Read's Island
Encyclopedia
Read's Island is an island
situated just outside the Ancholme
sluice
, on the Humber Estuary
in England
. Some suggest it is an artificial island
. However, the site of the current Read's Island was for very many years a large sandbank going by the name of "Old Warp" and is shown on the 1734 Customs Map of the Humber where Read's Island now lays, and extending further downstream. Grass was then seen growing on Old Warp by the early part of the 19th century. With the Humber Estuary
being a drain for a large part of the Midlands, including the River Trent
and all of its tributaries, and the River Ouse
draining a major part of Yorkshire
, England
, and being very tidal, it was a simple task and a matter of waiting a few years for some strategically placed piles of bricks and concrete to start off this island (some say). It was certainly protected and further land reclaimed from the Humber as its island status grew, and by the 1861 census there was one wooden cottage on the island, with a fresh water well. German prisoners of war rebuilt the brick flood walls during the 1914-1918 war.
The major part of Read's Island is in the parish of Winteringham
despite the closest village being South Ferriby
. Historically, there is an approximate 20 year cycle whereby the main shipping channel alternates from just north of Read's Island to the South Channel, between the Island and the shoreline in South Ferriby and Winteringham parishes.
It has been occupied at times in the past, at one point as a farm with cattle roaming along it, and when there are particularly high spring tides, at low water, it was possible for the cattle to reach solid ground by walking across the mud at low tide. However, when the island was farmed by Joseph Popple in the 1930s cattle had to be transported by barge. The island then extended to some 600 acres (2.4 km²) and was used for summer grazing. It was locally famous for wildlife and hares.
The size of the island was reduced by half in the floods of 2008.
Currently, as the Humber continues to change, the Island is in decline. Current thinking suggests that the main (undredged) shipping channel that leads to the likes of Goole
, may fall between the island and the Humber's Lincolnshire shore before too many more years have passed.
Read's Island is an RSPB reserve
due to its importance for ground-nesting avocet
s - 6% of the entire UK population.
Note that Read's Island is the spelling used by the Ordnance Survey and other maps, whilst some spell it Reads Island, and others even Reed's or Reeds Island. The Read brothers of Burton Stather are believed to be the first to graze cattle on the island.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
situated just outside the Ancholme
River Ancholme
The River Ancholme is a river in North Lincolnshire, England, and a tributary of the Humber estuary.It rises south of Bishopbridge and passes through many Lincolnshire villages and the market town of Brigg before flowing north into the Humber at South Ferriby.North of Bishopbridge, where the River...
sluice
Sluice
A sluice is a water channel that is controlled at its head by a gate . For example, a millrace is a sluice that channels water toward a water mill...
, on the Humber Estuary
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
in 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...
. Some suggest it is an artificial island
Artificial island
An artificial island or man-made island is an island or archipelago that has been constructed by people rather than formed by natural means...
. However, the site of the current Read's Island was for very many years a large sandbank going by the name of "Old Warp" and is shown on the 1734 Customs Map of the Humber where Read's Island now lays, and extending further downstream. Grass was then seen growing on Old Warp by the early part of the 19th century. With the Humber Estuary
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
being a drain for a large part of the Midlands, including the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
and all of its tributaries, and the River Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
draining a major part of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, 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...
, and being very tidal, it was a simple task and a matter of waiting a few years for some strategically placed piles of bricks and concrete to start off this island (some say). It was certainly protected and further land reclaimed from the Humber as its island status grew, and by the 1861 census there was one wooden cottage on the island, with a fresh water well. German prisoners of war rebuilt the brick flood walls during the 1914-1918 war.
The major part of Read's Island is in the parish of Winteringham
Winteringham
Winteringham is a village in North Lincolnshire and on the south bank of the Humber Estuary, population 989 .The Romans had a settlement here probably called Ad Abum . The Roman road Ermine Street from London and Lincoln to the south crossed the Humber here by way of a ferry or ford to Brough, and...
despite the closest village being South Ferriby
South Ferriby
South Ferriby is a village in North Lincolnshire, England situated on the south bank of the Humber Estuary 5 km west of the Humber Bridge and directly opposite North Ferriby on the Estuary’s north bank. It currently has a population of around 600 people.-History:It dates back at least to Roman...
. Historically, there is an approximate 20 year cycle whereby the main shipping channel alternates from just north of Read's Island to the South Channel, between the Island and the shoreline in South Ferriby and Winteringham parishes.
It has been occupied at times in the past, at one point as a farm with cattle roaming along it, and when there are particularly high spring tides, at low water, it was possible for the cattle to reach solid ground by walking across the mud at low tide. However, when the island was farmed by Joseph Popple in the 1930s cattle had to be transported by barge. The island then extended to some 600 acres (2.4 km²) and was used for summer grazing. It was locally famous for wildlife and hares.
The size of the island was reduced by half in the floods of 2008.
Currently, as the Humber continues to change, the Island is in decline. Current thinking suggests that the main (undredged) shipping channel that leads to the likes of Goole
Goole
Goole is a town, civil parish and port located approximately inland on the confluence of the rivers Don and Ouse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England...
, may fall between the island and the Humber's Lincolnshire shore before too many more years have passed.
Read's Island is an RSPB reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
due to its importance for ground-nesting avocet
Pied Avocet
The Pied Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta, is a large black and white wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae. They breed in temperate Europe and western and Central Asia. It is a migratory species and most winter in Africa or southern Asia...
s - 6% of the entire UK population.
Note that Read's Island is the spelling used by the Ordnance Survey and other maps, whilst some spell it Reads Island, and others even Reed's or Reeds Island. The Read brothers of Burton Stather are believed to be the first to graze cattle on the island.