River Wyre

The name Wyre is of pre-Roman, likely, if specific, Common Brittonic origin.{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Alan G. |title=A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence - Guide to the Elements |url=https://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary_2019_Edition.pdf |website=Scottish Place Name Society - The Brittonic Language in the Old North |access-date=25 October 2018}} It may be derived from *wiΣ-,{{efn|In reconstructed Brittonic words, Σ represents a sound somewhere between {{IPAblink|s}} and {{IPAblink|h}}; perhaps an aspirated [ʃʰ].{{Cite web|url=http://dlib.bc.edu/islandora/object/bc-ir:102094|title=Celtic initial consonant mutations - nghath and bhfuil?|first=Kevin M.|last=Conroy|date=21 February 2008|via=dlib.bc.edu}}}} a form of the element {{lang|cel-x-proto|wei}}, with a basic sense of "flowing", with the suffix {{lang|cel-x-proto|–urā}}.

The River Wyre possibly shares its etymology with other river names, including the Wear in County Durham and the Quair Water in Scotland.

The river's name possibly means 'winding river' in Celtic.{{cite book |author=Reaney, P. H.|title=The Origin Of English Place-Names|year=1964|publisher=Routledge and Keagan Paul|page=80}}

The river rises in the Forest of Bowland in central Lancashire, as two distinct tributaries—the Tarnbrook Wyre and the Marshaw Wyre—whose confluence is near the village of Abbeystead. In 1984, a pumping station, built just below the confluence as part of a water transfer scheme in the 1980s, saw the Abbeystead disaster, an explosion in which 16 people were killed and a further 22 were injured.{{cite book|title=The Abbeystead Explosion: a report of the investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the explosion on 23 May 1984 at the valve house of the Lune/Wyre Water Transfer Scheme at Abbeystead|author=HSE|authorlink=Health and Safety Executive|isbn=0-11-883795-8|year=1985|url=https://archive.org/stream/op1276745-1001/op1276745-1001_djvu.txt}}

From Abbeystead, the river flows south through Dolphinholme to Garstang, where the Lancaster Canal crosses on a small aqueduct. {{Convert|1|mi}} south, at Catterall, it meets its first major tributary, the River Calder. The river then turns westwards, flowing through St Michael's on Wyre, where it is joined by its second major tributary, the River Brock. It becomes tidal below the weir at St Michael's.

It is crossed by Cartford Bridge, a toll bridge, between Little Eccleston and Out Rawcliffe. A former toll bridge, Shard Bridge, close to Poulton-le-Fylde, has been rebuilt and is now free. The Wyre Estuary Ferry runs between Fleetwood and Knott End, but the ferry to the Isle of Man no longer runs.

Major industry existed at the former ICI Hillhouse site at Burn Naze, close to the estuary of the river. It was originally an alkali works taking brine from mines and wells across the river in and around Preesall. Later processes undertaken on the site included those dealing with vinyl chloride monomer, although this was later moved to Runcorn and ICI activity on the site ceased. Industrial activity by a number of various companies continues by the river, albeit on a much reduced scale.

The area around Burn Naze on the western side of the Wyre Estuary was formerly known as Bergerode, believed to be an Old English term for "shallow harbour", beor grade.William John Thomas et al., Notes and Queries (1850). Oxford University Press.

From Skippool, just downstream of Shard Bridge, to Fleetwood, the banks of the river form the Wyre Estuary Country Park. Facilities exist on the western bank. The park has its headquarters at Stanah. It has been the recipient of a Green Flag Award.

Fleetwood, at the mouth of the river, was a major fishing port up until the latter part of the 20th century. Wyre Dock was built there between 1869 and 1877. With the decline in the size of the fleet, most of the dock complex has subsequently been converted to a marina and the adjacent Affinity Lancashire outdoor shopping centre.

