Vermuyden’s Drainage Scheme – The River Torne

The River Torne presented a significant challenge to the drainage of the Isle of Axholme. Its original course ran from the west, around Wroot, to the River Idle at Ben Intake (a location now known as Tunnel Pits). Unlike the Don and the Idle, it was not possible to divert the Torne along an existing watercourse, meaning it had to cross the drained area of Hatfield Chase.

The common assumption is that the River Torne was routed more or less as it flows today, crossing the former course of the River Idle at Tunnel Pits and heading north-east to join Vermuyden’s South River near Hirst Priory, from where it flowed into the River Trent at Althorpe.

The 1633 maps are annotated to show both the original and new courses of the River Torne. The new course is shown flowing south to the edge of Hatfield Moor, from where it follows the moor’s edge before flowing into the former course of the River Idle near Sandtoft.

This initial post-drainage route would appear to incorporate medieval drains around Hatfield Moor. As this route is not particularly straight, it is perhaps not surprising that another route was subsequently created. Additionally, the fact that the Torne flowed into the New Idle River near Sandtoft would appear to contradict Vermuyden’s rules for draining.

At some stage, probably not long after 1633, the river was rerouted to its pre-1776 course, passing over the new River Idle and heading towards Hirst Priory, where it flowed into the South River. After 1776, the Torne’s route was realigned under the direction of John Smeaton, who straightened it. A large part of its former course was incorporated into what is now the Folly Drain.

It would be interesting to see if any records exist to show why and when the new route was created.