87-528: Chew Valley Lake ( grid reference ST5659 ) is a reservoir in Chew Stoke , Chew Valley , Somerset , England . It is the fifth-largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom, with an area of 1,200 acres (4.9 km). The lake, created in the early 1950s, was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956. It provides much of the drinking water for the city of Bristol and surrounding area, taking its supply from
174-512: A pound sterling ). In the medieval period, Padstow was commonly called Aldestowe ('old place' in contrast to Bodmin, the 'new place'). or Hailemouth ( heyl being Cornish for 'estuary'). The modern Cornish form Lannwedhenek derives from Lanwethinoc and in a simpler form appears in the name of the Lodenek Press, a publisher based in Padstow. Padstow had considerable importance in
261-402: A tea shop , with indoor and outdoor seating areas with a view of the lake, and information centre. There are a souvenir shop and small art gallery and two nature trails. The Grebe Trail is a hard-surfaced, all-weather path suitable for pedestrians, pushchairs and wheelchairs and covers a circuit 0.75 miles (1.2 km) long, starting and finishing at the wooded picnic area. The Bittern Trail
348-520: A 100 m square. For example, the grid reference of the 100 m square containing the summit of Ben Nevis is NN 166 712 . (Grid references may be written with or without spaces; e.g., also NN166712.) NN has an easting of 200 km and northing of 700 km, so the OSGB36 National Grid location for Ben Nevis is at 216600, 771200. Grid references may also be quoted as a pair of numbers: eastings then northings in metres, measured from
435-582: A Life Charity around the lake on the Restaurant side, for the cremated remains of loved ones to be placed beneath them. These forests contain Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ), English oak ( Quercus robur ), rowan ( Sorbus aucuparia ) and the silver birch ( Betula pendula ). The lake is used for a wide variety of leisure pursuits. During 2005–2006 Bristol Water started restoring two artificial islands. These are intended to provide safe nesting and roosting sites for
522-856: A description was published. Also some now suggest it is racist for white people to "black up" for any reason. Although "outsiders" have linked the day with racism, Padstonians insist that this is not the case and are incredulous at both description and allegations. Long before the controversy Charlie Bate, noted Padstow folk advocate, recounted that in the 1970s the content and conduct of the day were carefully reviewed to avoid potential offence. The Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have taken video evidence twice and concluded there were no grounds for prosecution. Nonetheless protests resurface annually. The day has now been renamed Mummers' Day in an attempt to avoid offence and identify it more clearly with established Cornish tradition. The debate has now been subject to academic scrutiny. Other similar traditions that use
609-414: A large hotel was built and there was a revival of the fishing industry. The seal of the borough of Padstow was a ship with three masts, the sails furled and an anchor hanging from the bow, with the legend "Padstow". The TV archaeology programme Time Team filmed in Padstow for the episode "From Constantinople to Cornwall," broadcast on 9 March 2008. There are two Cornish crosses in the parish: one
696-528: A lift. Royal Yachting Association sailing courses are held at the club for members including race training, youth training, powerboat training, race officer training as well as more informal training run within each fleet. Bristol water control fishing in the lake requiring permits and restricting the areas which can be used. Motor boats can also be booked for fishing. Ordnance Survey National Grid The Ordnance Survey National Grid reference system ( OSGB ), also known as British National Grid ( BNG ),
783-548: A manor belonging to Bodmin monastery and as the site of a safe haven (one of the few on the north coast). So it became a busy fishing port. Padstow prospered through trade with Ireland and the English and Welsh ports on the Bristol Channel , and during the early 18th Century returned over £100 in duties related to coal imports for both the periods 1708-1710 and 1710-1713, more than any other cornish port except Falmouth . Later trade
870-492: A military grid. Four of these largest squares contain significant land area within Great Britain: S, T, N and H. The O square contains a tiny area of North Yorkshire , Beast Cliff at OV 0000 , almost all of which lies below mean high tide. For the second letter, each 500 km square is subdivided into 25 squares of size 100 km by 100 km, each with a letter code from A to Z (again omitting I) starting with A in
