46-609: The River Tees ( / t iː z / ), in England, rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines and flows eastwards for 85 miles (137 km) to reach the North Sea in the North East of England. The modern-day history of the river has been tied with the industries on Teesside in its lower reaches, where it has provided the means of import and export of goods to and from
92-573: A Karenia bloom could cause the mass death of lobsters and crabs without also killing large numbers of fish, sea urchins and many other species." Monbiot reported that when he asked the UK government to publish its evidence the government refused. Peg Powler is a hag in English folklore who is said to inhabit the River Tees. The River Tees was featured in the television series Seven Natural Wonders as one of
138-572: A number of rare alpine plants such as the Starry Saxifrage and a mountain Forget-me-not . Cross Fell is covered by what is known as "siliceous alpine and boreal grassland". It is the southernmost outlier of this vegetation type, which is common to highlands in Scotland and Scandinavia . It is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Local farmers are required to keep free-roaming sheep off
184-591: A pollution incident could have contributed to the deaths of the animals." The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) labs were also testing crustaceans for disease. There is no evidence of any link to recent strandings of marine mammals and seabirds across the UK and countries along the North Sea coast, according to the EA. By late November the crustacean die-off had spread as far south as Robin Hood's Bay and
230-744: Is adjacent to the east. In early October 2021 thousands of dead crabs and lobsters were washed up on the Tees estuary and beaches along the North-East coast of England. The deaths were first reported in Seaton Carew, Redcar and Seaham. A 95% decline in the lobster and crab catch was noticed by those employed in the local fishing industry. A spokesperson for the UK Environment Agency said, "Samples of water, sediment, mussel and crab have been collected and are being sent to our labs for analysis to consider whether
276-560: Is claimed that it is visible in exceptional circumstances from the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn in Snowdonia ( Wales ) at a distance of 123 miles (198 kilometres). River Greta, Durham The River Greta is a river in County Durham , England . It is a tributary of the River Tees and flows through the northern part of the old North Riding of Yorkshire . The name "Greta" derives from
322-479: Is no evidence that it conducted such sampling, the government concluded not only that a bloom had occurred, but that it was caused by a particular, toxic species: Karenia mikimotoi . This is the stuff of science fiction. Karenia thrives in temperatures between 20 and 24 °C [68 and 75 °F]. The average water temperature on this coast in October is 13 °C [55 °F]. There is no plausible mechanism by which
368-561: Is the largest block of high ground in England and tends to retain snow-cover longer than neighbouring areas. Snow can be found in gullies on the north side of Cross Fell as late as May in most years. In some years, lying snow has been known to persist until July and fresh snowfall in June (mid-summer in the Northern Hemisphere) is common. Precipitation on Cross Fell averages around 2,800 millimetres (110 in) per year. Local flora includes
414-606: The A67 south-east past Gainford and Piercebridge to Darlington , passing under the A1 and A66 . The section from Piercebridge to Hurworth flows over magnesian limestone . It is at Croft-on-Tees that the River Skerne joins the Tees. The river now flows south past Croft-on-Tees before swinging northwards past Hurworth-on-Tees . A series of large meanders takes the course past Neasham , Low Dinsdale and Sockburn to Middleton St George . In
460-687: The Eden Valley on its south-western side and drops off more gently on its north-eastern side towards the South Tyne and Tees Valleys. Cross Fell summit is crowned by a cross-shaped dry-stone shelter. On a clear day there are excellent views from the summit across the Eden Valley to the mountains of the Lake District. On the northern side of Cross Fell there are also fine views across the Solway Firth to
506-679: The Industrial Revolution , particularly for the shipment of coal from the Durham Coalfields and also for the steel industries that later developed around Middlesbrough . In the early years merchant ships left the River Tees after loading in Yarm and Stockton on Tees ; but as merchant ships became bigger, these smaller docks were superseded by bigger and deeper docks in Middlesbrough, and later even further downstream at Teesport close to
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#1732838530524552-504: The North East England . The need for water further downstream also meant that reservoirs were built in the extreme upper reaches, such as Cow Green . The name Tees is possibly of Brittonic origin. The element *tēs , meaning "warmth" with connotations of "boiling, excitement" ( Welsh tes ), may underlie the name. *Teihx-s , a root possibly derived from Brittonic *ti (Welsh tail , "dung, manure"), has also been used to explain
