The Driffield Navigation and River Hull

Historical Profiles: NarrowBoat, Summer 2023

Christopher M Jones

Chris M. Jones looks at images showing traffic on these little-known waterways

The River Hull flows downstream from Great Driffield to the Old Harbour at Kingston-upon-Hull where it empties into the River Humber. It passes through flat open farmland known as the Carrs which, after years of drainage and the agricultural process of tillage, allowed farmers to produce large crops of wheat. The river is only navigable between Hull and North Frodingham where it joins the Driffield Canal. The complete navigation starts in Great Driffield as a canal heading south-east where it descends through five locks, with locks 4 and 5 at Snakeholme being a staircase. At 5 miles from Great Driffield, it joins with the navigable Frodingham Beck, then heads south. Frodingham Beck takes vessels north-east to Frodingham Bridge, near the village of North Frodingham, then on to Foston Beck, terminating at Foston Mills. To continue south from the Driffield Canal entrance, ¾ mile further on there is a junction with another navigation called West Beck at Emmotland. The West Beck is…