957-723: A point in the Atlantic Ocean well to the west of Great Britain. In Cornwall , the WGS 84 longitude lines are about 70 metres east of their OSGB 36 equivalents, this value rising gradually to about 120 m east on the east coast of East Anglia . The WGS 84 latitude lines are about 70 m south of the OSGB 36 lines in South Cornwall , the difference diminishing to zero in the Scottish Borders , and then increasing to about 50 m north on
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#17328558705331044-449: A range of wildfowl. Permits to enter the reservoir enclosure and to use the access roads, paths and bird hides are available (for a fee) only to members of ornithological and naturalist societies recognised by Bristol Water. They can be obtained from Woodford Lodge and include conditions of use imposed by the owners. Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club has a sailing area, approximately 1.9 miles (3 km) long, for dinghy sailing . The lake
1131-519: A result of this attack or later, the monks moved inland to Bodmin , taking with them the relics of St Petroc. The cult of St Petroc was important both in Padstow and Bodmin. Padstow is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) when it was held by Bodmin Monastery . There was land for 4 ploughs, 5 villeins who had 2 ploughs, 6 smallholders and 24 acres of pasture. It was valued at 10 shillings (half of
1218-561: A thriving community in medieval times and possibly the remains of the Nunnery of Santa Cruz. During the Middle Ages farming was the most important activity in the area covered by the lake, supported by four flour mills powered by the River Chew. Stratford Mill was demolished and re-erected in the grounds of Blaise Castle Museum, in north-west Bristol. The largest settlement was Moreton, which
1305-415: A warning that the dam might not hold, prompting localised evacuation of populated valley areas downstream including Pensford and Keynsham . The lake is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) (Site Code: UK9010041) largely because of the diversity of species and habitats. Providing further protection, much of the area around the lake also falls within
1392-457: Is 4,434. The geology of the low plateau west of Padstow has resulted in such features as Tregudda Gorge where erosion along the faultline has caused sheer cliffs to form; and Marble Cliffs which has alternating dark grey and light grey strata. The Round Hole is a collapsed sea cave. In English, Padstow was originally named Adelstow after Æthelstan who was reported by John Leland to be 'chief governor of privileges onto it'. Adelstow
1479-442: Is a national centre for birdwatching , with over 260 species recorded. The lake has indigenous and migrant water birds throughout the year, and two nature trails have been created. The flora and fauna provide habitats for some less common plants and insects. Some restricted use for recreational activities is permitted by the owner, Bristol Water , including dinghy sailing and fishing, primarily for trout . Chew Valley Lake
1566-516: Is a system of geographic grid references , distinct from latitude and longitude , whereby any location in Great Britain can be described in terms of its distance from the origin (0, 0), which lies to the west of the Isles of Scilly . The Ordnance Survey (OS) devised the national grid reference system, and it is heavily used in its survey data, and in maps based on those surveys, whether published by
1653-459: Is also a monumental brass of 1421. The benefice is a rectory: Padstow (St Petroc), St Merryn and St Issey with St Petroc Minor now form a group within the deanery of Pydar . Traditionally a fishing port, Padstow is now a popular tourist destination . Although some of its former fishing fleet remains, it is mainly a yachting haven on a dramatic coastline with few easily navigable harbours. The influence of restaurateur Rick Stein can be seen in
1740-495: Is also easily accessible from the M5 motorway at junctions 18 and 22, with visitors instructed to follow signs to Bristol Airport. Car parking is available at the visitor centre and Woodford Lodge, for which a charge is made, and a small amount of parking is available at points around the lake; some of these are restricted to those with fishing permits. The area the lake covers was once rich farmland. Farms and houses had to be removed before
1827-461: Is applied. This creates two lines of longitude about 180 km east and west of the central meridian along which the local scale factor equals 1, i.e. map scale is correct. Inside these lines the local scale factor is less than 1, with a minimum of 0.04% too small at the central meridian. Outside these lines the local scale factor is greater than 1, and is about 0.04% too large near the east and west coasts. Grid north and true north are only aligned on
