| River Lune | |
|---|---|
 The River Lune, Lancaster | |
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| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Counties | Cumbria,Lancashire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Newbiggin-on-Lune,Ravenstonedale,Cumbria |
| • elevation | 238 m (781 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Plover Scar,Lancaster,Lancashire |
• coordinates | 53°59′6″N2°52′39″W / 53.98500°N 2.87750°W /53.98500; -2.87750 |
| Length | 85.6 km (53.2 mi) |
TheRiver Lune (archaically sometimesLoyne) is a river 53 miles (85 km) in length[1] inCumbria andLancashire, England.
Several elucidations for the origin of the nameLune exist. Firstly, it may be that the name isBrittonic in genesis and derived from*lǭn meaning "full, abundant",[2] or "healthy, pure" (c.f.Old Irishslán,Welshllawn).[3] Secondly,Lune may representOld EnglishĒa Lōn (ēa = "river") as a phonetic adaptation of aRomano-British name referring to a Romano-British godIalonus who was worshipped in the area.[4]
The river begins as a stream atNewbiggin,[5] in the parish ofRavenstonedale, Cumbria, at St. Helen's Well (elevation of 238 metres (781 ft) above sea level) and some neighbouring springs. On the first two miles of its course, it is joined by four streams, two of them as short as itself, but two much longer. These are the Bessy Beck (short), the Dry Beck of 4.9 kilometres' (three miles) length at 0.32 miles (0.51 km) from St. Helen's Well, the Sandwath Beck (short) at 0.37 miles (0.60 km), and the Weasdale Beck (5.58 km = 3½ mls) at 1.6 miles from the well.[6][7][8] Weasdale Beck is the uppermost headwater of River Lune recorded inEnvironment Agency's Catchment Data Explorer.[9]
It then passes the remnants of aRomanfort nearLow Borrowbridge at the foot ofBorrowdale, and flows through south Cumbria, meeting theIrish Sea atPlover Scar nearLancaster, after a total journey of about 53 miles (85 km).[10][11][12][13]
The valley of the Lune has three parts. The northern part between its source andTebay is called Lunesdale. Below this is the spectacular Lune Gorge through which both theM6 motorway and theWest Coast Main Railway Line run. Below the gorge, the valley broadens out into Lonsdale.
Bridges over the Lune include theDevil's Bridge nearKirkby Lonsdale and theLune Millennium Bridge inLancaster. At Caton, about 5 miles (8 km) upstream from Lancaster, there is a cluster of three bridges (one stone road bridge and two disused iron rail bridges now used as foot/cyclepaths) at theCrook o' Lune. Here in a 180-degree right-hand bend the Lune turns back on itself; this is followed by a 90-degree left-hand bend forming the shape of a shepherd's crook and creating a beauty spot which was painted byJ. M. W. Turner.[14] TheM6 motorway crosses the Lune near Tebay andHalton-on-Lune;[15] in 2015 it was joined by theHeysham to M6 Link Road.[16] TheIngleton branch line, a railway operational between 1861 and 1967, followed the Lune between Tebay and Kirkby Lonsdale, crossing the river twice on viaducts which still stand.[17]
The river is a County Biological Heritage Site. Near the end of the non-tidal reach of the river stands theLune Aqueduct, which carries theLancaster Canal. The Lune is now tidal only below Skerton Weir in Lancaster. Four bridges in close proximity cross the estuary in Lancaster:Skerton Bridge (road),Greyhound Bridge (built as rail but now carries a road),Lune Millennium Bridge (pedestrian and cycle) andCarlisle Bridge (carrying theWest Coast Main Line railway, and with a public walkway on the eastern side) which is the furthest downstream of the bridges.
This part of the Lune is also the site of the old Port of Lancaster, probably a port from Roman times; the Lancaster Port Commission was established in 1750[18] to improve navigation on the estuary. Between 1750 and 1767, St George's Quay and New Quay were built in Lancaster and in 1779 the port facilities were extended closer to the Irish Sea atGlasson Dock. In 1847 the Commissioners built a pair of lighthouses nearCockersand Abbey to help guide ships into the port. The lower lighthouse, known as thePlover Scar Lighthouse, (sometimes called Abbey lighthouse) still stands on Plover Scar, and it remains operational. The old high light, a square wooden tower, was demolished in 1954; but the former keepers' cottage, built alongside the high light, can still be seen.[19]
Lancaster, in turnLancashire, is named after the Lune. The dale gave its name to the ancient Lancashirehundred ofLonsdale and the ancient Westmorland ward ofLonsdale.
An engraving of a picture by J. Henderson entitled 'The Vale of Lonsdale' appears inFisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1832 together with a poetical illustration byLetitia Elizabeth Landon. The plate shows Ingleborough in the background.[20]
Jane Edmondson original title forQuaker Pioneers in Russia was "From the Lune to the Neva" ie from the Lune river where her parents (George & Anne Edmondson) came from, to the River Neva, in St Petersburg where she was born as part of the Quaker experiment by Daniel Wheeler who went with 32 Quakers to St Petersburg at the request of Emperor Alexander I, in order to drain the marshes so that the then capital of Russia could expand. Publication date 1902 Religious Society of Friends, Publisher London, Headley Bros.
![Disused railway bridge at the Crook o' Lune, once part of the "little" North Western Railway, now a cycle path[21]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCrook_o%2527_Lune_bridge.jpg)
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The River Lune over the years has been subject to many rescue incidents, some fatal. The majority of incidents occur below Skerton Weir in the tidal area, or around the weir itself. HM Coastguard have operational primacy over incidents up to the high water mark, with their nearest team based in Morecambe. Flanking teams at Knott End and Arnside will often assist.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Fire appliance at Lancaster maintains a water rescue service, with specially trained swiftwater rescue personnel. The nearest fire service boat is based at Preston fire station and this is often called to assist the swiftwater rescue personnel in carrying out rescues or providing safety cover for the crews.
In 2018 Lancaster Area Search and Rescue established themselves within the city. Part of the Surf Lifesaving Great Britain (SLSGB) family, their main role is to provide water rescue personnel and resources to flood and other water incidents within the Lancaster district at times when the statutory services require assistance. The team is equipped with rescue sleds and a powered inflatable boat for use on the river.
The RNLI can also be seen on the river fairly regularly, including both the D class and their Hovercraft, The Hurley Flyer. Rather than transit to scene from the Lifeboat station, the RNLI will often drive to the scene, often launching at Snatchems Golden Ball pub.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Dalziel N., The Port of Lancaster in the 18th Century, University of Lancaster - Archaeology Conference 2 March 1996Authority control databases: National |
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