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The '''River Tees''' ({{IPAc-en|t|iː|z}}) is in northern [[England]]. It rises on the eastern slope of [[Cross Fell]] in the [[North Pennines]], and flows eastwards for 85&nbsp;miles (137&nbsp;km) to reach the [[North Sea]] between [[Hartlepool]] and [[Redcar]] near [[Middlesbrough]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/features/tees_trail/index.shtml "BBC Where I Live"] - BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2007.</ref>
The '''River Tees''' ({{IPAc-en|t|iː|z}}) is in northern [[England]]. It rises on the eastern slope of [[Cross Fell]] in the [[North Pennines]], and flows eastwards for 85&nbsp;miles (137&nbsp;km) to reach the [[North Sea]] between [[Hartlepool]] and [[Redcar]] near [[Middlesbrough]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/features/tees_trail/index.shtml "BBC Where I Live"] - BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2007.</ref>


==Geography==
==POON-SLAYING==


It drains an area of 710 square miles (1834 square km) and has a number of [[tributaries]] including the [[River Greta, Durham|River Greta]], [[River Lune, Durham|River Lune]], [[River Balder]], [[River Leven, North Yorkshire|River Leven]] and [[River Skerne]].<ref>[http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/Tees_SAP_Final_Report_Feb_2009.pdf Environment Agency Tees Salmon Action Plan Map Page 4]</ref> Before the reorganisation of the [[historic counties of England|historic English counties]], the river formed the boundary between [[County Durham]] and [[Yorkshire]]. In its lower reaches it now forms the boundary between the [[Ceremonial counties of England|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 [[County Durham|Durham]]. The head of the valley, whose upper portion is known as [[Teesdale]], has a desolate grandeur, surrounded by [[moorland]] and hills, some exceeding 2,500 feet (762 m). This area is part of the [[North Pennines|North Pennine]] [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]].<ref name="Survey">{{Official website|http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/opendata/viewer/|name=Ordnance Survey Open Viewer}}</ref>

The source of the river at Teeshead just below Cross Fell lies at an elevation of approximately {{convert|2,401|ft}}. It flows east-north-east through an area of [[shake holes]] through [[Limestone|Carboniferous Limestone]]. Below Viewing Hill, it turns south to the [[Cow Green Reservoir]] constructed to store water to be released in dry conditions to support industrial need for water on Teesside.<ref name="Survey"/><ref>[http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/hiflows/station.aspx?25008 Tees at Barnard Castle in Dales Area - Artificial influences]</ref>

Emerging from the reservoir at [[Cauldron Snout]] the river traverses a series of hard black [[basalt]] rocks, and [[dolerite]] that intrude through the softer limestone,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/sites/local_ID26.aspx|title=Upper Teesdale Geology|accessdate=16 December 2012}}</ref> 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 lies wholly in Durham. The dale widens below Cauldron Snout, and trees appear, contrasting with 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 runs parallel to the river is the {{convert|30|m}} [[High Force]] waterfall. About {{convert|1.5|mi}} downstream is the smaller [[Low Force]] waterfall.<ref name="Survey"/>

[[File:"The Meeting of the Waters" - geograph.org.uk - 1413888.jpg|thumb|left|The [[confluence]] of the [[River Greta, Durham|River Greta]] and the River Tees]]
The scenery becomes gentler and more picturesque as 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, Durham|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]], well known through Sir [[Walter Scott]]'s poem, are all passed. At Rokeby the Tees is joined by the [[River Greta, Durham|River Greta]]. From the area near Eggleston, the river is crossing over [[millstone grit]].<ref name="Tees">{{cite web|url=http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~imw/jpg/durham.jpg|title=Tees Valley Geology|accessdate=16 December 2012}}</ref> From here the valley begins to open out, and traverses the rich plain east and south of [[Darlington]] in large meandering curves.<ref name="Survey"/>

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, County Durham|Whorlton]]. Passing [[Ovington, County Durham|Ovington]] and [[Winston, County Durham|Winston]] it runs parallel to the [[A67 road|A67]] south-east past [[Gainford, County Durham|Gainford]] and [[Piercebridge]] to [[Darlington]], passing under the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] and [[A66 road|A66]]. The section from Piercebridge to Hurworth is flowing over [[Magnesian Limestone|magnesian limestone]].<ref name="Tees"/> 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]].<ref name="Survey"/> In the lower reaches of the river valley the water is flowing over [[Bunter (geology)|bunter sandstone]] and [[Gravel|pebble beds]].<ref name="Tees"/>

Just past Yarm, the [[River Leven, North Yorkshire|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 the [[Tees Barrage]] between these ports, turning tidal downstream from the barrage.<ref name="Survey"/>

[[Teesport]] is built on [[reclaimed land]] on the south side of the Tees [[estuary]] below Middlesbrough.




