Civic Pride: The Nene - vital for the success of our future

Peterborough Cathedral stands proud in the centre of the city, overlooking us all like a reliable old grandad. Other senior family members occupy the city centre without dominating in quite the same way, rather like favourite uncles and aunts – the Guildhall, St John’s Church, Town Hall, Museum, Lido and more recently, larger and some might say louder relatives – St Mary’s Court, Northminster and the frankly stroppy teenage Hilton hotel who has yet to get off his backside and do anything useful.

So who is this quiet, unassuming family member? Why – it’s our dear old river Nene, that’s who – the wise old uncle who quietly gets on with life, has seen a great deal and is shrewd and usually kind.

All those years ago, when I was at the newly-opened Thomas More Primary school and investigating a school atlas, I remember well the four rivers that entered the Wash – the Witham, Welland, Nene and

Ouse. Kids I knew regularly went to the river Nene for a swim, I was never brave enough to try this myself.

In the 1940s, my father Philip, when he was a reporter for the long-defunct Peterborough Standard, wrote an article about the changing nature of the river, in particular the Customs House and its usage.

It’s easy to forget that industry thrived alongside the river, particularly in the area now known as Fletton Quays. Grain was brought up the river to Whitworth’s Mill. In addition there were timber yards, bringing wood from Scandinavia to be cut up, processed and sold.

However, the development of railways from the 1840s onward, sharply reduced river trade, and by the late 19th/early 20th century the upper river was in poor condition with only small amounts of traffic. Eventually, in 1937, the Dog-In-A-Doublet lock opened, thus ending the tidal reach. Sea-going vessels still occasionally reached Peterborough, for example, the Constance H in 1938 and corn-laden barges from the Thames in 1951.

Grain was delivered to Whitworths, previously Cadge & Coleman, by barge until the mid-1960s. After that, commercial traffic above the Port of Wisbech effectively ended, and the river became almost entirely recreational.

Of course road and rail traffic seriously affected the river’s trade. Both were much faster and eventually took over completely. Today, thanks to the series of bridges between here and the Wash, it is virtually impossible for any sizeable river craft to navigate under road bridges.

A few years ago I enjoyed travelling on the Nene Star, a pleasure craft that held about 30 people and undertook regular trips from the Embankment to Ferry Meadows. Whenever I went on the boat I saw my Peterborough world from a completely different angle. Please can an enterprising business man or woman consider doing something similar in the near future?

The newly revised and updated Embankment Masterplan is all about utilising the land on both sides of the river and, to quote the Plan itself, hopes to turn the area into “a distinctive civic quarter where further education, sport, culture and the river come together to create a healthier, greener and inclusive heart to the city, supported by a new community of housing at Middleholme”.

The old river will soon be very proud to run through the new sports and leisure zone, along with new swimming pool, increased facilities around the Lido, Key Theatre and more. Just imagine what a splendid environment this could be for families to enjoy a day out at – along with cafés, bars and eateries, not forgetting the new Cygnet Bridge that will soon join both sides of the river.

Incidentally, when the Cygnet Bridge is completed, I will proudly don my now-slightly-tight ‘Build The Bridge’ polo shirt on the day of the opening ceremony!

So, as Peterborough deliberates, argues, debates, grows and celebrates, our gentle river will continue to flow through the city, often overlooked but, in my opinion, vital for the success of our future. Next time you’re that way, just stand and look for a few moments – you’ll feel lot calmer for it – promise!

One final thought about our dear old river Nene. It is pronounced ‘Neen’ not ‘Nen’. If you hear it being pronounced as “Nen’ then speakers must be from near Northampton and will continue to be wrong – agen and agen!