River Rye, Yorkshire

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River Rye
River Rye 11-02-07.jpg
The catchment area of the River Rye
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • location Cleveland Hills
 • elevation660 ft (200 m)
Mouth  
 • location
Howe Bridge
Basin size330 sq mi (850 km2)
Basin features
River system River Derwent, Yorkshire

The River Rye in the English county of North Yorkshire rises just south of the Cleveland Hills, east of Osmotherley, and flows through Hawnby, Rievaulx, Helmsley, Nunnington, West and East Ness, Butterwick, Brawby, and Ryton, before joining the River Derwent at 54°10′N00°44′W / 54.167°N 0.733°W / 54.167; -0.733 near Malton.

Contents

The river valley (dale) gave its name to the Ryedale shire district, which extends southwest into the Vale of Pickering along the River Derwent.

River Rye near Nunnington, swollen after heavy rain. River rye2.jpg
River Rye near Nunnington, swollen after heavy rain.

Course

Church Bridge at Hawnby crossing the upper reaches of the River Rye. Church Bridge at Hawnby after the rebuild - geograph.org.uk - 191001.jpg
Church Bridge at Hawnby crossing the upper reaches of the River Rye.

The river rises at Rye Head near Snilesworth Lodge on Snilesworth Moor in the Cleveland Hills and collects the River Seph which flows along Bilsdale. It passes Rievaulx Abbey and enters the Vale of Pickering at Helmsley. In its eastward course from Helmsley, the Rye receives the River Dove from Farndale which has previously added the Hodge Beck from Bransdale. Hodge Beck is partly swallowed by the limestone aquifer in Kirkdale and issues again further down the valley. Kirkbymoorside is on the River Dove which, like Hodge Beck has a partly subterranean course. Rosedale sends down the River Seven which comes by Sinnington to join the Rye. The steep-sided Newtondale gives Pickering Beck which joins the Costa Beck before it enters the River Rye just before its mouth into River Derwent. [1]

Areas

For management purposes the River Rye is divided into two units, Ness and Howe Bridge.

Ness

Ness is the upstream area and covers 59,000 acres (240 km2). It covers the River Rye and its tributaries from its source to its confluence with the River Dove near the village of East Ness.

The Ness area is mainly rural with dispersed settlements. It has varied topography, the northern part is dominated by upland moors which are over 660 feet (200 m) in height in the North York Moors National Park. Here the land use is largely managed grassland. Downstream, as the river approaches Rievaulx and Helmsley the land is around 330 feet (100 m) in height and falls to 160 feet (49 m) at East Ness. In the lower part, land use is a mixture of managed grassland and arable farming with pockets of forestry and woodland close to the river.

Abstraction from the river is mainly to supply a fish farm at Harome and this water is returned to the river. Wastewater treatment works have been built at Helmsley and Sproxton. The ecology and fisheries are highly sensitive to changers in water flow. [2]

Howe Bridge

The Howe Bridge area covers 152,000 acres (620 km2). It covers the River Rye from East Ness to its confluence with the River Derwent just beyond Howe Bridge. In this area the main tributaries are the River Riccal, River Dove (with Hodge Beck), River Seven, Costa Beck and Pickering Beck.

The market towns of Pickering and Kirkbymoorside are the largest settlements. Otherwise the area is rural with a varied topography. To the north is the upland moorland of the North York moors with the valleys of Bransdale, Farndale, Rosedale and Newtondale. Much of the moorland is over 980 feet (300 m) in height with the highest point being 1,410 feet (430 m). To the south the tributaries from the valleys converge and the land becomes flatter. It is mainly lower than 330 feet (100 m). To the south-west the Howe Bridge area covers the undulating landscape of the Howardian Hills.

The largest abstractions are for fish farming. Wastewater treatment works are at Pickering, Harome and Kirkbymoorside. [2]

Geology

At source the River Rye and its tributaries run over Corallian limestone which outcrops on the hills surrounding the Vale of Pickering. In places the major aquifer is exposed in the river bed and river water is lost through swallow holes at Kirkdale and Kirkby Mills. Beneath the course of the Rye and its tributaries in the Vale of Pickering lie the lacustrine deposits from the last ice age. Newtondale was a melt water channel draining the North York Moors at the end of the ice age and its valley is much more deeply incised than the flow of the present Pickering Beck would suggest. [2]

History

Rye Valley at Rievaulx Abbey Rievaulx Abbey and the Rye Valley - geograph.org.uk - 22848.jpg
Rye Valley at Rievaulx Abbey