598-528: The Portrack Cut , were made to straighten its course in 1810 and 1831 respectively. Before these cuts were made, the journey by sailing barge from Thornaby to the mouth of the Tees, allowing for tides and other factors, could take as long as seven days. The Mandale Cut was the shorter of the two, at about 220 yards (200 m), with the Portrack Cut being considerably longer (1,100 yards (1,000 m)), although
644-567: The Southern Uplands of Scotland . The fell is prone to dense hill fog and fierce winds. A shrieking noise induced by the Helm Wind is a characteristic of the locality. It can be an inhospitable place for much of the year. In ancient times it was known as "Fiends Fell" and believed to be the haunt of evil spirits. St Augustine of Canterbury is said to have blessed the hill when he arrived here on his travels so it became known as Cross Fell in
690-460: The Tees Barrage between these ports, turning tidal downstream from the barrage. Teesport is built on reclaimed land on the south side of the Tees estuary below Middlesbrough. Before the heavy industrialisation of the Tees, the flats at Seal Sands in the estuary were home to common seals . For around 100 years this species was absent from the estuary but have now returned and can be seen on
736-512: The ceremonial counties of County Durham and North Yorkshire , while in the highest part of its course it forms the boundary between the historic counties of Westmorland and Durham . The head of Teesdale (the name of valley especially at this end), has a desolate grandeur, surrounded by moorland and hills, some exceeding 2,500 feet (760 m). This area is part of the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The source of
782-448: The northern frontier . It was first built in wood around 90 AD, before being rebuilt in stone, possibly when the first bridge washed away. The use of the bridge may of continued into the sub-Roman period. Crossings of the Tees continued to be important in the journey from north to south, and vice versa, along the east coast, during the medieval period. During the 13th century it was described as "the major obstacle to speedy travel out of
828-496: The 0.75-mile (1.2 km) South Bank Quay project to provide a deep water facility. It is expected that two million tonnes of material will be dredged to allow GE Renewable Energy to load huge wind turbine blades onto ships. The 351-foot (107 m) long blades are destined for the Dogger Bank wind farm . The Heavy Fuel Oil Farm and Tarmac jetties are to be removed. The River Tees has been used for transporting industrial goods since
874-694: The Christian tradition, although it has been speculated that the fell became known as Cross Fell ("cross" meaning "angry") because of the evil spirits. The upper parts of Cross Fell and the adjoining fells are formed mainly from beds of mudstone , sandstone and siltstone of the Yoredale Group whilst lower ground is formed by multiple layers of the Carboniferous Limestone . Where erosion-resistant beds surface, there are steep rock faces. There are also strata of shale and gritstone that surface on
920-508: The Old Norse "Griótá", meaning "stony stream". The river rises in the Pennines and drains Spittal Ings, Roper Castle (or Round Table) and Beldoo Moss to the east of Moudy Mea , before running east through Stainmore Forest . It is joined at West Charity Farm by Sleightholme Beck, its main tributary, which runs north-east from its source between Bog Moss and Sleightholme Moor where it is formed by
966-526: The River Tees are manufacturing and servicing the North Sea oil and gas industry as well as the renewable energy industry sector, including offshore wind turbines . The south bank of the mouth of the River Tees has the 62-megawatt Teesside Offshore Wind Farm , built 2011–13. Near the mouth of the River Tees is the large dry dock facility of ABLE UK , named TERRC ( Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre ), used to dismantle or oil rigs and other large vessels. Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station
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#17328385305241012-486: The Tees is joined by the River Greta . From the area near Eggleston, the river is crossing over millstone grit . From here the valley begins to open out, and traverses the rich plain east and south of Darlington in large meandering curves. The course of the valley down to here has been generally east-south-east, but it now turns north-east near the village of Whorlton . Passing Ovington and Winston it runs parallel to
1058-453: The broken rocks where the water descends over High Force . After a short turn northwards, the river continues to meander south-easterly. Close to where the B6277 road begins to run parallel to the river is the 69-foot (21 m) High Force waterfall. About 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (2.4 km) downstream is the smaller Low Force waterfall. The scenery becomes gentler and more picturesque as
