Hidden History of The River Severn

Something different for this weeks video. Whilst researching another video for an entirely separate project we came across a few interesting stories that we couldn't resit telling you about. Join us as we walk north along the River Severn and uncover some of its Secret Tales.
Links to some sources:
Shropshire Caving Clubs Adventure: shropshirecmc.org.uk/below/2017_3w.pdf
Shrewsbury's Lost River Prohect: www.researchgate.net/publicat...
Music: All via Epidemicsound.com paid license.
Maps: Google Maps
Maps: OS Map with Media License.
KZbin Credits:
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[@brettpalfrey4665]

I have seen several Severn Bores at Minsterworth and Stonebench, well worth the trip! To see the river change direction after the bore, and the smell of the saltwater, 30 miles from the sea, is something to behold..

[@TheMicksterdee]

I have often considered the story of the River Severn, and as Paul states its original course was North to the Dee estuary. During the Ice Age, the ice prevented the river from flowing freely. A large inland lake formed which is understood to be called Lake Lapworth. The land to the south is believed to have eroded and the present route of the Severn was formed. Just alongside the present A518 road is a a lake called Aquelate Mere. It is believed to be the remnants of Lake Lapworth and is the largest natural inland lake in the English Midlands.

[@lexxdrood7045]

Those caves in Stourport are known locally as "The Red Rocks" or "Redstone Rocks", they can be accessed via a lane just off Hermitage Way, which is a road. As children, we used to climb up those rocks to sit at the highest point, called the "Devil's Chair".

[@RichardWatt]

I used to work for Severn Trent Water and one of the guys I used to work with (Dave) had been with the water company since the water board days. He said that they need to dredge the rivers more often like what they used to do years ago, but now the Environment Agency are restricting how often dredging can be done, and we're seeing more cases of flooding. Dave told me that the wildlife used to manage fine with the old dredging routines, in his opinion at least.

[@danwiddon3854]

Dredging is a false economy at riparian scale, merely displacing a problem caused not by riverbank maintenance but the erosion of soils in the upper reaches reducing the retention of rainfall. Here at the Severn Vyrnwy confluence it is the commercial forestry and farming practices in upland Powys that result in the overtopping in the Llanymynech and Melverley area. Local mechanical intervention (dredging) provides instant gratification for the excavator operator, but does little more than accelerate the flow so the flooding occurs downstream.

[@alternativeprovisioneducator]

Richard, totally agree, living near the Severn dredging will sort the flooding out and this is what flood plains are but not to be built on!

[@barrycrump6189]

@@danwiddon3854 So says a questionable academic who has probably never got his boots dirty.

[@hairyairey]

Flooding isn't a new phenomena, and as Dan says dredging just moves the problem downstream faster. Not building on the flood plain is a very good idea, but I think we have around 1 million houses built precisely there. I lived near Shrewsbury for 2.5 years from 1980 and it flooded, mainly because the town is almost completely surrounded by the Severn.

[@alternativeprovisioneducat8876]

@@hairyairey i used to live on severn side south in bewdley. and live in stourport.

[@template16]

A really interesting video with the many historic references. The use of OS maps on screen really adds to the tale.

[@chuxmix65]

What a great new channel I've found!

[@WarriorRazor]

Interesting pronounciation of Malvern, Paul. ;) Worcester boy here, good to learn some history that I didn't know about the river.

[@richmorris2870]

I grew up near to where Duck Brook meets the River Severn in Worcester (1990s). Where the brook meets the river, the river was really shallow and we as kids/teens used to refer to this as 'the beach' and it was one of our playgrounds much to the horror of our parents! Also next to here are the foundations of 'Withybed Cottage', where they used to weave the withy/willows which grow here. A cross-country oil pipeline also crosses the Severn just south of here. You can still find the odd musket ball from the Civil War and Battle of Worcester here. A little further up is the 'sand dunes', this was a dumping site from what was dredged from the river and it really was like being in sand dunes by the sea, these are now mainly overgrown with many species only found here other than beside the coast and riddled with rabbit warrens. Just in the river is Diglis Island, I was friends with the lock keepers son and on the island is an old WW2 pillbox, as part of many of the understated war defences. This can be found on the HER. Interestingly, the area called Diglis comes from the old Norman French D'eglise (of the Church) due to its' proximity just south of Worcester Cathedral.

