Aike Beck - History

History

Aike Beck joined the River Hull 0.4 miles (0.64 km) above its junction with the Leven Canal. Navigable for no more than 2 miles (3.2 km) from the river, its main function was to carry coal, and it had two canal locks taking craft of 40 feet by 8 feet 10 inches (12 m x 2.7 m). One was an entrance lock where the Beck joined the river Hull, and the other was about halfway along the navigation.

The navigation was constructed in the late 18th century by the Hotham family who owned large amounts of land in the area. In 1809 engineer William Chapman reported to the drainage commissioners that the locks on the navigation had raised water levels and caused flooding. It is thought to have ceased to be used for navigation in the 1850s, as it appears to be derelict on the 1855 Ordnance Survey map, where both the second lock and the coal basin at Lockington are marked "old". By the time the 1891 map was published, the final section from the beck to the coal wharf had disappeared altogether, and the lock gates must have been removed, as the beck is marked as tidal to beyond the coal wharf junction.

The Beck was supplied with water by Bryan Mills Beck and Scorborough Beck. The latter was also used for navigation in the early 19th century.

Aike Beck crossed over the Beverley and Barmston Drain, which runs to the west of, and parallel to, the Driffield Navigation and River Hull. It was authorised by the Beverley Barmston Drainage Act, which was passed by parliament in 1798. The tunnel carrying the drain under Aike Beck was one of eleven similar structures made necessary because the drain needed to cross existing waterways. The civil engineer for the project was William Chapman, who had submitted the original plans in 1796.

During the 1990s, Aike and Arram Beck were altered, removing Aike Beck's connection to the River Hull completely. Its water supply was routed along a catchwater drain, which runs beside the railway line to join the Arram Beck. A small indentation in the bank of the Hull can be seen where Aike Beck used to enter.

The former junction of Aike Beck with the river marks the point at which the Driffield Navigation, upstream from the junction, becomes the River Hull, below it.