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#17328558705331914-620: Is at Bodmin Parkway , three miles southeast of Bodmin. Go Cornwall Bus operates buses to the station. Padstow is served by bus services 56 from Newquay and 11/11A from Plymouth which also serves Bodmin Parkway as noted above. Both are operated by Go Cornwall Bus and run hourly Monday to Saturday, less frequent on Sundays and Bank Holidays. There is also the Atlantic Coaster from Newquay, run with open top buses and provided by First Kernow . The South West Coast Path runs on both sides of
2001-468: Is built into a wall in the old vicarage garden and another is at Prideaux Place (consisting of a four-holed head and part of an ornamented cross shaft). There is also part of a decorated cross shaft in the churchyard. During World War II , in 1940, a single aircraft dropped some bombs on the town, one of which hit and demolished a terrace of houses in New Street, killing three. The church of St Petroc
2088-500: Is divided into two areas: a restricted summer area which is available during the fishing season (mid-March to mid-October), and the full area which can be used throughout the winter and on Sunday afternoons. The sailing area is marked out by lines of small white buoys. Racing marks are red buoys with flags, although large inflatable marks are used of open events. The club can cater for fleets of over one hundred boats and it hosts large national events. Normal club racing has fleet starts for
2175-570: Is in the Chew Valley at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills , surrounded by meadows and woods and close to the villages of Chew Stoke , Chew Magna and Bishop Sutton . When it was built in the 1950s, its 1,200 acres (4.9 km) were flooded with 4,500 million imperial gallons (20,000,000 m) of water from the Mendip hills, with a catchment area of 14,000 acres (57 km). It
2262-603: Is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, and survived until the flooding of the lake, when the remains of the Moreton Cross were moved to Chew Stoke Parish Church. There is evidence of lime kilns , which were used in the production of mortar for the construction of local churches. Farming, both arable and dairy , continued until the flooding of the lake, with most households also keeping pigs. There were orchards for fruit production, including apples, pears and plums . Moreton
2349-460: Is one of four said to have been founded by the saint, the others being Little Petherick (or St Petroc Minor), Parracombe and Bodmin . It is quite large and mostly of 13th- and 14th-century date. There is a fine 15th-century font of Catacleuse stone; the pulpit of c. 1530 is also of interest. There are two fine monuments to members of the Prideaux family (Sir Nicholas, 1627. and Edmund, 1693): there
2436-451: Is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders and suitable for disabled access. The 17.3-mile (27.8 km) long route leads to Wadebridge and on to Wenford Bridge and Bodmin , and is used by an estimated 400,000 users each year, generating an income of approximately £3 million a year. Padstow is best known for its "'Obby 'Oss" festival. Although its origins are unclear, it most likely stems from an ancient fertility rite , perhaps
2523-487: Is popular with yachtsmen . This inner harbour is a half tide dock that uses a " gate-flap " to maintain water levels on an ebbing tide, so that the yachts within stay afloat at all stages of the tide. From 1899 until 1967, Padstow railway station was the westernmost point of the former Southern Railway . The railway station was the terminus of an extension from Wadebridge of the former Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway and North Cornwall Railway . These lines were part of
2610-548: Is published by the Ordnance Survey is called the National Grid Transformation OSTN15. This models the detailed distortions in the 1936–1962 retriangulation, and achieves backwards compatibility in grid coordinates to sub-metre accuracy. The difference between the coordinates on different datums varies from place to place. The longitude and latitude positions on OSGB 36 are the same as for WGS 84 at
2697-467: Is reached from the Grebe Trail by the footbridge over Hollow Brook. The grassy path is often waterlogged in winter, but there is a boardwalk over a short section. The trail runs along the east shore, visits an open bird hide and returns to the footbridge, making a 1-mile (1.5-kilometre) circuit. Bristol Water imposes conditions on visitors, particularly related to the areas where dogs are allowed. Access to
Chew Valley Lake - Misplaced Pages Continue
2784-555: Is shallow, with an average depth of 14 ft (4 m) at top level and a maximum depth of just 37 ft (11 m). It is fed by small rivers, and it flows into the River Chew for 17 miles (27 km) before it joins the Avon to head out to sea. The deepest part is near the dam and the outlet tower, where the steeply sloping shores of Walley Bank and the north shore result in depths of up to 20 ft (6 m). "Denny Island", above
