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Home , Burton upon Stather, Humber, Humber Bridge, South Ferriby, Winteringham

REVISED FINAL PDF – 26/11/10

Our Most Rapidly Declining Mammal An Abundance of Flora and Fauna Glance along a watercourse for a rare sighting The area along the trail is rich in flora, in of the water vole. Often mistaken for a rat, particular the chalk grassland around . Across the fields and waysides there’s this beautiful creature has suffered due to the every chance to see wild strawberry, autumn South loss of its natural wetland habitat through gentian, cowslip and horseshoe vetch – first drainage, agricultural intesification and choice food plant for the dingy skipper butterfly. HERITAGE TRAIL building development. Thankfully, due to careful conservation measures in the South Humber region, numbers are now stable.

Tale of Two Tribes Bridging the Banks of the Humber Before the Romans arrived, there was For centuries ferries have passed between the banks On the Heritage Trail a sizeable Iron Age village at South Barton-upon-Humber to of the Humber. The first serious proposal for a The South Humber Heritage Trail is split in two sections and can be walked in Ferriby. These native Britons were of permanent link was a tunnel in 1872, backed by either direction between Burton-upon-Stather and and between South Ferriby the Corieltauvi tribe who occupied merchants and businessmen dissatisfied with the Barton-upon-Humber and South Ferriby. There are several car parks along the trail much of the East . They used local ferry service. Over one hundred years later, and regular bus services between the villages. From the Waters’ Edge, cross the Haven via the footbridge and walk their own gold and silver coinage and work began on the that spans to the Old Boathouse past the boatyard and coastguard cottages. traded with the tribe on the the Humber today, opened by the Queen in 1981. Along the trail are seven information panels at Burton-upon-Stather picnic area; Barton Haven once heaved with sailing barges carrying cargos to North Bank. The Humber has eroded Countess Close medieval earthwork at ; the Humber bank at Whitton; the soft clay cliff and most of this site. and from the extensive works that used to stand on the Waters’ Winteringham Haven; Car Park at South Ferriby; the Old Cement Occupation continued here through Works at Far Ings; and the Waters’ Edge at Barton-upon-Humber. Edge. In the past this site has produced bricks, tiles, rope, malt and the Roman era. fertilizers. Admire the stature of the spanning the Within this pack are leaflets providing information about the South Humber Heritage Trail and each of the five villages along the trail, and details of local water below as it flows towards the . walks. As well as the fascinating buildings and historic sites to discover the villages offer a number of establishments to cater for a pleasant refreshment stop. Head west on a gentle trail along the Humber Bank. En route pass

the William Blyth tile yard and the ruins of an old cement works. On the foreshore are the remains of the wooden jetty where the cement was loaded onto barges that sailed on the high tides.

At Far Ings National Nature Reserve, old clay pits flanked by reed beds have been successfully transformed into a destination for some of the country’s rare birds. The elegant avocet may be seen by the Bashful Bitterns and Busy Bearded Tits With the decline of the local brick and tile making industry, the old How to get there shoreline at Chowder Ness where the flood bank has been realigned The South Humber Heritage clay extraction pits flooded and were reclaimed by nature. One such This section of the trail finishes at the Trail is located along the South to create mudflats. site is Far Ings National Nature Reserve, a rich haven for wildlife, that Humber Bank between River Ancholme Car Park at South attracts many people from across the country hoping to spot birds Barton-upon-Humber (7 miles Ferriby. There is no footpath to the south-west of Hull), and The fields along the route hide traces of ancient settlement sites that next part of the trail in Winteringham, like the ‘booming’ bittern. Careful reed bed management has created Burton-upon-Stather (5 miles however a regular bus route links a unique habitat and an ideal breeding ground for this shy bird. Also north-west of ). once overlooked the Humber. Descend to the pebbly beach by the South Ferriby and Winteringham. here is the much smaller and very sociable bearded tit, seen flying disused chalk quarry, or follow the path along the low cliff top to the amongst the reeds in search of insects and larvae. Exploring the Humber’s Heritage chalk heap where an old shipwreck can be seen at low tide. A variety Trail leaflets are available from tourist attractions and information centres across the region, and can Raising the Roof be downloaded from the South Humber Collection website: www.south-humber-collection.org of dragonflies, butterflies and wild flowers flourish here where the By 1900, there were thirteen brick and tile yards The Explorer 281 map covers the route of the trail. foreshore meets chalk grassland and woodland habitats. along the Humber bank west of Barton Haven and others at South Ferriby. William Blyth’s yard South Humber Bank Wildlife and People Project at Barton was established in around 1870 and Far Ings National Nature Reserve Visitor Centre Follow the foreshore and rejoin the Humber Bank, or take the track Wildlife Trust worked for over 130 years. Clay dug in the winter Off Far Ings Road, Barton-upon-Humber towards South Ferriby through the village, passing the old channel would be made into roof tiles during the spring DN18 5RG of the River Ancholme where the medieval haven was located. Before and summer. Traditional Humber sloops and keels reaching the River Ancholme car park, Read’s Island can be seen landed coal at long wooden jetties to fire the kilns, across a narrow channel. Reclaimed from a sandbank in the 19th and left laden with as many as 40,000 tiles. The clay pits and pantiled houses of the region are century the island is now a retreat for wildfowl and deer. the visible legacy of this disappearing industry. REVISED FINAL PDF – 26/11/10

Anglo-Saxon Whitton Woodland Fluttering with Life An Anglo-Saxon cemetery has been Scatterings of deciduous woodland unearthed in a private garden near the along the bank provide a habitat for church at Whitton. The discovery of iron a variety of flowers and butterflies. fittings round the skeletons indicates One such butterfly is the attractive that they were buried in wooden coffins speckled wood; dark brown in colour or chests. This Christian cemetery is with creamy white spots, its appearance 250 years older than St John’s Church, is well-suited to partially-shaded suggesting there was a much earlier woodland dappled with sunlight. Saxon church in the village.