1104-549: The building of the first suspension railway bridge . This moved the commercial centre of gravity of Teesside further down stream, where many future bridges would be built. Cross Fell Cross Fell is the highest mountain in the Pennines of Northern England and the highest point in England outside the Lake District . It is located in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . It lies within
1150-613: The confluence of Dry Gill and Frumming Beck. From there, the river travels through Bowes , where, close to the site of the Roman fort of Lavatris it is crossed by the Pennine Way . The area through which the Greta flows was a favourite haunt of artists, notably John Sell Cotman and J. M. W. Turner . There are also many historic sites adjacent to the river including cup and ring carvings on Barningham Moor, an early Norman Keep at Scargill ,
1196-438: The county of Cumbria and the historic county boundaries of Cumberland . The summit, at 893 metres (2,930 ft), is a stony plateau , part of a 7 + 3 ⁄ 4 -mile-long (12.5-kilometre) ridge running north-west to south-east, which also incorporates Little Dun Fell at 842 metres (2,762 ft) and Great Dun Fell at 848 metres (2,782 ft). The three adjoining fells form an escarpment that rises steeply above
1242-516: The diocese of Durham southwards", with the contemporary fords, bridges and ferries proving particularly inconvenient in the winter period. This included the Great North Road , for which the Croft Bridge was built in the 13th or 14th centuries. Yarm Bridge was built around 1400, by bishop Skirlaw . In 1771 a major flood on the Tees, along with others in the North-East, caused major damage to
1288-412: The fell. On the south and west facing slopes of Cross Fell the rock faces have been broken up by frost action to give a scree slope made up of large boulders. The local terrain shows obvious evidence of recent glaciation and is covered by thin soil and acidic peat . Cross Fell, Great Dun Fell and Little Dun Fell form a block of high terrain which is all over 800 metres (2,625 ft) in elevation. This
1334-549: The flats at Seal Sands. The Seal Sands area is now designated as the Teesmouth National Nature Reserve. A proposal was made in 1769 to make cuts in the river which would straighten the course and enable ships to save time and money in navigation. Between Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough, the river previously meandered first south and then north of its current channel. Two "cuts", known as the Mandale Cut and
1380-402: The former banks, increasing the scouring due to its natural flow. Maps made prior to 1900 show that between Stockton and Middlesbrough the river flowed in a channel up to 330 yards (300 m) wide in places, with many shoals and sandbars. The modern channel varies between about 110 yards (100 m) and 220 yards (200 m). In October 2021 the UK engineering company, GRAHAM, started work on
1426-482: The industrialisation of the area through the 19th century, many new bridges where needed closer to the ports mouth. When the Stockton and Darlington railway , first opened in 1825, it was realised that the staiths at Stockton where two small to export the desired amount of coal. The decision was made to start exporting closer to the rivers mouth on the other bank, at Port Darlington (later Middlesbrough ). This required
River Tees - Misplaced Pages Continue
1472-454: The lower reaches of the river valley the water flows over bunter sandstone and pebble beds . Just past Yarm, the River Leven joins the Tees, before passing the settlements of Eaglescliffe , Ingleby Barwick and Thornaby-on-Tees . Now nearing the sea, the Tees becomes an important commercial waterway, with the ports of Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough on its banks. It passes through
1518-463: The mouth of the River Tees. The emergence of the Steel industry in the late 19th century earned it the nickname "The Steel River" owing to the many steelworks that operated along the banks of the Tees. In the 20th century the river also became important to the developing chemical industry , contributing particularly to the development of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) who used reclaimed land on
1564-404: The name Tees (compare River Tyne ). The river drains 710 square miles (1,800 km) and has a number of tributaries including the River Greta , River Lune , River Balder , River Leven and River Skerne . Before the reorganisation of the historic English counties , the river formed the boundary between County Durham and Yorkshire . In its lower reaches it now forms the boundary between
1610-464: The north bank for import/export facilities. The move to loading coal on bigger ships in Middlesbrough was the economic driver for the development not only of the town of Middlesbrough itself but also of the railway between Stockton and Darlington . This is where George Stephenson developed his railway engine "Locomotion" and this railway was the first steam railway to carry passengers, as well as industrial materials. The Stockton and Darlington Railway