2871-505: Is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Wadebridge , 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Bodmin and 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Newquay . The population of Padstow civil parish was 3,162 in the 2001 census , reducing to 2,993 at the 2011 census. In addition an electoral ward with the same name exists but extends as far as Trevose Head . The population for this ward
2958-592: Is the system commonly used for the Channel Islands . European-wide agencies also use UTM when mapping locations, or may use the Military Grid Reference System (MGRS), or variants of it. The first letter of the British National Grid is derived from a larger set of 25 squares of size 500 km by 500 km, labelled A to Z, omitting one letter (I) (refer diagram below), previously used as
3045-515: The Bristol Channel . Later trade was the export of tin, copper, lead, slate, cured fish and dairy produce, as well as the importing of timber from Norway and Sweden, salt and wine from France, and hemp, iron and jute from Russia. In the first half of the 19th century it was a significant port of embarcation for emigrants, particular those bound for Canada. Later on a shipbuilding industry developed with five shipyards though by 1900 this had declined. The North Cornwall Railway reached Padstow in 1899,
3132-514: The Celtic festival of Beltane . The festival starts at midnight on May Eve when townspeople gather outside the Golden Lion Inn to sing the "Night Song." By morning, the town has been dressed with greenery and flowers placed around the maypole . The excitement begins with the appearance of one of the 'Obby 'Osses. Male dancers cavort through the town dressed as one of two 'Obby 'Osses, the "Old" and
3219-640: The English Channel halfway between Dover and Calais , the ED50 longitude lines are about 20 m east of the OSGB36 equivalents, and the ED50 latitude lines are about 150 m south of the OSGB36 ones. Padstow Padstow ( / ˈ p æ d s t oʊ / ; Cornish Standard Written Form : Lannwedhenek ) is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall , England, United Kingdom. The town
3306-609: The English Channel which lies between the island of Jersey and the French port of St. Malo ). Over the Airy ellipsoid a straight line grid, the National Grid, is placed with a new false origin to eliminate negative numbers, creating a 700 km by 1300 km grid. This false origin is located south-west of the Isles of Scilly. In order to minimize the overall scale error, a factor of 2499/2500
3393-662: The Isle of Man ). The Irish grid reference system is a similar system created by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland and the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland for the island of Ireland. The Irish Transverse Mercator (ITM) coordinate reference system was adopted in 2001 and is now the preferred coordinate reference system across Ireland. ITM is based on the Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system (UTM), used to provide grid references for worldwide locations, and this
3480-680: The London & South Western Railway (LSWR), then incorporated into the Southern Railway in 1923 and British Railways in 1948, but were proposed for closure as part of the Beeching cuts of the 1960s. The LSWR (and Southern Railway) promoted Padstow as a holiday resort; these companies were rivals to the Great Western Railway (which was the larger railway in the West of England). Until 1964, Padstow
3567-484: The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The lake appears to have a higher sedimentation rate than would be expected in other similar reservoirs, being in the region of 100–150 t.km.yr. The main geological outcrops around the lake are mudstone , largely consisting of red siltstone resulting in the underlying characteristic of the gently rolling valley landscape. Bands of sandstone from
Chew Valley Lake - Misplaced Pages Continue
3654-417: The Mendip Hills . Some of the lake water is used to maintain the flow in the River Chew . Before the lake was created, archaeological investigations were carried out that showed evidence of occupation since Neolithic times and included Roman artefacts. The lake is an important site for wildlife and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA). It
3741-483: The Montol Festival which like Padstow at times would have had people darkening or painting their skin to disguise themselves as well as masking.) Folklorists associate the practice with the widespread British custom of blacking up for mumming and morris dancing, and suggest there is no record of slave ships coming to Padstow. Once an unknown local charity event, the day has recently become controversial, perhaps since
3828-631: The Triassic period contribute to the undulating character of the area. There are also more recent alluvial deposits beside the course of the River Chew. Over 270 species of birds have been recorded at Chew, an internationally important site for wintering and migrating wildfowl. From late July to February, up to 4,000 ducks (Anatidae) of twelve different species may be present, including internationally important numbers of northern shoveler ( Anas clypeata ) and gadwall ( Anas strepera ). Up to 600 great crested grebes ( Podiceps cristatus ) gather to moult on