[@davidberlanny3308]

I saw your photo on Instagram and thought you had gone to Stockport with Martin Zero!! A very enjoyable walk you unearthed so many interesting stories. A trip to the source would be very interesting. Good luck from Spain!!

[@RobertSmith-zv1xo]

Where the hermits lived makes you wonder how their dwelling looked like, as you see those holes in the walls. This was very interresting mr. Whitewick!

[@zipWith]

Trevithick's Catch Me Who Can was built on the banks of the Severn in Bridgnorth, although I'm not sure if there's any remains of the foundry to film. Still, with its heritage steam railway, cliffside hermitage, funicular railway and abandoned railway tunnel perhaps you could catch a thing or two that Martin Zero didn't!

[@DigitalDiabloUK]

As a local, the Elan valley is a super interesting piece of engineering.

[@pwhitewick]

Coming Soon!!

[@janejohnson7120]

Said it before, you bring history alive. Brilliant and so interesting to watch. You almost teach us to look beyond what we see in front of us.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

2:39 spot the Aussie surfer on the right ;-) Lovely energetic video Paul. I've canoed from the first navigable part of the river down to Shrewsbury, and yes, there is a lot of history and geology going on along its length.

[@johnfrench1239]

Vastly better presenter than some of the faux naive and hyper types on TV - a properly good watch

[@whereinsussex]

Great video, definitely not a Severn "bore". Well researched and lots of interesting stuff I had no idea about... 1:00 looks chilly.... 4:00 interesting about Saxon's Lode... I would have thought Lode was a variation of lodge 5:45 never heard of the Battle of Worcester 8:15 natural caves enlarged or hollowed out entirely? 10:50 Reflux Valve Chamber 😆 12:00 sad story of the demise of the ferry

[@Alan_Watkin]

paul, as a Shrewsbury resident, i loved this, there's loads of stuff in north to mid shropshire you'd like, i think, not really somewhere often seen either, but yeah good work on this, was a nice surprise for me

[@simonbradshaw3708]

Another really interesting history video Paul. Shrewsbury has always been prone to flooding, but your discovery of the underwater river adds a new dimension to the reasons. I'm looking forward to see where you will be taking us next week.

[@davidevans3227]

thankyou so much Paul.. i live in Cardiff, can see flat holm and steep holm and the bristol channel from my bedroom.. really interesting 🙂 x

[@pwhitewick]

Not a bad view David!

[@davidevans3227]

@@pwhitewick ..sorry i didn't know there was Rebecca as well, thankyou both, keep up the good work 🙂

[@pwhitewick]

@@davidevans3227 nay problem. Rebecca dips in and out and helps with quite a few bits.

[@davidevans3227]

@@pwhitewick i just realised, i might be able to see lights from the west country on a good clear night, but i didn't notice your two names under my nose! Llol.. (that's welsh for lol) 😉 🙂 looking forward to watching your many videos

[@visionsinblue7093]

Great to see part of Stourport's history unearthed! If you didn't know Stourport-On-Severn is one of the unique towns that only existed because of the canal - being a confluence of the River Severn and the River Stour. It's a fascinating history, thanks for showing just a small part of it Paul - the sandstone hermitage, like many other people, was part of my childhood. Keep up the good work!

[@UsualmikeTelevision]

Brilliant as always Paul!

[@robinwatling6538]

best bit of Sunday nights!

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

I really love your storytelling, Paul! This was another lovely episode, also in the edit. (Maybe even more than, I think, last weeks.) And as you keep reminding the viewers that you are not a historian: you may not be, but you are a storyteller, and a fantastic one. You are a storyteller of history, so a history storyteller - or historyteller, if you will. :D

[@williamk9490]

Really interesting, I lived at Kidderminster for a short while many years ago, and used to go fishing in the Severn. It is a deep and powerfull river, always looking brown, never very clear. I had been looking for a you tube series all about the different British rivers, tracing their course, history, and geographical features, so if you do a series like that, just like you have done in this film , I think it would certainly get many interested viewers.

