View source for River Foss

{{Short description|River in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
  | name              = River Foss
  | image             = River_Foss.jpg
  | image_caption     = The River Foss at [[York]], looking upstream. The bridge is the [[Bridges of York#Foss Bridge (1812)|Foss Bridge]] (1811–12), which links the streets of [[Fossgate]] and [[Walmgate]].
  | image_alt = Riverside buildings with a stone arch bridge spanning a river
  | source1_location  = Near [[Oulston]] Reservoir, [[Yearsley]]
  | source1_coordinates= {{coord|54.160556|-1.131667|region:GB|format=dms}}
  | mouth_location    = [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|River Ouse]], York
  | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|53.951389|-1.078333|region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
  | subdivision_type1 = Country
  | subdivision_name1 = England
  | length            =
  | source1_elevation = {{convert|160|m|abbr=on}}
  | discharge1_avg    =
  | basin_size_km2 = 118
| mouth_elevation   = {{convert|12|m|abbr=on}}
}}
{{River Foss}}

The '''River Foss''' is in [[North Yorkshire]], England. It is a tributary of the [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|River Ouse]]. It rises in the Foss Crooks Woods near Oulston Reservoir close to the village of Yearsley and runs south through the [[Vale of York]] to the Ouse in the centre of [[York]]. The name most likely comes from the Latin word Fossa, meaning ditch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/river.php?wpage=FOSS|title=Origin of name|work=River Foss|publisher= Jim Shead|access-date=13 November 2010}}</ref> It is mentioned in the ''[[Domesday Book]]''.<ref name="Damming">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofcastleo00coopuoft/historyofcastleo00coopuoft_djvu.txt|title=History|work=The history of the Castle of York from its foundation to the present day, with an account of the building of Clifford's Tower|via=Internet Archive|access-date=13 November 2010}}</ref> The York district was settled by Norwegian and Danish people, so parts of the place names could be old Norse. Referring to the etymological dictionary "Etymologisk ordbog", {{ISBN|82-905-2016-6}} deals with the common Danish and Norwegian languages – roots of words and the original meaning. The old Norse word ''Fos'' (waterfall) means impetuous. The River Foss was dammed, and even though the elevation to the River Ouse is small, a waterfall was formed. This may have led to the name ''Fos'' which became Foss.

The responsibility for the management of the river's drainage area is the Foss [[Internal drainage board]] (IDB). It has responsibility for the area from Crayke to the pre-1991 city boundary of York covering 9,085 hectares and 162.54&nbsp;km of waterways. The Foss IDB is part of the York Consortium of Drainage Boards that oversees 10 IDB's in the Yorkshire region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkconsort.gov.uk/foss2008.htmlboard=foss|title=Foss IDB|work=Foss IDB Information|publisher=York Consortium of Drainage Boards|access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref>

The typical river level range at the [[River Foss Barrier|Foss Barrier]] is between 5.05m and 7.90m. The highest river level recorded was 10.20 metres and the river level reached 9.34 metres on 23 January 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/riverlevels/120701.aspx?stationId=8081|title=River levels|work=River Ouse at Foss Barrier|publisher=Environment Agency|access-date=12 December 2010}}</ref>

==Course==

The source of the Foss is a spring in the [[Howardian Hills]] adjacent to, and flowing into, [[Oulston]] Reservoir near [[Newburgh Priory]], four miles (6.5&nbsp;km) north of [[Easingwold]]. From there to the [[Bridges of York#The Blue Bridge|Blue Bridge]] in [[York]], where it joins the [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|Ouse]], it is 19.5 miles (31&nbsp;km) in length. For part of its way it runs close to the B1363 between Brandsby and Stillington. The river flows in wide meanders in a southerly direction for most of its course towards York. As of 2010 the river is navigable for some 1.5 miles (2&nbsp;km) upstream of Castle Mills Lock. The bridges by [[Peasholme Green]] and Foss Bank restrict the headroom to an air space of 2.4 metres.