3915-504: The barques Clio , Belle and Voluna ; and the brig Dalusia were making the journey across the Atlantic. Quebec City was a specific destination recorded and while such vessels brought timber, the offer of cheap travel to passengers wishing to emigrate enticed some to make the journey to Canada. Local shipbuilders also benefited from the quality of incoming cargoes, although shipbuilding had been practiced in Padstow for centuries and
4002-406: The "Blue Ribbon" 'Obby 'Osses; as the name suggests, they are stylised kinds of horses. Prodded on by acolytes known as "Teasers," each wears a mask and black frame-hung cape under which they try to catch young maidens as they pass through the town. Throughout the day, the two parades, led by the "Mayer" in his top hat and decorated stick, followed by a band of accordions and drums, then the 'Oss and
4089-600: The Camel estuary for centuries and the current service, the Black Tor Ferry , carries pedestrians between Padstow and Rock daily throughout the year. In 1964, the harbour commissioners regained control of the harbour from the British Transport Commission and then made some improvements to it. The harbour comprises a tidal outer harbour that is used by ships and commercial vessels, and a smaller inner harbour that
4176-587: The Chew Lake West Green Route, was opened along the B3114 on the western part of the lake. It forms part of the Padstow to Bristol West Country Way, National Cycle Network Route 3 . It has all-weather surfacing, providing a smooth off-road facility for ramblers, mobility-challenged visitors and cyclists of all abilities. It was funded by Bath and North East Somerset Council with the support of Sustrans and
4263-545: The Chew Valley Recreational Trail Association. Minor roads around the lake are also frequently used by cyclists. Bristol Airport is approximately 10 miles (15 km) away. The nearest major road is the A368 , which runs along the southern edge of the lake and provides access from Bath and Weston super Mare . The A37 and A38 are slightly further away, providing access from Bristol . The lake
4350-458: The Ordnance Survey or by commercial map producers. Grid references are also commonly quoted in other publications and data sources, such as guide books and government planning documents. A number of different systems exist that can provide grid references for locations within the British Isles : this article describes the system created solely for Great Britain and its outlying islands (including
4437-513: The River Camel estuary and crosses from Padstow to Rock via the Black Tor ferry. The path gives walking access to the coast with Stepper Point and Trevose Head within an easy day's walk of Padstow. The Saints' Way long-distance footpath runs from Padstow to Fowey on the south coast of Cornwall. The Camel Trail cycleway follows the course of the former railway ( see above ) from Padstow. It
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#17328558705334524-474: The Teaser, with a host of people – all singing the "Morning Song" – passing along the streets of the town. Finally, late in the evening, the two 'osses meet, at the maypole, before returning to their respective stables where the crowd sings of the 'Obby 'Oss death, until its resurrection the following May Eve. On Boxing Day and New Year's Day, it is a tradition for some residents to don blackface and parade through
4611-460: The brown trout ( Salmo trutta morpha fario ) and rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). Chew Valley also holds a large population of pike ( Esox lucius ), and fishing for these is permitted at certain times of the year. Chew Valley currently holds the UK record at 47lb 5oz. Aquatic midges (Chironomidae) provide the highest proportion of the fly life of the lake. The trout (Salmonidae) will feed at
4698-520: The central meridian (400 km easting) of the grid which is 2° W (OSGB36) and approx. 2° 0′ 5″ W ( WGS 84 ). A geodetic transformation between OSGB 36 and other terrestrial reference systems (like ITRF2000 , ETRS89 , or WGS 84 ) can become quite tedious if attempted manually. The most common transformation is called the Helmert datum transformation , which results in a typical 7 m error from true. The definitive transformation from ETRS89 that
4785-607: The first century to third century AD. The finds included a villa at Chew Park where wooden writing tablets (the first in the UK) with ink writing were found. The tablets were sent to the British Museum , but other Roman material is on display at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery with the lake's other historical artefacts. Further excavations around the village of Moreton, which has now been totally submerged, found evidence of
