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"Castleford's
Women's needs be fair, for they wash in the Calder and bathe in the Aire."
The River Aire flows from the Pennines through Leeds to Castleford,
where the River Calder flows into it. From the
town it flows eastwards by Ferrybridge Power Station and into the Ouse. The
river flows along the north of the town centre. There is potential for a
waterfront development.
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A new footbridge over the river is being constructed as part of
Channel 4's Castleford Project (see picture right). It
should be finished soon.
The river used to be
so polluted that foam fell like snow on Aire Street. Today it is a lot cleaner,
to the extent that fish have returned.
Allinson's stoneground flour mill is located on Aire Street. Near
to the mill is a weir that makes this part of the river unsuitable for boats. |
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A bridge spans the river providing a route to the York and the A1.
The bridge separates Lock Lane from the rest of the town. Close to
the river and a few miles from Castleford is the Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve
popular with bird watchers. The bridge,
which is a listed building, will be 200 years old in 2008. On the left
is a picture of it in 1906. |
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Alongside the river from the Bridge towards the east is the Fred Pennington Walkway.
While to the west of the town centre, along the bank of the Aire, is a
riverside trail. A work of art by local artist Harry Maklin marks the start
(picture left). |
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