==River modifications==
[[File:River Foss - geograph.org.uk - 1553874.jpg|thumb|The River Foss in Central York]]
The Foss Barrier was built across the river near its mouth at Castle Mills. When closed, it prevents floodwater from the Ouse forcing the flow of the Foss back on itself.  When the Ouse reaches 7.0m above ordnance datum, the staff at the barrier are alerted. When the level reaches 7.55m AOD the barrier is lowered after running pumps for several minutes to clear silt and debris from the river bed to make a watertight fit. It takes four minutes to lower the barrier. 
[[File:Foss Locks and Sluice - geograph.org.uk - 1608387.jpg|thumb|York Foss Locks and Sluice in the late 1980s]]
To avoid the build-up of water behind the barrier causing the Foss to burst its banks, water is pumped around the barrier into the Ouse by eight pumps that can pump water at 50 tonnes per second preventing the Foss flowing back on itself. The water pumped out should maintain a water level of 7.4m AOD behind the barrier. When both sides of the barrier are equalised, the barrier is raised at 7.50m AOD.<ref>Protecting York From the Threat of Floods – The Environment Agency</ref>

Castle Mills Lock is 34 metres long and 6 metres wide. There are mooring points in the lock basin on the Ouse side and overnight mooring on the Foss is prohibited. Beyond Rowntree Wharf there are few opportunities for turning.<ref name="Foss">{{cite web|url=http://www.york.gov.uk/environment/Parks_and_open_spaces/rivers/foss/|title=River Foss & Castle Mills Lock|work=River Foss|publisher=City of York Council|access-date=13 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314025739/http://www.york.gov.uk/environment/Parks_and_open_spaces/rivers/foss/|archive-date=14 March 2012}}</ref>

==History==

In 1069 [[William the Conqueror]] dammed the Foss just south of York Castle, close to its confluence with the Ouse creating a moat around the castle.<ref name="Damming"/> It caused the river to flood further upstream in what is now the Hungate and [[Layerthorpe]] areas, forming a large lake that was known as the "King's Pool" or the "King's Fish Pond" and which provided fish for the markets.<ref name="Foss"/> The lake was approximately 100 acres in extent and fishing was allowed by licence, except for the King's Men.<ref name="Damming"/>

The King's Pool was part of the city's inner defences during the Middle Ages as the marsh was virtually impassable and explains why there is no city wall between Layerthorpe Postern and the Red Tower.<ref name="Foss"/>

In the 17th century, the King's Pool and the Foss were in decline because silt from upriver collected in the Pool, and not enough water came down to move it on despite the main channel of the River Foss having been deepened in 1608.<ref name="Damming"/> Eventually the lake was too shallow to remain viable as a defence. In 1644 the lake was shallow enough for Parliamentarian forces under Sir [[Thomas Fairfax]] to consider crossing it on foot to break the [[Siege of York]] during the [[English Civil War]].<ref name="Foss"/>

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Foss Navigation Act 1793
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of Great Britain
| long_title            = An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Communication from the Junction of the River Foss with the River Ouse, at or near the City of York, to Stillington Mill, in the Parish of Stillington, in the North Riding of the County of York; and for draining and improving certain Low Lands, lying on each Side of the said River Foss.
| year                  = 1793
| citation              = [[33 Geo. 3]]. c. 99
| territorial_extent    = [[Great Britain]]
| royal_assent          = 30 April 1793
| commencement          = 30 April 1793{{efn|name=aopca|The [[Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act 1793]].}}
| repeal_date           = 
| amendments            = {{ubli|[[Foss Navigation and Drainage Act 1801]]|[[York Improvement (Foss Abandonment) Act 1859]]}}
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Amended
| original_text         = https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=XwbC08mcZ-4C&pg=PA363
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Foss Navigation and Drainage Act 1801
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to explain and amend an Act passed in the Thirty third Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Communication from the Junction of the River Foss with the River Ouse, at or near the City of York, to Stillington Mill, in the Parish of Stillington, in the North Riding of the County of York, and for draining and improving certain Low Lands, lying on each Side of the said River Foss," so far as the said Act relates to the said Navigation, and for enabling the Company of Proprietors of the said Navigation to complete the same.
| year                  = 1801
| citation              = [[41 Geo. 3. (U.K.)]] c. cxv
| territorial_extent    = [[United Kingdom]]
| royal_assent          = 23 June 1801
| commencement          = 23 June 1801{{efn|name=aopca}}
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = {{ubli|[[Foss Navigation Act 1793]]}}
| amendments            = {{ubli|[[York Drainage and Sanitary Improvement Act 1853]]|[[York Improvement (Foss Abandonment) Act 1859]]|[[Yorkshire Water Authority Act 1986]]}}
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Amended
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo3/41/115/contents/enacted
| collapsed             = yes
}}
In 1727 an order was placed upon [[Arthur Ingram|Arthur Ingram, 6th Viscount of Irvine]] to scour the River Foss from the Castle Mills to Foss Bridge, making it eight yards wide at the top and four yards at the bottom, and, in 1731 the Little Foss, the extension to enclose [[York Castle|the castle]] was drained.<ref name="Damming"/> In the 18th century, the water was so low that marshy islands were created (hence the modern name Foss Islands). Citizens used the river as a rubbish tip which became a health hazard. The '''{{visible anchor|Foss Navigation Act 1793}}''' ([[33 Geo. 3]]. c. 99) and the '''{{visible anchor|Foss Navigation and Drainage Act 1801}}''' ([[41 Geo. 3. (U.K.)]] c. cxv) were enacted to make the Foss navigable<ref name="Damming"/> and saw the end of the King's Pool. The Foss Navigation Company canalised the river from 1778,<ref name="Damming"/> to make it navigable as far as [[Sheriff Hutton]].<ref name="Foss"/>

