River Irthing: Difference between revisions

For two miles above the village of [[Gilsland]] the river flows through the Irthing Gorge [http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/our-woods/Pages/wood-details.aspx?wood=4299#.UA__zZHCuRw], flanked by mainly sandstone crags. Within the upper section of this gorge lies the spectacular 7.6 metre (25 feet) Crammel Linn waterfall. [[Peregrine falcon]]s and [[raven]]s nest near the waterfall and derelict military structures, probably pump-houses supplying water for the [[Blue Streak (missile)|Blue Streak]] rocket site at [[RAF Spadeadam]], can be seen just upstream. Further downstream, in the grounds of [[Gilsland Spa]] hotel, the crags develop into high cliffs. The cliff face below the hotel gives rise to the famous [[sulfur|sulphurous]] spring after which the hotel is named and also a [[chalybeate]] spring and a [[Petrifying well|petrifying]] seep.

[[Hadrian's Wall]] crossed the river on a bridge at Willowford, 0.75 kilometres (0.5 miles) east of [[Banna (Birdoswald)|Birdoswald Roman Fort]]. From that point the course of the river as it turns west is lined with other Roman sites associated with the Roman [[Stanegate]] road and Hadrian's Wall. A 914-metre (2,998.7 feet) stretch of Wall, including two turrets and the impressive bridge remains, runs alongside the River Irthing at Willowford, linked by a new footbridge to Birdoswald Roman Fort.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/willowford-wall-turrets-and-bridge-hadrians-wall/|title=Willowford Wall, Turrets and Bridge - Hadrian's Wall - English Heritage|publisher=|accessdate=15 April 2017}}</ref> This crossing of the River Irthing marked a significant transition in the construction of [[Hadrian's Wall]], emphasising the greater availability of building stone to the east.