[@pwhitewick]

Working on the Thames as we speak

[@regbarnard2866]

I am surprised that you have not included Black Rock Hotel and Railway/Jetty/Ferry crossing on the lower Severn. It is located on both the Welsh Portskewett Gwent (Hotel on Welsh side, now a picnic site) and English side between the old and new Severn road bridges. I am enjoying your series on all the location Thank You

[@Brian3989]

Before the weirs were built in the 1800's the Severn was tidal above Bridgnorth, maybe as far as Shrewsbury. The Diglis locks at Worcester allowed larger vessels to come up river and until around the 1960s tanker vessels carried fuel to a depot on the southern edge of the city. One foggy night two barges collided and struck and destroyed one of the rail bridges near Gloucester. There were actually two fuel depots, the larger commercial one and also a government site fed by pipeline. There were many cross river ferries, about six in/near Worcester. Some interesting notes by H W "Bill" Gwillam about the ferries can be found.

[@marvinpa1]

Hi Paul, You missed Cromwells Hole at Arley. The story is, a cart laden with explosives rolled down the hill into the Severn at Arley and blew up, this created a cavernous hole in the river, apparentley fishermen say is so deep that there is never enough line on thier reels to reach the bottom (most spools hold 100yds of line!!!)

[@pwhitewick]

No that would have definitely made the cut!

[@dcvariousvids8082]

Another excellent presentation - thank you.

[@simonf8370]

Terrific content as always Paul with a lot of research going into it. I have to wonder why you guys are not on BBC2?!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Simon, very kind.

[@carolinegray3150]

I saw a tv programme about old railways and I thought paul and his wife could do that on tv

[@123boat]

Paul is far more entertaining than anyone on the BBC. Why lose him to those losers 🤔😁👍

[@simonf8370]

You have a point there!

[@dakotashea3561]

Probably has something to do with integrity xD

[@DeneF]

I lived for a short while on the the Severn in Gloucester when I had a pub there in 2004. We had over grown boat jetties that we couldn't even get down too. Lol

[@Downtime-ek6mu]

I am from stourport on severn, the shaft in the cave is 1 of 2 they were chimneys. It was great play ground as a kid growing up on Redstone Lane. Great video.

[@mikeharvey9811]

We didn’t know all that! Thanks barb

[@HenrysAdventures]

This is a fascinating video! Really enjoyed watching and I'll look forward to seeing a video on that underground canal.

[@Sarge084]

You were in my home town! I used to play in the Redstone Caves, long before they fenced it off. I could have shown you the point at Lickhill Manor where there used to be a Ford. I used to swim there as a teenager and could walk across with the water level at chest height.

[@leroyholm9075]

Hi Paul. Cracking good video with lots of tantalising tales, facts and history. Well done!

[@tomlee812]

Really enjoyed this one. I think your narrative and delivery get better as you go on. Thank you for all the time and effort you put in to publishing these videos. It really is appreciated.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Tom, very kind.

[@josephcroft4268]

really enjoyed that Paul , watching from Chevron Island Surfers Paradise QLD Australia ,

[@kennethhalls8062]

Interesting great talk of the severn

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Kenneth

[@andyhill242]

I have never seen the Severn Bore but I have seen The Trent Aegir, a similar "tidal wave" that occurs about 2 hours before high tide here in Gainsborough, providing the tide is big enough and the river level "fresh" downstream flow is low enough. The size of the Aegir is dependent on the interaction of these two variables. The largest one I ever saw, the second-largest ever at the time some 15 to 20 years ago. Which was big enough to splash water into Lidl's car park, as it hit a jutting out bit of the flood wall. More on topic, I have seen the Stourport caves but only from a distance. I was actually born in Shrewsbury, or in an old army hospital in a village called Copthorne just outside Shrewsbury. Also glad to hear you pronounce Shrewsbury the way that we "locals" do. Although apparently, the "Shrows" pronunciation is the ancient one. Incidentally, if you ever decide to do a series of videos about the Tidal Trent, I would love to meet up. 🙂

[@davidelliott5843]

When I was a kid (60s-70s) the BBC used the “Shrowsbury” pronunciation. I’ve always said it that way. As an aside, Kegworth a small village Near East Midlands Airport was always pronounced “Keg’uth”. The “village” has been considerably developed so now everyone ways “Keg-Wurth”.