The upland streams of the Rye and its tributaries have powered water mills for centuries. There were three mills at Pickering and others at Kirkby Mills, near Kirkbymoorside. [3] A mill at Bransdale is owned by the National Trust, though not open to visitors. Rievaulx Abbey was established on the banks of the Rye on land given by Walter l'Espec of Helmsley and took its name from a literal translation of Rye Valley from the French. The monks of Rievaulx diverted the river away from the abbey buildings. [4]

On the Costa Beck south of Pickering traces of a prehistoric settlement were excavated in the late-19th century. [5] [6]

Economy

The main economic value of the River Rye lies in its use as a water source for agriculture, domestic supply, fisheries and leisure pursuits. It also drains the water discharged by wastewater treatment works. [2]

Nature protection

Farndale is a Site of Special Scientific Interest The River Dove near the Daffy Cafe in Farndale - geograph.org.uk - 207439.jpg
Farndale is a Site of Special Scientific Interest

There are many sites in the Rye catchment area which have designated status.

North York Moors are designated as a Special Protection Area, providing protection to birds, their nests, eggs and habitats and a Special Area of Conservation, contributug to biodiversity by maintaining and restoring habitats and species other than birds.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the area include Farndale; Cropton Banks and Howlgate Head Woods; Newton Dale; The Ings of Amotherby; Duncombe Park; Ashberry and Reins Woods; Rievaulx Woods; Ryedale Windy Pits and North York Moors.

Duncombe Park is a National Nature Reserve (NNR), while the Howardian Hills are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. [2]

Related Research Articles

North York Moors National park in North Yorkshire, England

The North York Moors is an upland area in north-eastern Yorkshire, England. It contains one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. The area was designated as a National Park in 1952, through the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. Covering an area of 554 sq mi (1,430 km2), the National Park has a population of 23,380. It is administered by the North York Moors National Park Authority, whose head office is based in Helmsley.

River Derwent, Yorkshire River in Yorkshire, England

The Derwent is a river in Yorkshire in the north of England. It flows from Fylingdales Moor in the North York Moors National Park, east then southwards as far as its confluence with the River Hertford then westwards through the Vale of Pickering, south through Kirkham Gorge and the Vale of York, joining the River Ouse at Barmby on the Marsh. The confluence is unusual in that the Derwent converges on the Ouse at a shallow angle in an upstream direction.

Ryedale Non-metropolitan district in England

Ryedale is a non-metropolitan district of the shire county of North Yorkshire in England. It is in the Vale of Pickering, a low-lying flat area of land drained by the River Derwent. The Vale's landscape is rural with scattered villages and small market towns. It has been inhabited continuously from the Mesolithic period. The economy is largely agricultural with light industry and tourism playing an increasing role.

Pickering, North Yorkshire Market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Pickering is an ancient market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, on the border of the North York Moors National Park. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it sits at the foot of the moors, overlooking the Vale of Pickering to the south.

Helmsley Market town in North Yorkshire, England

Helmsley is a market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, the town is located at the point where Ryedale leaves the moorland and joins the flat Vale of Pickering.

Kirkbymoorside Market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Kirkbymoorside is a small market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, about 25 miles (40.2 km) north of York, midway between Pickering and Helmsley, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. It has a population of about 3,000, measured in the 2011 Census as 3,040.

Vale of Pickering Low-lying plain in North Yorkshire, England

The Vale of Pickering is a low-lying flat area of land in North Yorkshire, England. It is drained by the River Derwent. The landscape is rural with scattered villages and small market towns. It has been inhabited continuously from the Mesolithic period. The present economy is largely agricultural with light industry and tourism playing an increasing role.

Costa Beck River in North Yorkshire, England

Costa Beck is a small river in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. It also lends its name to an archaeological site.

Bransdale

Bransdale is a valley running south through North Yorkshire, England, and part of the North York Moors National Park. Sandwiched between Bilsdale to the west and Farndale to the east, it is formed from the dales of Bransdale itself at the top of the valley, Sleightholmedale and Kirkdale. It carries a river called Hodge Beck en route from Cockayne to the River Dove from Farndale three miles (4.8 km) of Kirkbymoorside, which runs on into the Vale of Pickering and the River Rye.

Harome Village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Harome is a small village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, around 2 miles (3.2 km) south-east of the market town of Helmsley, and 24 miles (39 km) north-east of York. The village has a population of 261 people according to the 2011 UK census, and a total land area of 9,539 sq metres. It is situated to the east of the River Riccal. The village has 109 households, with agriculture and retail trade being the two main employers for the residents. The name Harome simply means rocks/stones, and translates from old English meaning a heap of stones.

