The River Wyre

Shard Bridge from Skippool Creek, River Wyre

In creating a new photographic website, I decided to feature the River Wyre. After spending many hours on its muddy banks, I became fascinated by its landscape. Marshland and mud make walking interesting, especially if you stray from the pathways to get the best shots. The river is full of character, with a charm and beauty of its own.

The River Wyre is about 28 miles long; its estuary is at Fleetwood, where it meets the Irish Sea. In the mid 1700s, the volume of shipping at two of its creeks – Skippool and Wardleys – is believed to have exceeded that of Liverpool. Skippool handled ships of up to 200 tonnes, loaded with cotton and flax for the mills of Lancashire. Such shipping made Skippool a busy port and Poulton-le-Fylde a thriving town. Its demise came around 1840, with the arrival of the railway to Fleetwood, which ultimately became the main port of the Fylde coast. You will see some of the wrecked ships in these portfolios.

There is a history of smuggling, and the names Skippool and Poulton are believed to be of Saxon origin. Skippool – written as Skippon in ancient times – is thought to derive from the skills of ancient Saxons (and the Saxon word 'skiffs') who used the creek.

 

Visit DMC photogallery for pictures of the River Wyre