4872-496: The following dinghy classes: Flying Fifteen (keelboat) , Laser (dinghy) , Solo (dinghy) and Topper (dinghy) as well as a handicap fleet run under the Portsmouth yardstick scheme. Five slipways enable easy launching. Off the water, the clubhouse facilities include large changing rooms, hot showers, hot food at the weekends, a bar and terrace overlooking the lake. The club caters for disabled people with facilities on both floors and
4959-470: The head of a mace , along with buildings and graves. The artefacts from this period are held at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery . Further evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age occupation is provided by the archaeological survey of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Excavations have also uncovered Roman remains, indicating agricultural and industrial activity from the second half of
5046-713: The lake in autumn. Data on bird species and their numbers on the lake, dating back to the first " ringing " in 1964, is available from the Chew Valley Ringing Station. Numerous other birds can be seen, especially during the spring and autumn migration . Sand martins ( Riparia riparia ) arrive early and can usually be seen hawking over the water for insects in the second or third week of March. Flocks of tits (Paridae), swallows (Hirundinidae) and terns (Sternidae) can regularly be seen. Waders, such as lapwings ( Vanellus vanellus ), dunlin ( Calidris alpina ) and common snipe ( Gallinago gallinago ), are attracted to
5133-722: The lake. Eleven species of wainscot moth make their home in the reed beds, including the nationally local brown-veined wainscot ( Archanara dissoluta ), twin-spotted wainscot ( Archanara geminipuncta ) and silky wainscot ( Chilodes maritimus ). The lake is surrounded with fringing reedbeds , carr woodland and grassland , which are managed by Bristol Water . The water conditions are eutrophic with run off from local fields and streams. Open-water plant communities are rather sparse, largely comprising fennel pondweed ( Potamogeton pectinatus ), lesser pondweed ( Potamogeton pusillus ), opposite-leaved pondweed ( Groenlandia densa ) and water-crowfoot ( Ranunculus spp. ). On neutral soils around
5220-631: The land was flooded, and old roads, hedgerows and tree stumps can reappear when dry summers cause the level of the lake to drop. Prior to the flooding of the reservoir , archaeological excavations were carried out by Philip Rahtz and Ernest Greenfield employed by the Ministry of Works , from 1953 to 1955. The excavations found evidence of people belonging to the consecutive periods known as Upper Palaeolithic , Mesolithic and Neolithic (Old, Middle and New Stone Age ), Bronze Age and Iron Age , including implements such as stone knives, flint blades and
5307-437: The management work carried out in the nature reserve is aimed at encouraging ducks to breed, and small numbers of tufted duck ( Aythya fuligula ), common pochard ( Aythya ferina ), common shelduck ( Tadorna tadorna ) and gadwall raise broods most years. Recent breeding successes also include water rail ( Rallus aquaticus ) and Cetti's warbler ( Cettia cetti ). A wetland reserve has been created at Heron's Green Pool on
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#17328558705335394-469: The middle ages as a manor belonging to Bodmin monastery and as the site of a safe haven (one of the few on the north coast). So it became a busy fishing port and the site of nine chapels in addition to the parish church. The manor was leased to the family of Prideaux by the last prior before the dissolution in Henry VIII 's reign. The town prospered through trade with Ireland and the English and Welsh ports on
5481-499: The most evident period of enclosure of earlier open fields which took place in the late medieval period. Mature oak ( Quercus ) and ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) trees are characteristic of the area with occasional groups of Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) and chestnuts ( Castanea sativa ). Many elm ( Ulmus ) trees have been lost in this area, and dead/dying elms are also evident in the surrounding landscape. Four areas of woodland containing 157 trees has been planted by The Life for
5568-411: The muddy shores if the water level drops in autumn. By midwinter up to 55,000 gulls , mostly black-headed gull ( Chroicocephalus ridibundus ) and common gull ( Larus canus ), may be roosting. Good numbers of reed warblers ( Acrocephalus scirpaceus ) and sedge warblers ( A. schoenobaenus ) nest in the fringing reeds, along with grebes (Podicipedidae) and Eurasian coots ( Fulica atra ). Much of