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = York Drainage and Sanitary Improvement Act 1853{{efn|Section 1.}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to enable the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of the City of York to purchase the Undertaking of the Foss Navigation Company, and to execute Works for the sanitary Improvement of the said City; to alter the Tolls taken in the Cattle Markets and Fairs of the City, and for other Purposes.
| year                  = 1853
| citation              = [[16 & 17 Vict.]] c. lvi
| territorial_extent    = [[United Kingdom]]
| royal_assent          = 28 June 1853
| commencement          = 28 June 1853{{efn|name=aopca}}
| repeal_date           = 
| amendments            = {{ubli|[[York Improvement (Foss Abandonment) Act 1859]]|[[Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (No. 9) Act 1882]]|[[York Extension and Improvement Act 1884]]}}
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Amended
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/16-17/56/contents/enacted
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = York Improvement (Foss Abandonment) Act 1859
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to {{Not a typo|authorize}} the Abandonment of the Foss Navigation from a Point about Two hundred Yards above the York Union Workhouse near the City of York; to alter, repeal, and amend the Acts relating to the said Navigation; and for other Purposes.
| year                  = 1859
| citation              = [[22 Vict.]] c. xix
| territorial_extent    = [[United Kingdom]]
| royal_assent          = 19 April 1859
| commencement          = 19 April 1859{{efn|name=aopca}}
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = {{ubli|[[Foss Navigation Act 1793]]|[[Foss Navigation and Drainage Act 1801]]|[[York Drainage and Sanitary Improvement Act 1853]]}}
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Current
| original_text         = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
The '''{{visible anchor|York Drainage and Sanitary Improvement Act 1853}}''' ([[16 & 17 Vict.]] c. lvi) saw York Corporation purchase the River Foss from the Foss Navigation Company. The '''{{visible anchor|York Improvement (Foss Abandonment) Act 1859}}''' ([[22 Vict.]] c. xix) allowed the river above Yearsley Bridge to be abandoned as a navigable waterway.<ref name="Damming"/>

Stillington Hall was a mansion on the west side of the Foss and adjoining the village of the same name. It was the home of the Croft family, who are descended from a common ancestor with the house of Croft, of [[Croft Castle]] in Herefordshire.<ref name="Damming"/>

==Economy==

Remains of Roman jetties, wharves and warehouses have been found by excavations and building works on the banks of the Foss, suggesting that water-borne transport and trade were important from early in the history of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/trade-on-the-rivers|title=Trade|work=Trade on the rivers|publisher=History of York|access-date=13 November 2010}}</ref>

