WALKING THE FOSS: Days 3 and 4, Haxby to Sheriff Hutton

Haxby to Strensall. Walked October 2017. Distance: about 5 miles

I had a spare afternoon so headed off to Earswick to continue my walk along the River Foss. I planned to retrace a bit of old ground by exploring the east bank of the river from Earswick in an attempt to find the Lock House. But there was no sign of it apart from a new development surrounded by a high fence. I did however pay a visit to the weir before crossing a footbridge and heading back to Haxby Landings.

I then followed the old towpath along the west bank of the river to aplace called the ‘Ness,’ where the river curves north. But I had to turn back after my route was blocked by a series of fences and barbed wire. So it was back to Haxby and a walk along Towthorpe Road to turn off at the road bridge, a modern one, and back to the river walking under the railway bridge towards Strensall New Bridge (Old Humpy). This is the only surviving bridge over the river built by the Foss Navigation Company in 1795. There was no provision for the towpath, probably a cost saving measure. There was also a lock here called Strensall Lock (Lower).

The Foss then circuits the edge of the village of Strensall, past a sewage farm on the left, and the school on the right. In no time at all I arrived at Sheriff Hutton Road, passing a new development of houses on the site of the old tanning works that closed in 2004. The original tannery opened in 1805, presumably choosing the site because of the Foss navigation.

Crossing the new footbridge I walked past the Ship Inn to the bus stop to catch the Number 5 back to Earswick. But my bus failed to arrive and meanwhile the chip shop opened. Just as temptation proved almost insurmountable the next bus arrived.

Strensall to Sheriff Hutton. Walked February 2019. Distance: about 9 miles.

It was another three months before the day arrived when I could resume my exploration of the Foss. Unseasonably warm February weather lured me out on a glorious day, just like mid-summer. The birds were singing. The only things missing were leaves on the trees and flowers on the banks.

In this section of the walk we wanted to see if there was anything remaining of the canal where it left the river at Strensall and headed off across open country to terminate near Sheriff Hutton Bridge.

The original plan had been to continue the navigation as far as Stillington Mill, but the company ran out of money. The navigation was never a commercial success and the advent of the railways in the 1840s sounded its death knell. In retrospect it does seem strange to build a canal to nowhere, with nothing to transport but farm produce and building supplies, but it is clear that some industry developed along its route. Brickyard Farm at its terminus suggests there was a brickworks on this site.

My walking companion Steve and I set off along the old towpath looking out for signs of the start of the canal. Our path led us along the edge of a new development that we later realised was actually on the site of the old Lock House and the lock itself. But we missed it as two huge Alsatians diverted our attention. Very loud but hopefully friendly, they tried to poke their heads through the fence and prevent our passage.

At the edge of the property we followed a footpath to the left through a boggy area looking for the remains of the canal. In a copse of trees near Duncombe Farm we found a few piles of dressed stones and a large depression. We were surprised it was so wide. At the end of the copse the canal disappeared into farmland. If you home in on this area using Google Earth you can just make out the path of the original canal across cultivated fields.

Back at the new Lock House it was thankfully much quieter as the owner had taken her dogs inside. We were therefore able to get a clear view of the remains of the two locks in her garden. There was no sign of the original Lock House. A publication on the River Foss from 1973 suggested that it would be an attraction if the ‘unaltered’ Lock House was purchased and retained as a museum containing navigation relics of the ‘Canal Age.’ It even added that a ‘tastefully built Inn at this same spot should be a worthwhile commercial venture with an added amenity, provided it was licensed to serve both food and drink, to adults and children.’ How times have changed.

It was time to press on, following the river as best as we could. At this stage the Foss takes a long curve to the northwest. In the distance we could see the ruined towers of Sheriff Hutton Castle. It has been proposed by the Environment Agency that the fields near East Lilling are turned into a flood storage area to reduce the chances of flooding in York, rather in the way water is released from the Ouse into Rawcliffe Ings. If planning consent is achieved construction is proposed to start later this year.

In the middle ages East Lilling was once classed as a ‘hamlet of some capacity’ although little remains now. We left the river briefly at Lilling Green to join Ings lane, then cross the river and joined the road to Sheriff Hutton Bridge. We passed the cricket pitch and clubhouse, the SHBCC, founded in 1949 according to its sign. We then crossed Sheriff Hutton Bridge and followed the south bank of the river towards Foss House where we sat down to eat our sandwiches in blazing sun on the riverbank.

The remaining part of our walk was to head up the hill to Cornborough Manor and its ancient moat, before heading east along the ridge to Sheriff Hutton. Along the way we passed a field full of solar panels, apparently producing enough energy to supply 1,300 homes for a year; a better alternative to fracking in our view. It wasn’t long before we reached the village and were able to enjoy a cup of tea in full view of the ancient castle.