Dear Tony,
Working hours for Hazelford lock are 6.30am till 7.10 pm. After those times Hazelford lock is self operated. Interesting to learn that the lock keeper "stays" in a narrow boat in the moorings because to my knowledge, which I admit might be wrong, there have been no resident boat licenses issued for that mooring?
Hazelford, Fiskerton and Nabbs Island? King Edwyn?s grant of 956 first mentions "Fiskerton" the village and ever since has been noted for its fishing. The river Trent and the nearby trout stream - the Greet were so full of fish that the old English name ?Fiscere? was added ?tun? to mean ?the farm of the fishermen? and appeared in the Doomesday book as ?Fiscartune?. The fishing is still good to this day as can be verified by the many fisherman ?pegged out? along the banks of the Trent. Next to the old wharf is the Bromley Arms. Up until the middle of this century there was a ferry boat service over to the other side of the river at Stoke Field. This is where on 16th June 1487 the armies of Henry VII and the Earl of Lincoln fought which ended the battle of the Roses. This was two years after the defeat of Richard III at the battle of Bosworth. This was in those times the river could be forded and the army of one side crossed over on foot and by horse to meet the enemy at Red Gutter. So named after the severity of the carnage. Some 6000 including the Earl of Lincoln perished. The weirs and locks upstream have now made the river slow and deep. Continue by the river, passing the Bromley Arms and follow the river round through a series of clapper gates until after about 2 kilometres you reach Hazelford lock and weir. Continue along the river for another kilometre to Hazelford ferry. There is car parking here. This used to be an important crossing point of the Trent, taking the main Nottingham to Newark road. Nabbs Island in the river made it fordable and up until recent times O. S. maps showed stepping stones here In the Southwell Charter of 956 it was mentioned a ?the paved way? (possibly Roman and in 956 was part of the parish boundary) running through Bleasby to the ford. The large building by the river previously ?The Star and Garter Hotel? is now a nursing home.
The ?Red Gutter? is the land situated on the Nottingham Piscatorial side of the river opposite Fiskerton wharf which is now a collection of arable fields and pasture. This particular part of the river is steeped in history easily pre-dating Roman and Celtic periods.
Dear Phil, Power saws, if being hired by members of the public, should only be hired out to those with the relevant safety certification. Very dodgy hiring out such equipment without it. In any case, the fishing right along the Trent is very good and fish have fins so tend to swim about a great deal. The ?Ladies Piece? stretch is exceptionally good. Any time you want to fish there Phil let me know and I?ll organise the tickets OK?
Regards,
Lee.