1656-590: The northern meander it removed was smaller than the southern meander. Neither meander is visible today, except for the flow of Stainsby Beck into a waterway which is marked on maps first as " The Fleet " and then " Old River Tees ". The current Tees Barrage is close to the site of the Mandale Cut. Since the cuts were made, the river has continued to undergo alterations to its bed and banks to make it deeper and more navigable. The channel has been made considerably narrower by dumping ship's ballast and ironworks slag along
1702-477: The river at Teeshead just below Cross Fell is at an elevation of about 2,401 feet (732 m). It flows east-north-east through an area of shake holes through Carboniferous Limestone . Below Viewing Hill, it turns south to the Cow Green Reservoir constructed to store water to be released in dry conditions to satisfy the industrial need for water on Teesside. Emerging from the reservoir at Cauldron Snout
1748-559: The river descends past Middleton-in-Teesdale (Durham). This locality has lead and ironstone resources. Just to the east of Middleton-in-Teesdale, the River Lune joins the Tees. After passing the village of Romaldkirk to the west, the river is joined by the River Balder at Cotherstone . The ancient town of Barnard Castle , Egglestone Abbey , and Rokeby Park , known through Sir Walter Scott 's poem Rokeby , are all passed. At Rokeby
1794-463: The river traverses a series of hard black basalt and dolerite rocks that intrude through the softer limestone, in a succession of falls or rapids. From this point downstream the Tees forms the boundary between the traditional counties of Durham and Yorkshire almost without a break, although since 1974 much of it is wholly in Durham. The dale widens below Cauldron Snout, and trees appear, contrasting with
1840-516: The river's bridges, completely destroying some. The Wynch Bridge , Supposedly the oldest suspension bridge in Europe, dating from 1741, was lifted from its moorings. The bridge in Gilmonby was recorded as being destroyed after having only been fully operational for 3 years. On the other hand, The medieval Yarm Bridge was not affected by the flood, despite every other building in the town being damaged. With
1886-480: The steel and chemical industries made by companies that are members of the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC). The areas where large scale commodity chemical industry continues to be based are Billingham and Seal Sands , both on the north bank of the River Tees, and Wilton on the south bank. The Teesside Steelworks at Redcar operated until closure in 2015. Other industrial companies that use
River Tees - Misplaced Pages Continue
1932-538: The tops of the fells in order to avoid damaging the natural flora. Cross Fell is a conspicuous feature in the landscape. It dominates the skyline on almost the entire 20-mile (32-kilometre) length of the A66 trunk road between Penrith and Stainmore . It can also be seen from many points in the Lake District, including the Helvellyn summit, and from high ground throughout Dumfriesshire and Northumberland . Most remarkably, it
1978-506: The wonders of the North, and in the post-apocalyptic drama The Last Train having blown its banks. An early crossing of the Tees was made by the Romans , with the construction of a bridge at Piercebridge , along with a corresponding fortress . The bridge was built on the route of Dere Street , and as a result it likely saw a great deal of military traffic going between the fortress at York and
2024-616: Was affecting catches in Whitby . The Environment Agency has ruled out chemical pollution as the cause of the mass shellfish deaths. Dredging was also rejected as the cause of the environmental disaster . Environment Agency operations manager Sarah Jennings said, "We've used both traditional and innovative screening methods to analyse samples of water, sediment and crab looking for traces of contamination. We’ve screened for over 1,000 potential chemical contaminants but found no anomalies that could lead to an event of this scale." In early February 2022 it
2070-623: Was founded after an initial shareholders' meeting in a room in a public house in Yarm. Today Teesport is owned by PD Ports ; it is located close to the North Sea and 3 miles (5 km) east of Middlesbrough. Teesport is currently the third largest port in the United Kingdom, and among the ten biggest in Western Europe, handling over 56 million tonnes of domestic and international cargo per year. The vast majority of these products are still related to
2116-576: Was reported that, "Defra and partner agencies have completed a thorough investigation of the cause of dead crabs and lobsters which were found washed up on the North East coast between October and December 2021. Following significant testing and modelling to rule out possible causes, Defra and partner agencies consider that the deaths of the crabs and lobsters potentially resulted from a naturally occurring harmful algal bloom ." In June 2022 George Monbiot wrote in The Guardian , "Astonishingly, although there
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