[@TheMicksterdee]

The Aegir on the River Trent is apparently named after a Viking maritime god. It is also believed in connection of King Canute and the tide.

[@andyhill242]

@@TheMicksterdee Yes I've heard that too, it's a story well played on here in Gainsborough, there is even a pub called The Canute.

[@andyhill242]

@@davidelliott5843 Yes like I said Shrowsbury is the ancient pronunciation, but people from that Area of Shropshire always use the Shrew version, at least they did 50 years ago, oh wow, now I feel old! In fact, old-timers including my grandfather used soosbury.

[@TheHaighus]

I grew up near Shrewsbury and only recently moved out a few years ago. In my experience, the locals still say Shroosbury (or Shroosbry) for the most part, with southerners mainly saying the other way. My understanding of the linguistics is that both pronunciations are common shifts from the old English name, so both are correct really, but Shrohsbury always sounded odd to my ear. Copthorne is fully absorbed by Shrewsbury now, it is more of a district than a distinct village. A few fragments of the old Copthorne hospital are still in use across the road from the modern hospital, but most of it got bulldozed for housing. They were still doing some surgery in those old buildings 15 years ago! Copthorne barracks has been closed down too.

[@aquissuk]

Great to see you in Shropshire and my part of the world. Not seen the full video yet...but waiting to see if Bridgnorth gets a mention 😊

[@paulmorgan6860]

The Hermit's Caves look a great place to do some light painting.

[@dandeeteeyem2170]

I wish there was a channel's like yours for Australia.. There's heaps of weird stuff under everyone's feet, but the old schematics are better protected than most people are even aware of..

[@timpiotr4857]

Go for it!

[@niallleslie7419]

Dear Paul and Rebecca, Thanks very much for the superb video as is now usual from you two. We live on the Napanee river at the East end of Lake Ontario, Canada and near the river mouth onto Lake Ontario there is periodically something similar to a tidal bore but because it on a lake rather than sea it is called a site. Maximum height is about 4"+ and it typically happens about once every couple of years when a high wind from the West end of the lake raises the water level sufficiently at this, the East end coupled with the moon and sun being in the best gravitational positions. Thanks and best wishes, Niall leslie.

[@MrJackson0712]

It was nice to see Bewdley mentioned with the Aqueduct supplying Drinking Water to Birmingham, however you forgot the Severn Valley Railway and the disused line from Bewdley towards Cleobury through the Wyre Forest where you can still see the viaduct supports and the Dowels Brook and abandoned Watermill.

[@pwhitewick]

There was a heck of a lot that we could have mentioned. Keep your eyes out for more videos!

[@rogermorris6957]

Hi Paul this was one of your best for interest, knowing the area as a person who enjoys the SVR thank you and more on the area please

[@andreww2098]

the first person to surf the Severn bore was 'Mad Jack Churchill', he was a rather unusual gentleman to say the least!

[@davidyardley512]

Fascinating stuff Paul!

[@spookydirt]

I live in Shrewsbury, and I hadn't heard of Poplar Island! But I was aware of the old route of the Severn which floods pretty much every time there's a flood warning on the Severn. And I didn't know there was another river underneath the town, either.

[@TheHaighus]

Poplar island is the fields just north of Frankwell carpark, so there isn't a lot there to see normally.

[@spookydirt]

@@TheHaighus i've been there - it's a nice walk - but never noticed, but then I wasn't looking for it

[@kimblecheat]

Nicely done Paul. I know the area and as many stories. Tidy!