Revision as of 17:30, 4 November 2015

"Tees" redirects here. For the item of sports equipment, see Tee. For other uses, see Tee (disambiguation).
River Tees
Map
Physical characteristics
MouthNorth Sea
Length85 mi (137 km)

The River Tees (/tiːz/) is in northern England. It 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 between Hartlepool and Redcar near Middlesbrough.[1]

POON-SLAYING

It drains an area of 710 square miles (1834 square km) and has a number of tributaries including the River Greta, River Lune, River Balder, River Leven and River Skerne.[2] 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 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 the valley, whose upper portion is known as Teesdale, has a desolate grandeur, surrounded by moorland and hills, some exceeding 2,500 feet (762 m). This area is part of the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[3]

The source of the river at Teeshead just below Cross Fell lies at an elevation of approximately 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 support industrial need for water on Teesside.[3][4]

Emerging from the reservoir at Cauldron Snout the river traverses a series of hard black basalt rocks, and dolerite that intrude through the softer limestone,[5] 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 lies wholly in Durham. The dale widens below Cauldron Snout, and trees appear, contrasting with 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 runs parallel to the river is the 30 metres (98 ft) High Force waterfall. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) downstream is the smaller Low Force waterfall.[3]

The confluence of the River Greta and the River Tees

The scenery becomes gentler and more picturesque as 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, well known through Sir Walter Scott's poem, are all passed. At Rokeby the Tees is joined by the River Greta. From the area near Eggleston, the river is crossing over millstone grit.[6] From here the valley begins to open out, and traverses the rich plain east and south of Darlington in large meandering curves.[3]

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 the A67 south-east past Gainford and Piercebridge to Darlington, passing under the A1 and A66. The section from Piercebridge to Hurworth is flowing over magnesian limestone.[6] 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.[3] In the lower reaches of the river valley the water is flowing over bunter sandstone and pebble beds.[6]

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 the Tees Barrage between these ports, turning tidal downstream from the barrage.[3]

Teesport is built on reclaimed land on the south side of the Tees estuary below Middlesbrough.


It drains an area of 710 square miles (1834 square km) and has a number of tributaries including the River Greta, River Lune, River Balder, River Leven and River Skerne.[7] 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 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 the valley, whose upper portion is known as Teesdale, has a desolate grandeur, surrounded by moorland and hills, some exceeding 2,500 feet (762 m). This area is part of the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[3]

The source of the river at Teeshead just below Cross Fell lies at an elevation of approximately 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 support industrial need for water on Teesside.[3][8]

Emerging from the reservoir at Cauldron Snout the river traverses a series of hard black basalt rocks, and dolerite that intrude through the softer limestone,[9] 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 lies wholly in Durham. The dale widens below Cauldron Snout, and trees appear, contrasting with 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 runs parallel to the river is the 30 metres (98 ft) High Force waterfall. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) downstream is the smaller Low Force waterfall.[3]

The confluence of the River Greta and the River Tees

The scenery becomes gentler and more picturesque as 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, well known through Sir Walter Scott's poem, are all passed. At Rokeby the Tees is joined by the River Greta. From the area near Eggleston, the river is crossing over millstone grit.[6] From here the valley begins to open out, and traverses the rich plain east and south of Darlington in large meandering curves.[3]

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 the A67 south-east past Gainford and Piercebridge to Darlington, passing under the A1 and A66. The section from Piercebridge to Hurworth is flowing over magnesian limestone.[6] 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.[3] In the lower reaches of the river valley the water is flowing over bunter sandstone and pebble beds.[6]

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 the Tees Barrage between these ports, turning tidal downstream from the barrage.[3]

Teesport is built on reclaimed land on the south side of the Tees estuary below Middlesbrough.

Water levels

Monitoring Station[10] Station Elevation Low water level High water level Record high level
Middleton-on-Tees 216 m (709 ft) 0.37 m (1.2 ft) 1.5 m (4.9 ft) 3.19 m (10.5 ft)
Barnard Castle (Startforth) 141 m (463 ft) 0.46 m (1.5 ft) 1.4 m (4.6 ft) 2.68 m (8.8 ft)
Broken Scar (Darlington) 41 m (135 ft) 0.54 m (1.8 ft) 1.7 m (5.6 ft) 3.28 m (10.8 ft)
Low Moor (Low Dinsdale) 18 m (59 ft) 0.31 m (1.0 ft) 4 m (13 ft) 6.32 m (20.7 ft)
Yarm 7 m (23 ft) 0.45 m (1.5 ft) 2.05 m (6.7 ft) 4.08 m (13.4 ft)
  • Low and High Water Levels are an average figure.