5655-449: The north coast of Scotland . (If the lines are further east , then the longitude value of any given point is further west . Similarly, if the lines are further south, the values will give the point a more northerly latitude.) The smallest datum shift is on the west coast of Scotland and the greatest in Kent . These two datums are not both in general use in any one place, but for a point in
5742-429: The north-west corner to Z in the south-east corner. These squares are outlined in light grey on the "100km squares" map, with those containing land lettered. The central (2° W) meridian is shown in red. Within each square, eastings and northings from the south west corner of the square are given numerically. For example, NH0325 means a 1 km square whose south-west corner is 3 km east and 25 km north from
5829-421: The opposite side of the causeway to the lake. A shallow pool fringed with sedges (Cyperaceae), rushes (Juncaceae) and reedgrasses ( Calamagrostis ) and surrounded by lightly grazed, rough grassland may also prove attractive to snipe and lapwings. In late summer large shoals of roach ( Rutilus rutilus ) and perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) fry congregate around the margins and weed beds, which are predated by
5916-574: The port, and tourists travel from long distances to eat at his restaurant and cafés. This has led to the town being dubbed "Padstein", by food writers in the British media. Plans to build a skatepark in Padstow were proposed and funds were raised to create this at the Recreation Ground (Wheal Jubilee Parc). Construction was completed in 2019. Padstow had considerable importance in the Middle Ages as
6003-474: The reservoir, pepper-saxifrage ( Silaum silaus ), burnet-saxifrage ( Pimpinella saxifraga ) and devil's-bit scabious ( Succisa pratensis ) occur, and on calcareous soils fairy flax ( Linum catharticum ), dwarf thistle ( Cirsium acaule ) and salad burnet ( Sanguisorba minor subspecies minor ) are found. The small and medium-sized fields around the lake are generally bounded by hedges and occasionally by tree belts and woodland, some of which date back to
6090-427: The south-west corner of square NH. A location can be indicated to varying resolutions numerically, usually from two digits in each coordinate (for a 1 km square) through to five (for a 1 m square); in each case the first half of the digits is for the first coordinate and the second half for the other. The most common usage is the six figure grid reference , employing three digits in each coordinate to determine
6177-405: The south-west to NN400900 in the north-east) the abbreviated grid reference 166712 is equivalent to NN166712. If working with more than one Landranger sheet, this may also be given as 41/166712. Alternatively, sometimes numbers instead of the two-letter combinations are used for the 100×100 km squares. The numbering follows a grid index where the tens denote the progress from West to East and
6264-542: The southwest corner of the SV square. 13 digits may be required for locations in Orkney and further north. For example, the grid reference for Sullom Voe Oil Terminal in the Shetland islands may be given as HU396753 or 439668,1175316 . Another, distinct, form of all-numeric grid reference is an abbreviated alphanumeric reference where the letters are simply omitted, e.g. 166712 for
6351-699: The standard projection for Ordnance Survey maps. The Airy ellipsoid is a regional best fit for Britain; more modern mapping tends to use the GRS80 ellipsoid used by the Global Positioning System (the Airy ellipsoid assumes the Earth to be about 1 km smaller in diameter than the GRS80 ellipsoid, and to be slightly less flattened). The British maps adopt a transverse Mercator projection with an origin (the "true" origin) at 49° N , 2° W (an offshore point in
6438-467: The summit of Ben Nevis. Unlike the numeric references described above, this abbreviated grid reference is incomplete; it gives the location relative to an OS 100×100 km square, but does not specify which square. It is often used informally when the context identifies the OS 2-letter square. For example, within the context of a location known to be on OS Landranger sheet 41 (which extends from NN000500 in
6525-430: The surface on these and water boatmen (Corixidae), and below the surface on the caddisfly (Trichoptera) larvae and pupae ; they will also take the adult caddisflies when they emerge. Other aquatic fauna including daphnia and snails are also found in the lake. Large populations of dragonflies , including migrant hawker ( Aeshna mixta ) and significant numbers of ruddy darter ( Sympetrum sanguineum ), occur at
6612-531: The surface throughout the year, is wooded and provides a habitat for wildlife. The lake is owned and operated by Bristol Water, which created it in 1956 when the demand became too large for nearby Blagdon Lake . Working with the Avon Wildlife Trust , Somerset Wildlife Trust and other environmental groups, Bristol Water has encouraged various species of birds and plants, and created a venue for visitors. It has two landscaped picnic areas. Facilities include
