A: A few weeks ago you answered a query regarding an encyclopaedic entry which stated that the River Wear entered the sea at Hartlepool, before a diversion to Sunderland. Prior to the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago, the Tees entered the sea at Whitby and the Wear near Hartlepool. During that Ice Age, an ice mass crossed the North Sea and plugged certain valleys and estuary outlets with moraines and boulder clay. This is why the Hartlepool area is overlain by many metres of boulder clay. During this period, the Wear had to find a northern outlet for its course. Similarly, the Tees found a new course to the sea at Teesmouth. What was left of the Tees drainage area in Eskdale eroded its own route to reach the sea at Whitby again - except of course Whitby wasn't there yet! - Eric Smallwood, Acklam.

Q: A visit to Semerwater reminded me that when I was a child, my grandmother would recite a poem about the lake. Unfortunately, after all these years, I cannot recall the words. - Anne Reynolds, Crook.

A: Semerwater is the largest natural lake in Yorkshire and is at the source of the River Bain, two and a half miles south of Bainbridge village in Wensleydale. Semerwater is a product of the Ice Age and in prehistoric times was a much larger lake, flooding most of the valley.

According to legend, the lake flooded the site of a village. This came about, it is said, after an angel disguised as a beggar visited the village. He was turned away at every house, except that of an elderly man and his wife who were very poor, but shared their sparse provisions with the beggar and gave him a bed for the night. The following morning the angel took revenge on the other villagers when he cried out to the heavens.

Semerwater rise, Semerwater sink

And cover all, save the little house

That gave me bread and drink.

At that moment the heavens opened and a huge torrent of water poured in from the hills and drowned the whole village except for the house owned by the elderly couple.

There is of course no evidence to support this legend, but it is often said that the dwelling called Low Blean, just north-east of the lake is on the site of the house owned by the elderly couple.

Published: Monday, September 10, 2001

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