The river drains a total catchment area of approximately 175 square miles (450 km²). The tidal portion of the river below Cartford Bridge drains a catchment area of approximately {{convert|125|sqmi}}.{{cite web|title=Wyre Catchment Area Flood Management Plan |publisher=Environment Agency |date=January 2007 |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/wyre_summary_report_1697941.pdf |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070626071527/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/wyre_summary_report_1697941.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-06-26 |access-date=2007-10-25 }}

The Wyre is the only one of the major Lancashire rivers that flows wholly within the ceremonial county; the Ribble starts in North Yorkshire, and the Lune starts in Cumbria.{{cite news|last1=Calvert|first1=Phil|title=Lancashire's secret river explored|url=http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/news/lancashire-s-secret-river-explored-1-6955635|access-date=15 September 2017|work=Clitheroe Advertiser|date=19 November 2014}}

{{Location map+|Lancashire

|caption={{center|Shown within Lancashire}}

|float=right

|width=400

|AlternativeMap = Rivers of Lancashire.png

|places =

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.923|long=-3.015|label={{raise|Fleet-
wood}}|label_size=85|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.927|long=-2.979|label=Knott End|label_size=85|}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.871|long=-3.004|label=Thornton|label_size=85|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.875|long=-2.952|label={{nowrap|         Hambleton}}|label_size=85|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.855|long=-2.871|label=Great Eccleston|label_size=85|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.863|long=-2.821|label={{lower|St Michael's}}|label_size=85}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.903|long=-2.768|label=Garstang |label_size=85}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.933|long=-2.760|label=Scorton|label_size=85}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.975|long=-2.733|label=Dolphinholme |label_size=85|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.983|long=-2.672|label={{raise|Abbeystead}}|label_size=85|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=54.022|long=-2.607|label=Tarnbrook Source|label_size=85|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Lancashire|lat=53.965|long=-2.587|label=Marshaw Source |label_size=85|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

}}

• Fleetwood
• Knott End-on-Sea
• Stanah
• Thornton
• Hambleton
• Skippool
• Little Singleton
• Out Rawcliffe
• Little Eccleston
• Great Eccleston
• St Michael's on Wyre
• Churchtown
• Catterall
• Garstang
• Cabus
• Scorton
• Hollins Lane
• Dolphinholme
• Abbeystead

• Marshaw

• Lower Lee
• Tarnbrook

{{Div col||colwidth=21em}}

• Hillylaid Pool
• Wardley's Pool
• Peg's Pool
• Skippool Creek
• Main Dyke
• Lucas Flash
• Calder Brook
• Wall Mill Pool
• Thistleton Brook
• Medlar Brook
• Scholar Brook
• River Brock
• Yoad Pool
• New Draught
• Old River Brock
• Bacchus Brook
• Bull Brook
• Withney Dike
• Woodplumpton Brook
• Swill Brook
• Blundel Brook
• New Mill Brook
• Barton Brook
• Dean Brook
• Sparling Brook
• Factory Brook
• Westfield Brook
• Mill Brook
• Whinnyclough Brook
• Bullsnape Brook
• Blay Brook
• Lickhurst Brook
• Huds Brook
• Winsnape Brook
• Clough Heads Brook
• Longback Brook
• Ains Pool
• River Calder
• Little Calder River
• Nanny Brook
• Calder Dyke
• East Grain
• North Grain
• Parkhead Brook
• Grizedale Brook
• Oxen Beck
• Tithe Barn Brook
• Park Brook
• Foxhouses Brook
• Lordshouse Brook
• Street Brook
• Damas Gill
• Sparrow Gill
• Caw Brook
• Smithy Beck
• Gallows Clough
• Hall Gill
• Parson's Brook
• Joshua's Beck
• Cam Brook
• Lainsley Slack

• Marshaw Wyre
• Inchaclough
• White Syke
• Bull Beck
• Well Brook
• Meer Brook
• Black Clough
• Tail Clough
• Trough Brook
• Threapshaw Clough

• Tarnbrook Wyre
• River Grizedale
• Castle Syke
• Grizedale Brook
• Lower Within Syke
• Higher Within Syke
• Wood Syke
• Stick Close Beck
• Thorn Clough
• Fall Clough
• Tarn Syke
• Thrush Clough
• Higher Syke
• Delph Beck
• White Moor Clough
• Swine Clough
• Deer Clough
• Small Clough
• Gavells Clough
• Hare Syke

{{Div col end}}

• Wyre Way

{{notelist}}

{{Commons category|River Wyre}}

• [http://www.garstang.org/attractions/river-wyre.html The River Wyre in Garstang]
• [http://seafishingandwalking.co.uk/tag/river-wyre/ A great sea fishing venue the Wyre estuary is a favourite of local sea angling clubs]

{{Rivers of Lancashire}}

{{Lancashire}}

{{Borough of Wyre}}

{{City of Lancaster geography}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wyre, River}}

Category:Rivers of the Borough of Wyre

River Wyre

Category:Rivers of Lancaster

River Wyre

Category:Rivers of Lancashire