Aike Beck
Encyclopedia
Aike Beck or the Lockington Navigation is a stream in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, England
, which was constructed as a navigation in the late 18th century, and ceased to function as such in the 1850s.
0.4 mile (0.643736 km) above its junction with the Leven Canal
. Navigable for no more than 2 miles (3.2 km) from the river, its main function was to carry coal, and it had two canal locks taking craft of 40 feet by 8 feet 10 inches (12 m x 2.7 m). One was an entrance lock where the Beck joined the river Hull, and the other was about half way along the navigation.
The navigation was constructed in the late 18th century by the Hotham family who owned large amounts of land in the area. In 1809 engineer
William Chapman
reported to the drainage commissioners that the locks on the navigation had raised water levels and caused flooding. It is thought to have ceased to be used for navigation in the 1850s, as it appears to be derelict on the 1855 Ordnance Survey map, where both the second lock and the coal basin at Lockington are marked "old". By the time the 1891 map was published, the final section from the beck to the coal wharf had disappeared altogether, and the lock gates must have been removed, as the beck is marked as tidal to beyond the coal wharf junction.
The Beck was supplied with water by Bryan Mills Beck and Scorborough Beck. The latter was also used for navigation in the early 19th century.
Aike Beck crossed over the Beverley and Barmston Drain, which runs to the west of, and parallel to, the Driffield Navigation and River Hull. It was authorised by the Beverley Barmston Drainage Act, which was passed by parliament in 1798. The tunnel carrying the drain under Aike Beck was one of eleven similar structures made necessary because the drain needed to cross existing waterways. The civil engineer for the project was William Chapman, who had submitted the original plans in 1796.
During the 1990s, Aike and Arram Beck
were altered, removing Aike Beck's connection to the River Hull completely. Its water supply was routed along a catchwater drain, which runs beside the railway line to join the Arram Beck. A small indentation in the bank of the Hull can be seen where Aike Beck used to enter.
The former junction of Aike Beck with the river marks the point at which the Driffield Navigation
, upstream from the junction, becomes the River Hull
, below it.
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which was constructed as a navigation in the late 18th century, and ceased to function as such in the 1850s.
History
Aike Beck joined the River HullRiver Hull
The River Hull is a navigable river in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the north of England. It rises from a series of springs to the west of Driffield, and enters the Humber estuary at Kingston upon Hull. Following a period when the Archbishops of York charged tolls for its use, it became a free...
0.4 mile (0.643736 km) above its junction with the Leven Canal
Leven Canal
The Leven Canal canal runs for from the River Hull to the village of Leven, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was built for Mrs Charlotta Bethell in 1805, and remained in use until 1935. It is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest.-Location:...
. Navigable for no more than 2 miles (3.2 km) from the river, its main function was to carry coal, and it had two canal locks taking craft of 40 feet by 8 feet 10 inches (12 m x 2.7 m). One was an entrance lock where the Beck joined the river Hull, and the other was about half way along the navigation.
The navigation was constructed in the late 18th century by the Hotham family who owned large amounts of land in the area. In 1809 engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
William Chapman
William Chapman (engineer)
William Chapman was an English engineer. Born in Whitby, he worked on the construction of the Old and Humber docks in Hull, as well as many drainage and canal projects. He is credited with the invention of the bogie and articulation for rail vehicles.-Personal life:William Chapman was born on 7...
reported to the drainage commissioners that the locks on the navigation had raised water levels and caused flooding. It is thought to have ceased to be used for navigation in the 1850s, as it appears to be derelict on the 1855 Ordnance Survey map, where both the second lock and the coal basin at Lockington are marked "old". By the time the 1891 map was published, the final section from the beck to the coal wharf had disappeared altogether, and the lock gates must have been removed, as the beck is marked as tidal to beyond the coal wharf junction.
The Beck was supplied with water by Bryan Mills Beck and Scorborough Beck. The latter was also used for navigation in the early 19th century.
Aike Beck crossed over the Beverley and Barmston Drain, which runs to the west of, and parallel to, the Driffield Navigation and River Hull. It was authorised by the Beverley Barmston Drainage Act, which was passed by parliament in 1798. The tunnel carrying the drain under Aike Beck was one of eleven similar structures made necessary because the drain needed to cross existing waterways. The civil engineer for the project was William Chapman, who had submitted the original plans in 1796.
During the 1990s, Aike and Arram Beck
Arram Beck
Arram Beck is a small stream running through high embankments and flowing eastwards from the village of Arram to join the River Hull. Depths are variable due to the tidal nature of the Hull...
were altered, removing Aike Beck's connection to the River Hull completely. Its water supply was routed along a catchwater drain, which runs beside the railway line to join the Arram Beck. A small indentation in the bank of the Hull can be seen where Aike Beck used to enter.
The former junction of Aike Beck with the river marks the point at which the Driffield Navigation
Driffield Navigation
The Driffield Navigation is an waterway, through the heart of the Holderness Plain to the market town of Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The northern section of it is a canal, and the southern section is part of the River Hull. Construction was authorised in 1767, and it was fully...
, upstream from the junction, becomes the River Hull
River Hull
The River Hull is a navigable river in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the north of England. It rises from a series of springs to the west of Driffield, and enters the Humber estuary at Kingston upon Hull. Following a period when the Archbishops of York charged tolls for its use, it became a free...
, below it.
Location
Situated on the Driffield Navigation- Next place upstream = Wilfholme LandingWilfholme LandingWilfholme Landing is located on the Driffield Navigation in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The navigation is still tidal at this point, and is often considered to still be the River Hull, although technically the Navigation starts at the point where the Aike Beck used to join the river, a...
- Next place downstream = Leven CanalLeven CanalThe Leven Canal canal runs for from the River Hull to the village of Leven, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was built for Mrs Charlotta Bethell in 1805, and remained in use until 1935. It is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest.-Location:...
Points of interest
See also
- Canals of the United KingdomCanals of the United KingdomThe canals of the United Kingdom are a major part of the network of inland waterways in the United Kingdom. They have a colourful history, from use for irrigation and transport, through becoming the focus of the Industrial Revolution, to today's role for recreational boating...
- History of the British canal systemHistory of the British canal systemThe British canal system of water transport played a vital role in the United Kingdom's Industrial Revolution at a time when roads were only just emerging from the medieval mud and long trains of pack horses were the only means of "mass" transit by road of raw materials and finished products The...