OF FERRIES, SLUICES AND BASINS

The village of Owston Ferry is our next stop. There used to be a ferry across the Trent, but it's long gone. Here's the Market Place.

Two windmills - Owston Ferry.

Regatta Day on the River Trent.

The White Hart is still in business today, with a couple of cask beers.

Setting out from Owston Ferry on Scutt's charabanc.

Scutt's continued in business into the 1980s, based in the village.

Isle Coaches also operated from a garage in Owston Ferry. They've only recently ceased trading.

Follow the map here to see our route and you'll find us approaching Haxey on the Isle of Axholme Joint Railway, through a cutting, seen here being excavated.

Haxey Town station, on the AJR, was well situated in the centre of things.

Here's an old postcard of Haxey.

A mile or so away is Westwoodside, centred around the village pond.

In 1991, a couple of preserved buses passing through Westwoodside, en route to the Sandtoft Gathering,

To the south of Haxey is a bit of ribbon development called Graizelound.

South of here the Axholme Joint met the GN & GE Joint line at Haxey Junction.

The GN & GE Joint line station here was known as Haxey for Epworth. The AJR station can be seen in the left of this photo.

Haxey for Epworth station in 1969, after closure, but still intact.

A class 31 passes on a down freight, circa 1972.

A DMU stops for instructions at the signal box.

The former goods shed at Haxey for Epworth was, in the 1970s, used to house several preserved buses.

Into Nottinghamshire now, along the GN & GE Joint, to Misterton station.

A short branch line ran from Misterton, towards the Trent, to a factory at West Stockwith, as seen on this period map.

There was once a ferry across the Trent at West Stockwith.

The River Idle joins the Trent here, via this sluice gate. At times, the Idle is navigable right up to Bawtry.

The Chesterfield Canal terminates at a basin in West Stockwith, with a lock providing access to the Trent.

West Stockwith is blessed with two good pubs, the Waterfront Inn and the White Hart.

That's where I'll leave you for this post. We'll have a wander around Gainsborough next time.

THE ROUTE TO WROOT AND BEYOND

 The last post concluded at Hatfield & Stainforth railway station. Just to the north was Hatfield Colliery.

Movement of the pit's tip caused rail chaos in 2013 (Network Rail).

Dunscroft (see the map here) was a housing estate for pit workers. It was here that the depot of T Severn & Sons could be found.

After SYPTE took over, Severn's depot continued to be used for a while.

The last day of operation of Doncaster Corporation's buses in 1974, saw fleet no. 188 being photographed at Dunscroft.

The Broadway in Dunscroft is still going, but keg only.

Just off the main road into Hatfield was the garage of Felix Motors. 

No. 49, when newly delivered, in the yard in 1969.

Into Hatfield Village centre. Here's a view circa 1900. The Red Lion closed in 1908.

Two views of central Hatfield, both showing the Ingram Arms, still in business today.

The Bay Horse, seen here as a Darley's house, is still worth a visit.

Onwards to Hatfield Woodhouse. This was Low Street.

The Spotted Bull in Hatfield Woodhouse has vanished into history.

To the south was Lindholme Hall.

Nearby RAF Lindholme was opened in WW2. After the war regular "At Home" days were held. An AVRO bomber is seen here in the 1950s.

Felix bus no. 42 leaves RAF Lindholme in 1976 (Jim Sambrooks). A prison now occupies the site.

Across the moorland to Wroot, just in Nottinghamshire.

The village pub, the Cross Keys, was built in 1909. It recently ceased selling cask beer.

Into Lincolnshire now, to a small town called Epworth, capital of the Isle of Axholme. It was home to John Wesley, who founded the Methodist Church. Here's an early view of Epworth.

The area around the market.

Epworth Parish Church (Creative Commons License).

The Axholme Joint Railway served Epworth. Here's the cutting under construction, north of the station.

The new bridge takes shape.

Here, the station is virtually complete.

The opening display in Epworth.

Awaiting the first train in January 1905.

There's a wait for you as well, as that concludes this post. Next time, more Axholme views.