Old Ferry, Holywell

Today's Navigation : River Great Ouse

The forecast today had a reasonable chance of rain almost at any time in the day. Good for us, bad for water supply, but so far we have not had a drop and most of the time it has been pleasantly sunny with a gentle breeze. A little higher probability for wet weather tomorrow but we shall see!

We were a little slow in getting ready this morning but the arrival in the upper lock landing of two weed cutters ready to go down quickly persuaded us to make a move as soon as an upcoming boat had left the way clear. The lock is one with a side space (don't know a 'proper' name for it) so that they could pop in there allowing us to occupy the other side. They are currently scheduled from the start of June to the end of September to attempt keeping the worst places clear but too often it is a losing battle, including above the lock we featured in an earlier blog with a green 'carpet'.

EA uses two types of boat on this river, one as in the photo, collects large bundles of weed float on or near the surface whilst the other has a vertical and horizontal devices (like hedge trimmers) that attempt to cut the much longer type of weed wll below the surface into smaller bits so they can then also be collected.

Huntingdon Old Bridge has only one arch that is designated for navigation and so steerers have to look our for themselves in case something is approaching from the other direction. The new bridge is immediately behind but here almost totally hidden.

Immediately on the Godmanchester side of the bridge is what was originally Huntingdon Hosiery Mill now repurposed for accommodation. There is still a narrow arm alongside which once led to a vcaron mill adjoining the former Godmanchester Station. It is now used for private long term moorings.

Hartford Church is one of two that we see today that was built right alongside the river.

And so into Hartford Marina with much relief. We were much in need of fill our diesel and water tanks as well emptying two elsan cassettes and disposing of rubbish. The fuel bill was rather more than we usually face but the tank was down to a quarter full (or, as it felt, empty!)

The marina is quite large with some wide open space (might be a challenge in stronger winds) bjut almost all of the leisure moorings are to one side. Chatting to the staff and looking at the prices of used boats for sale took us to well lover an hour before we returned to the river.

Almost next door is Wyton Moorings. An unfinished two storey building is being constructed on the water front. Reference to its planning application indicates that it is intended for 'destination' attractions such as a restaurant and bar. However, niot much seems to be happening at the  moment so we wondered if they were having to save up for the next progress payment!

This tree has been planted alongside Houghton Lock (where we again managed to recruit two small onlookers to assist.

An information board explains that it is part of a project to improve wildlife habitats by providing food and shelter.

On the approach to Hemingford Grey it is easy to be puzzled by the sight of this church - it has a spire and and most people coming this way will know that Hemingford Grey does not have a spire. However, the river takes several large bends just here and this church is that of the neighbouring village of Hemingford Abbots.

This is the real Hemingford Grey Church, also alongside the river. It once proudly enjoyed a spire but that was decapitated in 1741 by a hurricane and never re-built. 

The building next door was originally the Rectory. Even in 1900 it is described on maps of the day as The Old Rectory! It is hard to imaging today anyone, let alone a clergyperson, being able to afford such a large family and servants to fill something this large. (OK, so it has probably had some extension in its conversion to a later use)

Another medieval stone bridge. St Ives Bridge and like Huntingdon has only one arch that is designated for navigation but it is marked two way. The central chapel provided travellers an opportunity to pray (o to pay someone to do so on their behalf) for a safe journey.

There are signs for 48hr moorings along this wall but from a narrowboat it may not be easy to alight unless right alongside one of the two sets of steps!

Other that in some form or another, this building has stood here for well over a century, our sources so far have not revealed what its original purpose was.

An elegant modern concrete bridge carries the A1096 around the town as a bypass. Surprisingly it was located in a way that either limits future expansion or, as in other places near here, the need to build another bypass to take traffic even further away from the built up area.

St Ives lock is somewhat unusual for this river as it has a guillotine gate at the lower end. Amusingly, no-one has noticed that the wrong set of instructions has been pasted into the control cabinet - those for how to fill a lock with the gate at the other end! Newcomers to this type of lock (it will be the first for some to operate alone if coming up river from Denver Sluice) may well be a tad confused if they actually read the details.

We were now heading to Holywell for a very late lunch and possible overnight stopover. Ideally we would find a space on the parish council mooring beside the village green and outside the Old Ferry Boat pub but with the backup of a not-quite-as-good GOBA mooring nearby. As we turned the corner we could see that the spaces were already taken but as we hesitated, people on the hire narrowboat called to stay that they were leaving shortly. Indeed, one of the group was already pulling up the bow mooring pin. How lucky is that! It also felt that the people on the other boat, a river cruiser, didn't think that we deserved a mooring as several other boats - nowhere to be seen and not passed by us this morning - had also been looking to moor here but were very disappointed. Well, we have all been there and it is just the luck if the navigation draw since there is no 'booking' system to ensure that a space greets you when and where you most desire it. In any case, it would be somewhat impracticable as canal and river cruising is often unpredictable. Indeed, our trip plan had is going another half mile to Pike and Eel but we did spend a lot of time at Hartford Marina! Oh, and to make it even more unsociable, we are not planning a meal or a drink at the pub - it is, after all, a parish mooring available to all boats.

The Old Ferry Boat Inn claims to be the oldest in England with history dating back to 560CE. The ferry, along with others in the area, ceased operation in the 1930s are cars provided most folk with more convenient travel.

10.3 Miles - 4 Locks