6699-493: The town provided ships for the siege of Calais in 1346. The practice continued, aided by the imported materials, and there five shipyards recorded in the late 19th century though by 1900 this had declined. The approach from the sea into the River Camel is partially blocked by the Doom Bar , a bank of sand extending across the estuary which is a significant hazard to shipping and the cause of many shipwrecks . A lifeboat station
6786-430: The town singing ' minstrel ' songs. This is an ancient midwinter celebration that occurs every year in Padstow and was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated all over Cornwall where people would guise dance and disguise themselves by blackening up their faces or wearing masks. Recently (since 2007), the people of Penzance have revived its midwinter celebration with
6873-574: The units from South to North. In the north of Scotland, the numbering is modified: the 100 km square to the north of 39 is numbered N30; the square to the north of 49 is N40, etc. The grid is based on the OSGB36 datum (Ordnance Survey Great Britain 1936, based on the Airy 1830 ellipsoid ), and was introduced after the retriangulation of 1936–1962 . It replaced the Cassini Grid which had previously been
6960-621: The unveiling of a commemorative stone and plaque, which can be seen from the dam, on 17 April 1956, although it was not full until 25 February 1958. Flowers were presented to the Queen at the opening of Chew Valley Lake by Judith Blair Brown, daughter of Kennedy Brown, who worked at Bristol Water Works at the time of construction of the lake. During the storm of 10 July 1968 , the lake gained an extra 471 million imperial gallons (2,140,000 m) and rose 19 inches (480 mm) in under 12 hours. At one point worried Bristol police issued
7047-441: The waterside is restricted in places to reduce the disruption to wildlife. Paths around the lake are generally flat and, where paths are surfaced, wheelchair access is possible. Visitors are officially invited to use public transport, but overwhelmingly arrive by private car, encouraged by the provision of parking spaces. The "Chew Valley Explorer" bus route 672/674 provides access. In 2002 a 1.9-mile (3-kilometre) safe cycle route,
7134-593: Was also the site of a gunpowder mill in the 18th century. Plans for the building of the reservoir were under discussion before the Second World War , and an act of parliament submitted by the Bristol Waterworks Company was passed in 1939. Following this, farms were bought by the company and farmed by the previous owners as tenancies. Farms and buildings still remaining in private hands were acquired by compulsory purchase . The sanction for construction
7221-597: Was commuted into Petroc-stow , Petroc-stowe , or 'Petrock's Place', after the Welsh missionary Saint Petroc , who landed at Trebetherick around AD 500. After his death a monastery (Lanwethinoc, the church of Wethinoc, an earlier holy man) was established here which was of great importance until Petroces stow (probably Padstow) was raided by the Vikings in 981, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle . Whether as
7308-451: Was established in 1827. For ships entering the estuary, the immediate loss of wind due to the cliffs was a particular hazard, often resulting in ships being swept onto the Doom Bar. A manual capstan was installed on the west bank of the river (its remains can still be seen) and rockets were fired to carry a line to ships so that they could be winched to safety. There have been ferries across
7395-438: Was given in 1949 and the contract awarded to A.E. Farr, who employed 300 people on the site. The main dam was stabilised by injecting concrete into the cracks in the bedrock . The core of the dam was made of puddled clay mixed with sand . This was the first time the gain in strength brought about by the use of sand drains had been quantified. The lake was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II , accompanied by Prince Philip , with
7482-649: Was served by the Atlantic Coast Express , a direct train service to/from London Waterloo , but the station was closed in 1967. The old railway line is now the Camel Trail , a footpath and cycle path which is popular owing to its picturesque route beside the River Camel. One of the railway mileposts is now embedded outside the Shipwright's Arms public house on the Harbour Front. Today, the nearest railway station
7569-408: Was the export of tin, copper, lead, slate, cured fish and dairy produce, as well as the importing of timber from Norway and Sweden, salt and wine from France, and hemp, iron and jute from Russia. In the first half of the 19th century Padstow was a significant port of embarcation for emigrants, particularly those bound for Canada, and during the mid-19th century ships carrying timber from Canada such as
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