| Is this the most extraordinary view of a British inland waterway? The Lower Severn from Space, with its many winding u-bends clearly visible. I found this card for sale with other space views at our local Natural History Museum here in Ipswich. |
|
Kerstin
Fletcher
|
THE RIVER ORWELL, IPSWICH.
A recently-published
card of the Orwell Bridge (see cover). It spans the Orwell just outside Ipswich,
is about a mile (1,300 metres) long and at the time of its completion in December
1982 had the longest pre-stressed concrete span in the U.K. The main span
for navigational purposes is 190 metres long and the carriageway is 47 metres
above the high-water mark, ensuring that vessels up to a height of 41.5 m.
can pass under.
We joined one of the newly-scheduled cruises this summer, on board the tripboat
"Orwell Lady" from Albion Wharf in Ipswich's Wet Dock. The trips
take about 1½ hours, down the full length of the Wet Dock with its
private marinas and commercial loading quays - There were several freighters
loading grain, coal, timber and containers, it is still a busy commercial
port - though the huge ship lock, out of the port of Ipswich and into the
countryside. We cruised under the Orwell Bridge, past the villages of Freston,
with its folly tower, and Wolverstone, with its marina and its legendary smugglers'
retreat, Cat House. (According to the old legend, a stuffed cat was placed
in the main window as a signal to smugglers that there were no customs officers
around!) The boat turned within sight of the well-known pub, the Butt &
Oyster at Pin Mill, and returned the way it came, back to Albion Wharf.
Many birds can be spotted on the trip, including a large number of cormorants
we observed catching fish, diving again, and coming up with more fish in a
different spot. The skipper's commentary throughout the trip included buildings
and vessels we passed and was knowledgeable without "talking one's ears
off." Thoroughly recommended.
|
Kerstin
Fletcher
|