An Ivel stroll in Shefford

[magpie patrick]

A couple of weeks ago I found myself staying in Shefford for a christening - the granddaughter of someone I was at school with, which made me feel old! Whilst there I took the opportunity to have an early morning look at whats left of the Ivel Navigation in the town. The Ivel navigation reached Shefford from the Great Ouse in 1823 and closed about 50 years later. The map shows the navigation in Shefford in about 1900, when it was closed but very much still present. 

 

The navigation ran east from Northbridge Street, south and then east again and into a lock cut with the first lock clearly visible on the plan. 

 

At this point I will leave the laptop and switch to the phone, so if nothing follows this sentence you have logged on before I've finished the post!

Today the wharf is commemorated in the name of a riverside path 

 

looking back towards North Bridge the wharf was on the left

The river looks a tad small for the barges that once used it but is very pleasant and clearly the footpath users the residents enjoy it. 

 

 

 

The lock cut has been filled in, although it's course is still apparent 

There is a watercourse next to the path on the other side - this is not the navigation!

 

Not much left of the lock though 

 

A slope in the path confirms the location 

[matty40s]

I love doing things like this when supposed to be doing other things....