This section of the trail finishes at A Conservation Success Explore the Heritage of Burton-upon-Stather to Winteringham Haven. There is no The Humber is one of the world’s footpath to the next part of the trail most important wetland habitats and the South Humber Bank Winteringham in South Ferriby, however a regular was designated as a Ramsar site in 1994. Beasts of the River Bank bus route links Winteringham and Discover the abundant wildlife and the fascinating The trail heads out through woodland with a chance to spot a One mythical creature associated South Ferriby. Its unique ecosystems make it a key heritage and archaeology of the attractive landscape variety of colourful flora and fauna such as sweet violets and with this area of Lincolnshire is the destination for specialist birds. Species bluebells in spring and the speckled wood butterfly in summer. tatter-foal, a goblin that appears in include the specially-protected marsh along the south bank of the Humber Estuary. harrier and avocet, whose presence is Glimpses and fine views of the and Sands the shape of a small rough-coated horse. Preying on the unsuspecting a credit to careful conservation work This great estuary has been a gateway of vital importance can been seen through the trees en route. traveller at night, it is said to lure them in the area. to our ancestors – Romans, Saxons and Vikings all settled into a stream or river before vanishing An insight into Alkborough’s past can be found at Countess Close with a ‘half horse neigh, half human here. In the 19th and 20th centuries, industries that have and Julian’s Bower. The village has a selection of attractive buildings laugh’. Local folklore also tells of now all but disappeared exploited the natural resources ghost dogs and riders patrolling including the church of St John the Baptist and stone-built cottages. the Devil’s Causeway. and river transport network. Today the area is a haven Leaving the village to the north of the church, Alkborough Flats for wildlife, with spectacular marsh harriers, ‘booming’ can be seen below; now managed to alleviate flooding on the bitterns and bearded tits to be seen and heard. Humber, it is a wonderful wetland for wildlife. A Stone Cross, Shaped by Swords The 20km (12.5 miles) trail follows the water-side from The Church of St John the Baptist at The approach to Whitton passes the sites of Roman settlements Alkborough has an Anglo-Saxon tower Burton-upon-Stather to Barton-upon-Humber and is split with commanding views of the river confluence and estuary. with characteristic twin bell-openings Roman Trade on the South Bank An old observation shelter that overlooked the World War II practice in the lower part. There are re-used into two sections: Burton to Winteringham (8 miles) and The high ground between Alkborough and Whitton offers stunning bombing range on the Flats provides an excellent viewing point. Roman and Saxon stones in the tower, South Ferriby to Barton (4.5 miles). Each section can be and hidden under the raised floor inside. views of the , where the Rivers Ouse and Trent converge walked in either direction. The route also lends itself to In the churchyard stands a curious to become the Humber. Archaeological surveys have identified a The quiet village of Whitton used to have its own pier and was sculptured stump. Once a medieval number of Roman settlements along this strategic ridge and there be walked in the short sections between the villages. was probably a trading station down on Alkborough Flats. The Romans linked to Winteringham by the North Lindsey Light Railway. churchyard cross, the gritstone shaft had a number of landing places along the South Humber Bank. Local Pass through the village by the church and join the Humber bank has been shaped by generations of There is a regular bus service between Barton, South sword and tool sharpening. produce could be traded for goods such as fine pottery and wine that below. Between Whitton and Winteringham enjoy expansive views was imported via the Humber from all over the Roman Empire. Ferriby and Winteringham. Another service links the across the Humber. The estuary and surrounding wetland is a villages of Burton, Alkborough and Whitton. protected nature conservation site of international importance Bustling Shipyard in Burton Musket, Fife and Drum and offers a rare opportunity to see unusual birds such as the With deep water in the River Trent Burton-upon-Stather is situated marsh harrier. and a substantial landing place at on the brow of a cliff 50 metres Kings Ferry Wharf for steam packet above the east bank of the River boats, Burton Stather developed Trent. This vantage point was This section of the trail ends at Winteringham Haven, which lies into a flourishing port. The Wray used during the English Civil War close to the Roman crossing point of the Humber. The discovery family founded a shipyard here, in the mid 17th century when the of many archaeological finds and ancient settlements has shed launching 341 ships between 1816 Royalists used Burton, and a fort and 1892. The largest, the ocean- on Alkborough Flats, to guard light on the strategic importance of the estuary and the South going ‘Burton Stather’, was launched the river mouth against attack Humber Bank through the ages. in 1866 weighing over 400 tons. by Parliamentarian ships.