The modern Foss benefits most from leisure activity and several long-distance walks cross its path. The Foss Walk follows much of the river course from Blue Bridge to Oulston Reservoir and on to Easingwold, a distance of 28 miles (45&nbsp;km).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_id=163|title=Foss Way|work=Foss Way|publisher=The Long Distance Walkers Association|access-date=13 November 2010}}</ref> Part of the Howardian Way<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_id=8035|title=Howardian Way|work=Howardian Way|publisher=The Long Distance Walkers Association|access-date=13 November 2010}}</ref> near Yearsley and both the Ebor Way<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_id=140|title=Ebor Way|work=Ebor Way|publisher=The Long Distance Walkers Association|access-date=13 November 2010}}</ref> and Centenary Way<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_id=64|title=Centenary Way|work=Centenary Way (North Yorkshire)|publisher=The Long Distance Walkers Association|access-date=13 November 2010}}</ref> as far as West Lilling also follow the Foss for part of their way.

==Ecology==

Several species of fish are found in the river, such as [[Esox|Pike]], [[Common dace|Dace]], [[European chub|Chub]], [[Gudgeon (fish)|Gudgeon]], [[Perch]] and [[Common roach|Roach]]. At the start of the century, Barbel have been introduced into the river.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ydaa.org.uk/ydaa_rivers.html|title=Fish stocks|work=York & District Amalgamation of Anglers Factsheets|access-date=13 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101230835/http://www.ydaa.org.uk/ydaa_rivers.html|archive-date=1 November 2011}}</ref>

== River Foss Barrier ==
{{main|River Foss Barrier}}
Flooding of the River Ouse occurs periodically in York. This is part of a series of schemes designed by the Yorkshire Water Authority.

The River Foss is a left bank tributary of the River Ouse, situated near the York Castle.

In the years 1947, 1978, 1982 and end of 2015 flooding occurred causing many areas to be under water.

In 1982, a feasibility study was undertaken that indicated flood levels in the Foss are directly related to River Ouse levels.

A barrier was proposed to counteract the backwash of the Ouse into the River Foss.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/resources/files/35955|title=NRA River Foss Flood Alleviation Scheme|work=York Press|access-date=15 March 2016}}</ref> In 2016 funds were allocated to upgrade the existing facilities to improve the pumping capacity.

==Lists==
Source for this section comes from the Ordnance Survey Open Source Mapping<ref>[https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/opendata/viewer/ Ordnance Survey Open Viewer]</ref>

===Tributaries===

There are many small streams that feed into the Foss north of York. The main ones are:

* Eller's Beck, North-west of Crayke.
* Brandsby Beck, South-west of Crayke
* Farlington Beck, south of Farlington
* Whitecarr Beck, near Sherriff Hutton Bridge
* Howl Beck, near Sherriff Hutton Bridge
* Black Dike near Strensall
* Westfield Beck in New Earswick

===Settlements===

North to south, to the [[confluence]] with the Ouse, these are:

* [[Stillington, North Yorkshire|Stillington]]
* [[Strensall]]
* [[Haxby]]
* [[Earswick]] Village
* [[York]]

===Bridges over the Foss===
{{main|Bridges of York}}
North to south, to the [[confluence]] with the Ouse, these are: 
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* Road Bridge on Milking Hill near [[Yearsley]].
* Mill Green Bridge on Brandsby Road near [[Crayke]].
* Road Bridge on B1363 near Marton Abbey.
* White Bridge, footbridge near Marton Abbey.
* Road Bridge on Mill Lane near [[Stillington, North Yorkshire|Stillington]].
* Foss Bridge on unnamed Road near [[Farlington, North Yorkshire|Farlington]].
* Road Bridge on unnamed Road near West Lilling.
* Road Bridge on Sherriff Hutton Road near West Lilling.
* Road Bridge on Ings Lane near West Lilling.
* Road Bridge on The Village in [[Strensall]].
* Road Bridge on Haxby Moor Road in Strensall.
* Railway Bridge on York to Scarborough Line near Strensall.
* Road Bridge on Towthorpe Road near Strensall.
* Pedestrian bridge at [[Earswick]] Village.
* A1237 York Outer Ring Road.
{{col-break}}
* Church Lane Bridge, [[Huntington, City of York|Huntington]].
* Link Road Bridge between New Earswick and Huntington.
* Footbridge from Huntington Road.
* Yearsley Bridge on Huntington Road.
* Fossway Bridge.
* Pedestrian and [[cycle path]] bridge, formerly part of the [[Foss Islands Branch Line]] of the [[North Eastern Railway (UK)|North Eastern Railway]], built around 1880.
* Monk Bridge built in 1794, widened in the 1930s.
* Foss Bank Bridge, rebuilt in 1998, now carries South-east bound Inner Ring Road traffic.
* Layerthorpe Bridge, re-built in 1998, now carries North-west bound Inner Ring Road traffic and traffic between Peasholme Green and [[Layerthorpe]].
* Pedestrian bridge from Foss Islands Road to what is now the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|DEFRA]] site at Peasholme Green, built in 1931.
* Pedestrian bridge from Navigation Road to the [[Hungate (York)|Hungate]] area and Peasholme Green, built in 2011.
* Pedestrian bridge linking the Shambles car-park and Rowntree Wharf, built in 1990.
* Foss Bridge, built between 1811 and 1812.
* Piccadilly Bridge, built between 1911 and 1914.
* Castle Mills Bridge, built in 1956, and forms part of York's Inner Ring Road.
* The [[Bridges of York#Blue Bridge (1930)|Blue Bridge]], built in 1929&ndash;30.
{{col-end}}