Seal Sands

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 the flats at Seal Sands.[11] The Seal Sands area is now designated as the Teesmouth National Nature Reserve.

Alterations

The River Tees (Portrack Cut) passing through the Green-Blue Heart of the Tees Corridor between Middlesbrough and Stockton District.

In the early 19th century the river was straightened, thus saving money and time 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 the Portrack Cut were made to straighten its course. Before these cuts were made, the journey by sailing barge from Thornaby to Middlesbrough, allowing for tides and other factors, could take as long as the journey from the mouth of the Tees to London. The Mandale Cut was the shorter of the two, at about 220 yards (200 m), with the Portrack Cut being considerably longer, although 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.[12]

Since the cuts were made, the river has continued to undergo alterations on 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 the former banks, increasing the scouring due to its natural flow. Maps made prior to 1900[13] 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 approximately 110 yards (100 m) and 220 yards (200 m).

Industrialisation of the River Tees

The River Tees has been used for transporting industrial goods since the industrial revolution. Particularly for the shipment of coal form the Durham Coalfields and also 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 overtaken by bigger and deeper docks in Middlesbrough and later even further downstream at Teesport close to the mouth of the River 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).

The move to loading coal on bigger ships in Middlesbrough was the economic driver to the development of not only the town of Middlesbrough itself but also of the railway between Stockton and Darlington and 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 was founded after an initial shareholders meeting in a room in a public house in Yarm on Tees.

Today Teesport is owned by PD Ports, it is located 5.6 miles (9 km) from the North Sea and 3.1 miles (5 km) east of Middlesbrough, on the River Tees. Teesport is currently the third largest port in the United Kingdom, and amongst the tenth 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 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 here are at Billingham and Seal Sands both on the north bank of the River Tees and at Wilton on the south bank. While the steel manufacturing continues in Europe's largest blast furnace on the south bank in Redcar.

Other industrial Companies that use the River Tees are manufacturing and servicing the North Sea Oil and Gas industry as well as the new and renewable energy sector, including offshore wind turbines. Indeed, the south bank of the mouth of the River Tees now has a substantial installation called the Teesside Offshore Wind Farm.[14] One of Europe's biggest dry docks is also near the mouth of the River Tees. This dock is used to service North Sea Oil Rigs and also to break them up after their useful life. These dry docks are used to safely break up redundant ships in an environmentally secure manner. The infamous USA second world war battle ships, that became known as the "ghost ships",[15] were safely broken up here. Between 2003 and 2011 four of these American naval vessels and the 32,000-tonne former French aircraft carrier Clemenceau were decommissioned on the south bank of the Tees. The dismantling of the Clemenceau, also known as the Q790, was the largest project of its kind undertaken in Europe.

Legends and folklore

Peg Powler is a hag in English folklore who is said to inhabit the River Tees.[16][17][18]

The River Tees was featured in the television series Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the North, and in the post-apocalyptic drama The Last Train having blown its banks.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "BBC Where I Live" - BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2007.
  2. ^ Environment Agency Tees Salmon Action Plan Map Page 4
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Ordnance Survey Open Viewer
  4. ^ Tees at Barnard Castle in Dales Area - Artificial influences
  5. ^ "Upper Teesdale Geology". Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Tees Valley Geology". Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  7. ^ Environment Agency Tees Salmon Action Plan Map Page 4
  8. ^ Tees at Barnard Castle in Dales Area - Artificial influences
  9. ^ "Upper Teesdale Geology". Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  10. ^ "River levels". Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Natures World" Natures World Tees Feature
  12. ^ "Tees Navigation Company". Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  13. ^ The History of the River Tees in Maps, 3rd. Ed. (2001), D.W. Pattenden, published by Cleveland and Teesside Local History Society ISBN 0-9507199-6-X
  14. ^ teessideoffshorewindfarm.co.uk
  15. ^ "Ghost ships work completed". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  16. ^ O'Donnell, Elliot (2003). Ghosts, Helpful and Harmful (1924). Kessinger Publishing. p. 199. ISBN 9780766179080. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  17. ^ Longstaffe, William Hylton Dyer (1854). The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Darlington, in the Bishoprick. Darlington and Stockton Times. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  18. ^ Roalfe Cox, Marian (2003). Introduction to Folklore (1904). Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 9780766149403. Retrieved 14 December 2012.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to River Tees.


54°38′N 1°09′W / 54.633°N 1.150°W / 54.633; -1.150

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