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Muston and Yedingham Drainage Scheme 1800-1808
In 1999 we had the
large scale flooding of Malton, This was nothing compared to the floods that
occured proir to this scheme." A disgrace to the country" said William Marshall
a Pickering farmer in 1787 when there were floods along the whole length of the
Rivers Derwent and Hertford. In the late 18th century. The reason was it took a
week for the water to travel the 15 miles along the valley due to the meandering
nature of the rivers.
The Vale of
Pickering had been a lake in the last Glaciation age, leaving some 17,500
acres of land full of marsh, fens and sedges. This was land that was seen to
become good agricultural land if drained.
The major Landowners,
Cayley's of Brompton,Humphery Osbaldeston of Hunmanby, Ledgerd's of Ganton, Lord
Derwent of Hackness and Lord Downe of Wykham, discussed this problem and asked a
Mr Milburn to survey the land between Malton and Hackness and to suggest a
drainage scheme. In 1779 An Act of Parliament was petitioned after another year
of disastrous flooding to drain the Vale. This was based on the proposals of
William Chapman who was responsible for the Docks of Scarborough Harbour, who
drew up a map of the proposals. The Muston & Yedingham drainage Authority was
formed to carry out these proposals.
Sea Cut at Mowthorpe
A Sea cut was
constructed from Mowthorpe to the coast at Scalby along the pre glacial drainage
channel of the river Derwent. This enabled the surplus water of the Derwent from
the Moorland area to go directly to the sea rather than through Forge Valley
and into the Vale of Pickering. This reduced the quantity of flood water in
vale.
Mowthorpe to Hertford
The course of the
river Derwent was straightened to allow the water to flow more easily through
forge valley to the confluence with the Hertford. A third of the Derwents
length was saved by this straightening.
Muston to Yedingham
A new drain was
constructed with a fall of 18 inches per mile, both courses of the rivers
Derwent and Hertford were totally changed and straightened. The course of the old
rivers are only to be seen on maps where the parish boundary's still follow the
old river course. ( Also it is marked as old course of river in some places.)
A long the side following
the "new" rivers deep drainage ditches (North and South Delphs) were built to
take drainage water from the surrounding fields further down the valley to join
the river Derwent at Foulbridge to the East of Yedingham. This can be clearly
seen at the crossing of the river Hertford by the A64 trunk road between Staxton
and Seamer.
In times of flooding
water can not pass form the river up the ditches because sluice doors close to
prevent this so all the flood water passes through the valley. the water form
the surrounding fields is then "stored" in the Delphs until the water level in
the river subsides releasing the water out of the sluices.
These Delphs were
further supplied by new straight drainage ditches called "cuts".
Today's Management
 The Muston and
Yedingham Drainage Board manage the system collecting a rate per acre of land
that feeds water in to the river system, They are responsible for keeping the
drains in good condition and weed free so enabling the free passage of water
through the valley and from the surrounding fields.
The picture to the left is the "cut"" that makes our
Northern boundary and is dug out by the drainage Board about every 10 years to
maintain a drainage from our fields.
The cost of the maintenance is by a levy of a drainage
rate payable to the Board every year.
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