Editing River Ancholme (section)

==Course==
The Ancholme rises near Top Farm, [[West Firsby]], close to the {{convert|40|m|ft|adj=on}} contour, from where it flows eastwards, gradually turning towards the north east.<ref name=osmap>Ordnance Survey, 1:25000 map</ref> It passes through the site of the West Firsby deserted medieval village, which is a scheduled ancient monument,<ref>{{NHLE|num=1004954 |desc=Deserted Medieval Village|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref> and then under Owmby Road, a minor road which connects the villages of [[Saxby, Lincolnshire|Saxby]] and [[Spridlington]]. It soon drops below the {{convert|10|m|ft|adj=on}} contour and turns to the north as is flows past Toft Newton reservoir,<ref name=osmap/> which is used to augment the flow of the river, and is supplied with water by the Trent Witham Ancholme transfer scheme. The reservoir is a popular site for stillwater trout fishing, and in 1996 was stocked with [[rainbow trout]] and [[brown trout]] twice weekly. Contributions from a number of organisations and individuals resulted in the purchase of a "wheelyboat", a flat-bottomed boat which allows wheelchair users to access the water.{{sfn|Itinerary |1996 |p=8}} Passing under Pilford Bridge, near [[Toft Newton|Toft next Newton]], the river reaches Bishopbridge, where it is crossed by the [[A631 road]].<ref name=osmap/>

The River Rase runs under an adjacent bridge, and the two rivers run parallel for the next {{convert|2.5|mi|km|0}}. On the Ancholme, there is a sloping weir, which forms the head of navigation, beyond which is a large four-storey building which was formerly a warehouse for the navigation.{{sfn|Fisher |2013 |p=73}} The towpath starts on the western bank soon after the wharf area,<ref name=osmap/> and Harlam Hill lock is reached after {{convert|2.5|mi|km}}.{{sfn|Cumberlidge |2009 |p=57}} The bypass channel passes over a weir, and the water flows into the River Rase, which joins the Ancholme at Atterby weir, a little further below the lock. Rather than heavy wooden balance beams, the lock gates have slender metal poles to open them.{{sfn |Fisher |2013 |p=71}} Snitterby bridge, which is also known as Browns Bridge, is just below Atterby weir,{{sfn |Cumberlidge |2009 |p=57}} and like most of the bridges over the river, is not part of a public roadway, so it is maintained by the Environment Agency, rather than the Highways Authority.{{sfn |Itinerary |1996 |p=18}} Brandy Wharf bridge, at {{convert|4|mi|km}} from the head of navigation, is one of the two bridges on a public road.{{sfn|Itinerary |1996 |p=18}} Next to it is a brown-brick warehouse with three storeys and a slate hipped roof, which is a [[Grade II listed]] structure.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1064154 |desc=Warehouse, Brandy Wharf|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Riverancholmejm2.JPG|thumb|right|The River Ancholme at Brigg, looking towards the A18 bridge]]
The towpath crosses from the west bank to the east bank at the bridge. A little further to the east is the Old Tollgate Bridge, a red brick single span with ashlar dressing dating from the late 1700s, which crosses the Old River Ancholme.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1165211 |desc=Old Tollgate Bridge, Brandy Wharf|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref> Continuing northwards, the towpath crosses the entrance to the Caistor Canal, disused since 1877. A 20th century steel span is supported by stone abutments, built around 1785, when the canal opened. The bridge is Grade II listed<ref>{{NHLE |num=1396409 |desc=Ancholme Towpath Bridge|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref> as is the adjacent first lock, one of five that remain on the Caistor Canal.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1396410 |desc=Lock 1, Caistor Canal|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref> Hibaldstow Bridge was rebuilt in 1889 to a design by Alfred Atkinson, and the wrought-iron span, which rests on brick piers, was supplied by a company of ironfounders called Messrs Porter and Co of Lincoln. It replaced an earlier wooden swing bridge, dating from Rennie's reconstruction, and the piers from that bridge were probably reused.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1346522 |desc=Hibaldstow Bridge|accessdate=11 November 2015}}</ref> Atkinson was also responsible for Cadney Bridge, rebuilt in 1882, for which the wrought iron span was supplied by Messrs Goodwin, Jardine and Co of Glasgow. Again, the piers from an earlier bridge were probably reused.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1083703 |desc=Cadney Bridge, Bridge Lane|accessdate=12 November 2015}}</ref>

