The River Ancholme stretches from its source at Bishop Bridge in the south to South Ferriby in the north where it enters the Humber Estuary. It is approximately 33km in length.
In the town of Brigg the river splits into two; the ‘Old River Ancholme’ and the man-made ‘New River Ancholme’ (the straight channel). The two rivers create an ‘island’ in the centre of Brigg known as ‘Island Carr’.
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| Dredging the River Ancholme in Brigg |
The waterway is managed by the Environment Agency who have recently been removing silt from the river as part of a flood reduction strategy.
The typical river level range for Brigg is between 0.48 metres and 2.88 metres (Environment Agency).
Farming communities were first established in the Ancholme Valley around 4000BC and the area has a long and rich heritage.
There are seven listed bridges along the River Ancholme including the one at Hibaldstow built in 1889.
Today the river is used mainly for recreation. Boaters, kayakers, canooists, rowers and barges can all be seen cruising down the river.
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| Hibaldstow Bridge |
There are also some excellent spots for angling, walking and horse riding along the banks.
North Lincolnshire Council has produced some excellent leaflets about the Ancholme Valley including 'The History of the Ancholme Valley', 'The Drainage & Bridging of the Ancholme Valley', and also a set of Ancholme Valley walks.
These packs of leaflets can be purchased from Brigg Tourist Information Centre.
Brigg is a small market town with a population of approximately 5,000. Visitors to the town can enjoy browsing the street market (which takes place every Thursday), boutiques, jewellers, cafes and restaurants, craft shops and traditional pubs. It is within easy access of the towns of Scunthorpe and Grimsby and a good place from which to explore the surrounding countryside.
Read more about River Ancholme wildlife and find our What Fish? live in the river.
