The Brayford Pool is the oldest inland harbour in England. Once a bustling port, this waterfront area is now one of the most vibrant and exciting parts of Lincoln.
Having developed immensely over the past two millennia, the Brayford is no longer surrounded by mills, breweries and engine sheds. It is now home to an award-winning university, stylish restaurants and internationally renowned hotels.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the High Street, the Brayford is the perfect place to relax and soak up the city’s buzzing atmosphere. With the University of Lincoln just across the water, this area is a hotspot for students, and you will find some great bars and pubs. In summer, you can sit outside and enjoy a drink by the water – stick around for the sunset and you will be rewarded with the most incredible view!
If you want to see the city from a different perspective, hop onboard the Brayford Belle. Operating between Easter and October, this guided boat trip will take you down the Fossdyke Canal, with some entertaining commentary along the way.
Brayford Architecture Trail
To discover more about the significance of this ancient waterway, follow the Brayford Architecture Trail. There are information boards located at the entrance of the Lucy Tower Street Car Park, in front of The Shed on the University campus, and along the waterfront.
As you explore, look out for the Brayford Chimes. Designed by Andy Plant, this artwork reflect the past glories of the Brayford Pool as a major inland port. It includes a water feature and a clock, which is designed to chime each hour using the water running through it.
Lincoln’s Waterways
The Brayford Pool is a naturally occurring lake at the junction of the Foss Dyke Canal and the River Witham. Built by the Romans in 120AD, the Foss Dyke is believed to be the oldest navigable, man-made canal in the country. It runs from 11 miles from the River Trent at Torksey Lock, to Lincoln.
The River Witham joins the Brayford in the east, flowing under High Bridge in the city centre, and continuing to Boston, before eventually joining the North Sea.
The best way to explore Lincoln’s waterways for yourself is to follow the Water Rail Way. This purpose built path follows the River Witham, taking you from Lincoln to Boston.
Wildlife on the Brayford Waterfront
Over the last few years, the Lincolnshire Rivers Trust have created several bio-havens on the Brayford. Studies have shown that these specially designed islands have provided a valuable refuge habitat for a wide diversity of species, from otters and swans, to fish and pollinators.
Swans and Ducks
The Brayford Pool has long been a favourite haunt for mute swans. These beautiful birds breed upstream on the River Witham, away from the busy city, but return to the Brayford Pool for food. The number of swans usually peaks in the autumn and you can see anything up to 130 birds at one time!
You will also be able to spot mallard ducks in the area, along with the more unusual Muscovy ducks. This distinctive species, originally from Central and South America, was introduced to Europe by explorers during the 16th century. This particular species has been immortalized in Lincoln, with a ground floor suite named after them in the University’s main administrative building.
Birds, Insects & Fish
There are a whole host of other birds to look out for around the Brayford area, including the pied wagtail, kingfishers, mallards, moorhens, coots and herons. There are at least five different types of dragonfly in the area, and plenty of fish. Roach, common bream, tench and pike are all thought to reside in the waters, although fishing here is no longer permitted.
Plant Life
Along the River Witham, you can spot a variety of plants, including familiar species like reed sweet grass, branched bur-reed, and red mace. There are also some rarer finds, such as arrowhead and flowering rush, along with great water dock, skullcap, and wild celery. Keep an eye out for the Alder tree, which is commonly seen along the riverbank.
The history of the Brayford Pool
In the beginning
The history of Lincoln can be traced back to the first century BC. The earliest settlement here is thought to have been located near the Brayford Pool area. This site would have inspired the city's original name, Lindon, where 'Lin' signifies pool and 'don' means ‘foot of the hill’.
Archaeological discoveries to the east of the pool revealed timber houses and pottery from the same era. Most notably, the Witham Shield, which belonged to a chief of a local tribe, was unearthed in this region. Dating back to 300 BC, this incredible artefact is currently on display at the British Museum.
In 48 AD, the Romans conquered Lincolnshire and built a fort on the site of Lincoln. Although by the late first century the area was pacified, Lindon grew into a large and prosperous town. It reached the peak of prosperity in the early 4th century, with a population of between 4000 – 6000 people.
Lindon was an inland port, so the Romans deepened the Witham so ships could reach the town from the sea. They also dug the Foss Dyke Canal to link the River Witham with the River Trent.
When the Romans left Britain in the early 5th century, the importance of the port in Lindon remained. The medieval city of Lincoln was built on the area’s wealth, which at this time came mostly from the wool trade. Wool from rural areas was loaded on boats at the Brayford, and traded up and down the River Witham.
Despite dating back to the first century, the name ‘Brayford’ was introduced when the Vikings occupied the city in the 10th century. Their name for the pool, which was much larger at that time, was 'Breit-ford' which means 'where the river is broad and fordable'.
The Brayford's Industrial Past
Although Lincoln boasted the fourth busiest waterfront in the country in the mid-13th century, the gradual decline and demise of the wool trade painted a bleak picture for the future.
By 1744, Lincoln’s fortunes had changed. The Foss Dyke was dredged and reopened and a new era for the Brayford began. The Brayford Pool was lined with warehouses, mills, granaries, breweries and maltings, whilst sailing barges, and later steam boats, brought goods to and from Lincoln. The 18th and 19th century were trading heydays for the Brayford Pool, and it became an important inland port once again. By 1817, the gardens of the north and the east banks had been replaced by industries served by huge sailing barges.
In 1846, the beginning of the end for Lincoln's lucrative cargoes was signalled by the forming of the Great Northern Railway Company. Whilst the railways created further industrial expansion, and the Brayford's prosperity continued well into the 20th century, the barges could eventually no longer compete with the rapidly developing road and rail networks. The Brayford area once more fell into decline; mills and many other businesses closed and the water became punctuated by half submerged, derelict barges.
By 1964, the Brayford Wharf area was in such a poor state it was proposed that it should be filled in and turned into a car park. However, in 1969 the Brayford Trust was established and restoration of the Brayford Pool began, with its establishment as a Marina for pleasure boats.
Most of the buildings on the east wharf survived up to the early 1970's. Up until 1972, when Wigford Way was constructed, traffic used to pass over a swing bridge. The last early waterside structure on East Wharf was demolished in 1993 and the Royal William IV Public House is the only pre-1945 building that can be seen today.
A 21st Century University
In 1993, the Project for a University for Lincolnshire Company was set up and given the task of making the dream of a university in Lincoln a reality. The city and county, with support from the then Humberside University, raised £32 million to pay for the first stages of the University of Lincoln. Building work began on derelict former railway land on the south side of the Brayford, and in 1996, Her Majesty the Queen opened the first University building. The campus has continued to develop since, spreading over the railway line and down along the Foss Dyke Canal.