Withybed Ferry, Diglis Worcester
by
H W Gwilliam
The improvements above Worcester had given a constant navigation to Stourport of 10 feet but, for some time
after the building of the locks and weirs at Diglis and beyond to Lincomb, the stream below Diglis was affected
by the tide. When the tide was out, the Severn here was often a shallow stream, save where pools existed in its
bed, or where a channel a few feet wide had been dredged and held stagnant water. At the outfall of Duck
Brook, the Witheybed Ford allowed a crossing across the gravel shallows, where the water barely came up to the
knees. The later building of the locks and weir at Lower Lode, Tewkesbury, in 1858, raised the river levels so
that the tide only minutely affected the Severn between Tewkcsbury and Diglis,and obliterated the ancient
fords on that stretch of the river.
This crossing of the Severn beneath Bunns Hill at Timberdine was used by travellers in the long distant past for,
in dredging operations at this spot, a bronze spear head and other ancient relics have been found. It was in 1651
that Cromwell built his bridge of boats to enable his troopers to cross from one side of the Severn to the other
and attack both sides of the City at the Battle of Worcester.
Copyright ©
H W Gwilliam
1982
Other pages in WHE
Severn Ferries and Fords in Worcestershire
Worcestershire History Encyclopaedia