.uk|access-date=7 July 2022}} became a country park{{Cite web|url=https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Home.aspx?page=3521|title=Northumberland County Council - Home|first=Northumberland County|last=Council|website=Northumberland.gov.uk|access-date=7 July 2022}} and are recognised as England's most northerly inland (locked) navigation.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/river.php?wpage=WNSB&name=River%20Wansbeck |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714194000/http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/river.php?wpage=WNSB&name=River%20Wansbeck |url-status=dead }} Very little use of the lock has actually been recorded, although rowing and sailing craft are launched and used in the country park.

Stakeford Bridge{{Cite web|url=http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/stake.html|title=Stakeford Bridge|website=Bridgesonthetyne.co.uk|access-date=7 July 2022}} is about midway in the navigable part. Sheepwash Bridge{{Cite web|url=http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/sheep.html|title=Sheepwash Bridge|website=Bridgesonthetyne.co.uk|access-date=7 July 2022}} is near the upper limit of the park and the navigable water.{{Cite web|url=https://canalplan.org.uk/place/wjqf|title=Sheepwash Bridge – Gazetteer – CanalPlanAC|website=Canalplan.org.uk|access-date=7 July 2022}}

From 1985, the new navigation was officially recorded in The Inland Waterways of Great Britain, noting that the navigation authority was then Wansbeck District Council,Edwards, L. A.: The Inland Waterways of Great Britain, sixth edition Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, St Ives, Cambs, 1985 p. 382 which means that, since 2009, Northumberland County has held that role.

File:The infant River Wansbeck - geograph.org.uk - 627089.jpg|The infant River Wansbeck as a stream

File:Stepping stones Morpeth - geograph.org.uk - 1533870.jpg|Stepping stones at Morpeth

File:Wallington Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1585530.jpg|Wallington Bridge between Kirkharle and Cambo

File:Weir at Mitford - geograph.org.uk - 305932.jpg|Weir at Mitford

File:Wansbeck River Mouth - geograph.org.uk - 69518.jpg|River Wansbeck meets the North Sea

Road and rail river crossings

  • North Seaton A189 Bridge, A189 (road, foot)
  • North Seaton Railway Bridge (rail), used to carry Blyth and Tyne Railway now used for freight
  • Stakeford Bridge, A196 (road, foot)
  • Sheepwash Bridge, A1068 road (road, foot)
  • Bothal Mill Bridge, A196 (road, foot)
  • Pegswood Railway Viaduct, East Coast Main Line (rail)
  • Morpeth Telford Bridge, A197 (road, foot)
  • Lowford Bridge, B6343 (road, foot)
  • Highford Bridge, B6343 (road, foot)
  • A1 Bridge (road)
  • Mitford Bridge, B6343 (road, foot)
  • Meldon Bridge (road, foot)
  • Mill House Bridge, B6343 (road, foot)
  • Low Angerton Bridge (road, foot)
  • Low Angerton Railway Bridge (disused), Used to carry the Wansbeck Railway
  • Middleton Bridge, B6343 (road, foot)
  • Wallington Bridge, B6342 (road, foot)
  • Kirkwhelpington Bridge (road, foot)
  • Kirkwhelpington A696 Bridge (road)
  • Sweethope Loughs Road Bridge (road, foot){{Cite web|url=https://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/intro5.html|title=Bridges On The Wansbeck - Introduction|website=Bridgesonthetyne.co.uk|access-date=7 July 2022}}

See also

References

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