What Makes the Humber – Chapter 5

Whitton and Alkborough mark centuries of occupation from Roman villas and Anglo-Saxon cemeteries to the mystical Julian’s Bower turf maze on The Cliff that overlooks Alkborough Flats. The Nev Cole Way runs along The Cliff to it’s beginning – St Andrews church at Burton on Stather.

This is where we discovered the Nev Cole Way on the small tin sign and the seed started to grow.

Two essential detours took us to to Alkborough Flats amongst the dead trees and crows, herons and marsh harriers and Kings Ferry Wharf at Burton on Stather.

Kings Ferry Wharf has a fascinating history summarised perfectly at this link on PortsUK.

Photographs by Richard Duffy-Howard

Gallery key:

1. Whitton across the Humber from the Goole train
2. The Nev Cole Way above Whitton and turning south-west, with Trent Falls left, the Ouse centre and Whitton Sand disguising Weighton Lock and Canal on the north bank
3. The Nev Cole Way above Whitton, Trent Falls, Whitton Sand and Alkborough Flats
4. Alkborough Flats and Trent Falls and the confluence with the River Ouse that makes the Humber
5. Dead trees, Alkborough Flats
6. Julian’s Bower stone maze on the doorstep of St John the Baptist, Alkborough
7. Trent Falls, the Ouse and Whitton Sand, Alkborough Flats from Julian’s Bower and The Cliff at Alkborough
8. Trent Falls, the Ouse and Alkborough Flats through winter trees on the Nev Cole Way on The Cliff toward Burton on Stather
9. 9. The River Trent, Trent Falls, the Ouse and Humber on the Nev Cole Way on The Cliff toward Burton on Stather
10. The Nev Cole Way on The Cliff  above the Trent towards Alkborough
11. The stream from Kell Well Spring falls from The Cliff into the River Trent on the Nev Cole Way
12. The River Trent from The Cliff on the Nev Cole Way
13. The River Trent from The Cliff with Boothferry District, Goole and Drax on the Ouse in the distance.
14. The River Trent from The Cliff
15. The Nev Cole Way above the bridleway as we detour down the cliff to Kings Ferry Wharf and the old ferry at Burton Stather
16. The River Trent from The Cliff looking south to Kings Ferry Wharf on the east bank of the Trent
17. East bank to west on the banks of the Trent at Kings Ferry Wharf, Burton Stather, at harvest time
18. Kings Ferry Wharf and River Trent, Burton Stather
19. St Andrews, Burton on Stather marks the start of the Nev Cole Way