[@R08Tam]

Yet another fascinating video

[@iersejounge]

Excellent mate. Much appreciated

[@morturn]

Nice video, thanks. The fish weir cut at Shrewsbury is called a Bylet, there are lots of them on the Severn

[@greenthumb6971]

One in Bridgnorth as well

[@jonathanellis1842]

one note of interest, you could travel from Newtown in Powys and the river Severn to river Dee in North Wales at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct -Trevor, via the Montgomery canal and the Llangollen branch of the shropshire union canal. This is the industrial revolutions answer that bridged the gap and makes Wales (and some bits of England) not a Peninsula but a island!!!

[@davidfaulkner527]

Best yet! Few mis-pronunciations though.

[@pwhitewick]

Wouldn't be the same without them!

[@MrGreatplum]

Great video, full of great stories and facts! Must have taken a lot of time to research!

[@nate8551]

Looking forward to the elan valley feed to brum vid

[@lukesdad5218]

If there's a tide at Upton On Severn then they're in big trouble! The Tewkesbury weir is normally the limit to any tide. Whilst fishing by the M50 overbridge, I have observed a very small wave (a foot or so) that had breached the weir but that was when the tidal section was full to overflowing. My caravan, south of Tewkesbury, was marooned on an constructed island in a massive lake!

[@edmundsveikutis1698]

Lovely to see all those galvanised stiles. I bet landscape artists are flocking to include them in paintings. They look so , should I say rustic. Or perhaps quaint.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Some interesting history along the River Severn, those caves looked a little cosy and a lovely follow on from the Severn Estuary, brilliant video.

[@andrew1976williams]

Great video. I've got wonderful memories of taking A-level Geography students, when I used to teach the subject at Kingston College, to various points along the River Severn, which included Atcham, just to the east of Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury itself, and also to Ironbridge Gorge.

[@DeneF]

Amazing. Many thanks. Can't believe you don't have more subs.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Dene.

[@bobsrailrelics]

Great video. The Elan Valley feed to Birmingham is worth a look at as it is gravity worked from Wales to Birmingham. A fascinating journey. I remember the Hampton Loade ferry working. Wish I had taken some photos.

[@Sarge084]

Also the Arley cable ferry which was killed off by a less attractive and romantic footbridge.

[@markstarmer3677]

Another interesting video. Always look forward to watching your wanderings.

[@FlyTyer1948]

If you enjoy tidal bores, the daily ones in the Bay of Fundy in Canada would be a real thrill & the resulting effects on the shoreline are quite beautiful.

[@strangedarren]

It’s comforting to know I’m not alone in my interests - wish I knew you two! Superb channel discovered accidentally - subscribed.

[@robinwatling6538]

enjoy Sunday night videos please keep them coming!

[@greenthumb6971]

Great video surprised you didn’t get a shot of the signal box in Shrewsbury hopefully you can get one if you do a video on the SVR

[@mrmyorky5634]

Especially liked the shots taken inside the caves at Stourport-on-Severn and the story about Layamon.. (I live just above them and access has been railed off for some years now) Also, your storytelling skills are excellent Paul, intriguing, interesting, and always about the subject. A very pleasant change to listening to most 'You Tube' wafflers. Thank you.

[@fritz46]

I remember the Hampton Loade ferry from 2014. It was included in my satnav and part of the route it calculated coming from the south to Hampton Loade railway station and camping site on the western bank of the river. So far, so good, but it was in the evening and the ferry had closed for the day. And there would have been another problem: I was travelling with a 6 ton motor home...

[@tomstickland]

10:12 I spent months tracing the route of that on Google aerial view. Then I found that it's drawn on one of the 1890 OS maps on the NLS website.

[@Nyxtorious]

Would love a little video on the River Kennet

[@pwhitewick]

Now that would very fun

[@davidking9707]

I have a passion for history and hidden tunnels. A very interesting video. Well done.

[@Sterlingjob]

The caves featured on a BBC program of britains holiest places. That would be a good series of videos to do as there’s loads around the country but no video series…you are just the man!

[@michaelmiller641]

Fascinating! Especially that aqueduct, thanks for that, Paul

[@pauloconnor2980]

I love the OS maps you refer to in these videos. They are so detailed.

