Mussels and razor clams on the North Training Wall of the River Ribble, looking upstream, Fairhaven, Lytham St Annes, UK
The low water channel of the River Ribble, from Preston Dock to the seaward limit of the estuary, a distance of 15 miles, is long and fairly straight. This is because it has been trained in stages, from the 1840s onwards, by the building of low rubble walls along the sides of the low water channel. The South Training Wall (background view) is 15 miles long and the North Training Wall, disappearing under Salter's Spit, at the seaward extremity of the estuary (behind the camera), is 14 miles long. Robert Stevenson and Son reported about training the river in 1837. Engineering works began in 1840 and the training walls extended over the next 100 years. The seaward walls were built 1932-37. The low water trained channel is marked by perches and beacons, some lit at night, mounted on the training walls. In 1937 the Ribble had, relative to its size, the most extensive system of training works of any estuary in the UK. Dredging and training kept the channel open for large ships reaching the Preston Docks. The training walls ceased to be maintained in 1969. Dredging ceased in 1979. Preston Docks closed to commercial traffic in 1981. Yachts, motor-cruisers and fishing boats are still seen navigating the river channel. The training walls have become a hard surface for huge numbers if wild mussels. A view of the low tide North Training Wall, with the tide rising, looking upstream, some way out from Fairhaven, between Lytham and St Annes. The low water channel of the Ribble at this location is over 400 metres wide.
Size: 3127px × 2084px
Location: North Training Wall, low water channel River Ribble, Fairhaven, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, UK
Photo credit: © robert harrison / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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