The Anglian Water pumping station, immediately to the north of the bridge, has an unusual wooden roof.{{sfn|Fisher |2013 |p=74}} Beyond, and slightly set back from the river, Newstead Priory Farm stands on slightly higher land. The house is [[Grade I listed]], and incorporates parts of a 12th-century [[Gilbertine Order|Gilbertine]] Priory.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1346518 |desc=Newstead Priory Farmhouse and Screen Wall|accessdate=12 November 2015}}</ref> Kettleby Beck joins the river from the east, through a set of sluice gates, just before the channel splits in two, with the old river passing through the centre of Brigg and the new one bypassing it to the west, before rejoining to the north of Brigg. They form an island, which is known as Island Carr.{{sfn |Fisher |2013 |p=74}} There is a marina on the old branch, and the former [[Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway]] main line from [[Gainsborough Central railway station|Gainsborough]] to [[Grimsby Town railway station|Grimsby]], now part of the [[Sheffield to Lincoln Line]], crosses both branches. The 
[[A18 road (England)|A18 road]] also crosses both branches. The bridge over the new branch was designed by John Rennie and built in 1827, with brick flanks and ashlar masonry. The bridge was widened in the 20th century, with the south face being reused once the widening had taken place.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1083681 |desc=New River Ancholme Bridge|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> The road formerly crossed the old branch at County Bridge, a single span rusticated stone arch erected in 1828. The handrails were replaced in 1951,<ref>{{NHLE |num=1281376 |desc=County Bridge|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> and the A18 was diverted over a new bridge to the north.<ref name=osmap/>

[[File:Broughton Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 338400.jpg|thumb|left|Broughton Bridge is an inverted suspension bridge]]
Below the point where the two branches rejoin, a new bridge carries the [[M180 motorway]] over the channel. Next come Castlethorpe bridge and Broughton bridge, both maintained by the Environment Agency. Broughton is an inverted suspension bridge, which replaced an earlier bridge in the mid- to late 19th century, but this reused the earlier abutments. The single span is supported by two wrought iron arched ribs, with vertical and diagonal suspension rods, supporting timber decking.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1309958 |desc=Broughton Bridge, Bridge Road|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> Another railway bridge follows, this time linking {{rws|Scunthorpe}} to Grimsby, and now carrying trains run by [[South TransPennine]]. The intake formerly owned by British Steel plc is on the west bank by the bridge, supplying water to the steel industry in Scunthorpe.

Saxby Bridge is a wrought iron single span with timber decking, dating from the mid-19th century, which is virtually unaltered, apart from minor repairs to the decking.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1346856|desc=Saxby Bridge|accessdate=13 November 2015}}</ref> Horkstow Bridge is John Rennie's only known suspension bridge, and is one of the earliest unaltered suspension bridges in Britain. It is [[Grade II* listed]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/> As the river nears the Humber, a high-level conveyor belt carries material from South Ferriby quarry to the cement works at Ferriby Sluice. The conveyor is {{convert|1.25|mi|km|1}} long, and is used to transfer around 3000 tonnes of crushed chalk and 1,000 tonnes of clay per day.{{sfn|Itinerary |1996 |p=26}} This stretch of the river has numerous moorings, and the [[Humber Keel]] & Sloop Preservation Society usually moor their keel ''Comrade'' and their sloop ''Amy Houson'' just above the final lock. The lock at Ferriby Sluice has two sets of gates: a low level set pointing upstream, and a set of much taller gates pointing downstream which prevent the river being inundated by tides, and allow vessels to leave when the Humber is at a higher level than the Ancholme.{{sfn |Fisher |2013 |p=75}} In order to minimise the ingress of brackish water into the Ancholme when the tide gates are used, the water is culverted into the West Drain when the lock is being emptied. The sluice consists of three sets of pointed doors, and two electrically operated vertical guillotine gates. Salinity in the river is further controlled by two bubble curtains, and is continuously measured at Saxby, with the information used to decide whether the flow should be supplemented by water from the Trent Witham Ancholme Transfer Scheme.{{sfn |Itinerary |1996 |pp=29–30}}