==Gallery==

{{Gallery
| title  = Along the River Foss: source to confluence
| width  = 180
| height = 140 
|File:Oulston Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 963.jpg|Oulston Reservoir near source of River Foss<br/>{{coord|54.163205|-1.136180}} 
|File:River Foss nr Crayke.jpg|River Foss near Crayke 2 miles from its source<br/>{{coord|54|8|16.55|N|1|8|1.12|W}} 
|File:Bridge Over the River Foss - geograph.org.uk - 181250.jpg|Bridge over the River Foss near Farlington<br/>{{coord|54.086257|-1.075253}}
|File:Foss bridge, Strensall.jpg|Bridge over River Foss in Strensall on road heading to Sherriff Hutton<br/>{{coord|54.040824|-1.034267}}
|File:The Foss in Strensall.jpg|River Foss in Strensall as seen from the Post Office<br/>{{coord|54.040923|-1.035334}}
|File:The River Foss.jpg|River Foss viewed from Towthorpe Bridge towards Strensall<br/>{{coord|54.024888|-1.053412}}
|File:River Foss - geograph.org.uk - 163291.jpg|River Foss New Earswick<br/>{{coord|53.983022|-1.078913}}
|File:River Foss - geograph.org.uk - 163349.jpg|River Foss Huntington Road, York<br/>{{coord|53.982905|-1.063667}}
|File:River Foss from Monk Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1110852.jpg|River Foss from Monk Bridge<br>{{coord|53.965901|-1.073194}}
|File:York- Locked pedestrian bridge.jpg|Pedestrian bridge from the west, looking downstream near DEFRA buildings<br/>{{coord|53.960272|-1.072903}}
|File:Rowntree Wharfe (geograph 1787261).jpg|Looking upstream from Foss Bridge to Rowntree Wharf, with Wormald's Cut to the right.<br/>{{coord|53.957975|-1.07725}}
|File:Foss near the barrier.jpg|Castle Mills Lock and Basin, near the Foss Barrier and the confluence with River Ouse<br/>{{coord|53.954078|-1.077944}}
|File:Foss Barrier - geograph.org.uk - 146562.jpg|The River Foss Barrier (closed), viewed from the north (Castle Mills Basin)<br/>{{coord|53.95295|-1.078769}}
|File:The Foss flood barrage.jpg|The River Foss Barrier (open), viewed from the south<br/>{{coord|53.952342|-1.078394}}
|File:River Foss junction with Ouse 05 May 2017.jpg|View from the River Ouse of the confluence and the "Blue Bridge"
}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book  | editor-last = Evans | editor-first = Antonia | title =The York Book | publisher =Blue Bridge | location =York|year = 2002 | isbn =0-9542749-0-3 }}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|River Foss}}

{{Rivers of Yorkshire}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foss}}
[[Category:Rivers of North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:River navigations in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Geography of York|River Foss]]
[[Category:Ouse catchment|1Foss]]