Farndale Valley in North Yorkshire, England

Farndale is a valley and community in Ryedale district, North Yorkshire, England, which is known for the daffodils which flower each spring along a 7-mile (11 km) stretch of the River Dove. The valley is in the North York Moors National Park, some 11 miles (18 km) north of Kirkbymoorside, the nearest town. Pickering is some 17 miles (27 km) to the south-east and Helmsley 17 miles (27 km) to the south-west.

River Dove, North Yorkshire River in North Yorkshire, England

The River Dove is a river in North Yorkshire, England. It rises on the North York Moors and flows south to join the River Rye, itself a tributary of the River Derwent. The upper valley of the river is known as Farndale. The name is of Brittonic Celtic origin, meaning "dark river". Its principal tributary is the Hodge Beck.

River Riccal River in North Yorkshire, England

The River Riccal is a river of North Yorkshire, England, lying within the North York Moors National Park. It is a tributary of the River Rye, which in turn is a tributary of the River Derwent. The name originates in the fourteenth century as Ricolvegraines means Rye Calf, where Calf is a small island near a larger one. This describes the way the river, and those nearby, form islands as their nature changes due to meandering.

Moorsbus Network of bus services in North Yorkshire Moors

Moorsbus is a network of bus services operating to and around the North York Moors National Park and surrounding areas. It was operated from the 1980s by the North York Moors National Park Authority, and linked places such as Malton, Teesside, Thirsk, York and Hull to the National Park.

Bilsdale

Bilsdale is a dale in the western part of the North York Moors in North Yorkshire, England. The head of the dale is at Hasty Bank, and the dale extends 10 miles (16 km) south to meet Rye Dale near Hawnby. The dale is the valley of the River Seph, formed where Raisdale Beck joins Bilsdale Beck at the small village of Chop Gate in the north of the dale. The river flows south to meet the River Rye at Seph Mouth.

A169 road Road in North Yorkshire, England

The A169 is an A road in North Yorkshire, England. It runs from the A64 at Malton on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds through the Vale of Pickering and across the North York Moors to join the A171 just west of Whitby. It is a single carriageway for all of its 25-mile (40 km) route. Whilst it is not considered a Primary Route nationally, the Ryedale Local Transport Plan lists it as part of its Major Road Network alongside the A64, A166 and A171.

Hodge Beck Stream in North Yorkshire, England

Hodge Beck is a stream that flows through the North York Moors national park in North Yorkshire, England. It is a tributary of the River Dove which it joins near Welburn south of Kirkbymoorside. The beck is 14 miles (23 km) long and has a total catchment area of 58 square kilometres (22 sq mi).

Gilling and Pickering line

The Gilling and Pickering line (G&P) was a railway line that ran from Gilling to Pickering in North Yorkshire, England.

Pickering Beck River in North Yorkshire, England

Pickering Beck is a river that runs for over 18 miles (29 km) from its source in the North York Moors National Park through the town of Pickering and on to its confluence with Costa Beck at Kirby Misperton. It is a meandering river that is fed by numerous named and unnamed becks and streams which flow over sandstone and limestone beds and an alluvia of sand, clay silt and gravel. The beck is known for flooding and in recent times has been a beneficiary of funding and experimental flood protection schemes.

Newton Dale A narrow north/south valley in North Yorkshire, England

Newton Dale is a narrow dale within the North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire, England. It was created by meltwater from a glacier carving the narrow valley. Water still flows through the dale and is known as Pickering Beck.

References

  1. ↑ Ordnance Survey (2009). North York Moors - Western Area. OS Explorer Map Active Series. Ordnance Survey. ISBN   0-319-46748-1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Derwent Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy" (PDF). Environment Agency. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  3. ↑ Home, Gordon (1905). The Evolution of an English Town: being the story of the ancient town of Pickering in Yorkshire. J.M. Dent & co. ISBN   1-4375-2268-8.
  4. ↑ Frank, George (1888). Ryedale and North Yorkshire antiquities. Sampson Brothers.
  5. ↑ Snowden, Keith (1997). Pickering through the ages: a concise history of this ancient North Yorkshire town. Pickering: Castleden. ISBN   0-9527548-1-9.
  6. ↑ Rushton, John (2003). The history of Ryedale: from the earliest times to the year 2000. Blackthorn Press local histories. Blackthorne. ISBN   0-9540535-1-6.
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