[@johnsparkes8963]

Great video Paul with very interesting information and history of the River Severn. Love that cave area. Thank you for sharing and all the best with your future content.

[@Hairnicks]

Fascinating Paul, thank you. More please!

[@davidlawrence503]

Watching from NSW Australia. Originally from Stafford Midlands and Weymouth Dorset. Very much enjoy the digging around that you

[@NigelDraycott]

Fascinating tales indeed

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Loved that thanks Paul. Been lots of changes. Enjoyed every second thanks so much. Please stay safe and take care

[@DennosManCave]

We used to play in the caves in Stourport when I was a kid growing up. Was our playground!

[@pwhitewick]

I can see why

[@andylawrence7955]

This is a great video and some really interesting stories, especially as someone who lives so close to the Severn and walks it's banks frequently. Thanks Paul

[@digsdrains]

Enjoyed this Paul ..Cool.

[@davie941]

hi paul and rebecca , great video again , loved the caves , well done and thank you 😊

[@iainlyall6475]

nice, thank you.

[@stevebarryBAZZA]

Hi Paul. Great video as always. I live in Kidderminster and know Stourport quite well but had no idea about the caves, how do I find them? You were very close to the disused railway line running from Bewdley and over the Severn from the current SVR line. Much of the trackbed still remains as do some former stations. It would be great to see you and Rebecca cover this in one of your videos in the future. Also the Leapgate line which ran from Bewdley to Hartlebury.

[@anthonyphipps5162]

if you park near the beams pH or stourport Swift's FC and walk downstream you come straight to them.

[@TheTwoFingeredBulldog]

The bottom end of redstone lane, walk down the bank.

[@allahismyprophet]

@@TheTwoFingeredBulldog false. You obviously don't know the local area very well. These caves are also ony accessible during low tide & you have to get to the lighthouse then make a left

[@TheTwoFingeredBulldog]

@@allahismyprophet Your attempt at humour has failed kid. Good luck next time.

[@allahismyprophet]

@@TheTwoFingeredBulldog its "you're " .. only funny thing here is you getting upset that I said the river has tide. You clearly knew what I meant but felt the Need to try belittle me over a youtube comment. You're clearly a racist old man who's just started to use the Internet. Winston Churchill was a nonce and a well known racist/war crime commuter

[@raytheron]

Fascinating! Thanks, Paul!

[@lilchris26]

Thanks Paul very enjoyable video and very informative.

[@keith800]

Wonderful video , i never cease's to amaze me the wealth of subject and history you uncover.

[@mikeakhurst1855]

Great as always Paul.

[@BigSmellyRangey]

Great vid, as always. Hereford and Gloucester Canal next Paul? Most skew bridge in the UK must lure you in...

[@rontanser9369]

Yes really enjoyed that walk along the seven it’s amazing what’s under your feet

[@ReubenAshwell]

Enjoyed this video and the fascinating facts about the Severn. :)

[@northernblue1093]

Great video. Although I'm sometimes less interested in the subject matter, I'm always won-over by your very engaging style of presentation. The maps are also very helpful.

[@joedee1863]

For the benefit of those who are digging for more info on Hampton Lode ferry my understanding is that it fell into the hands of a single private owner who agreed to run it on weekends and then reneged. No mention in this video of the steam railway stop on the Severn railway which was on the West side(Hampton) or the pub. Right next to the Lode (East side) is the Rail and River pub and restaurant.

[@2976minty]

Great video today can tell you really enjoy learning about the history of an area, and a change in direction. River Upper River Avon also has a lot of history to.

[@RobbieKnightlongcat]

Lovely episode, thanks for the stories x

[@barryisland4674]

The Severn has to be one of he most fascinating rivers in the world nice interesting content thanks for posting 👍👍

[@leeclift4666]

Brilliant Paul nice to see you in the shire.The ferry at Lower Lode just south of Tewkesbury is far as l know still operating. Yes the river Severn full of loads of interesting places too see. Living in Gloucester you go up respecting the Severn.

[@nigelmattravers5913]

Great video Paul, thank you