Near Shelford, Nottinghamshire, the river once divided into two separate channels. While the newer route gradually became the main River Trent we know today, the original course was eventually abandoned, leaving behind a forgotten landscape that can still be traced across the countryside.
In this video, I set out to uncover the original River Trent by following its lost course between Radcliffe Weir and Shelford. Using old maps, aerial imagery and clues still visible on the ground, I search for the remains of this forgotten river and explore how its landscape has changed over the centuries.
From hidden riverbanks and abandoned channels to historic floodplains, we’ll discover what survives of the Trent’s original route and why this remarkable piece of Nottinghamshire’s history has been largely forgotten.
If you enjoy exploring hidden history, forgotten landscapes and the stories beneath our feet, be sure to subscribe for more adventures across the East Midlands.
Locations featured
📍 Radcliffe Weir
📍 Shelford
📍 Burton Joyce
📍 Stoke Bardolph
📍 River Trent
📍 Nottinghamshire
#RiverTrent #Nottinghamshire #HiddenHistory #OurHistoryUnderfoot #ExploreNottingham #UKHistory #ForgottenPlaces
29 Comments
I see why they put them orange 'Buoys' across the River to stop Boats going over the Weir!!! 🤔🚂🚂🚂
Thank you
From the contours on the OS Map. The cliff (red cliff/Radcliffe) is about 30m high (100ft).
Wow, it was me that mentioned Shelford after your Colwick video. I didn't think you would make a video about it that quickly! Amazing
That was really interesting. Thank you.
fascinating Ant!! thanks for this!!
Were both courses in existence at the same time? Was it human action that changed it? Seems illogical since the present Burton Joyce bend is indirect and it was too shallow for larger vessels until the 20th century. Looks more like the southerly course was the real course but a storm surge broke the bank on the northern side and the water flows North till it reached the Crock Dumble
I’ve walked the dog around that area a number of times but always assumed they were simply drainage ditches. No idea they were once the Trent. As a non tidal river until further downstream, the Trent must have one of the biggest changes in levels across the seasons. There is an island on the North side of Kelham bridge that at the moment is about 1/3rd the river width. In Winter it fully disappears and as I’m sure you know, often then floods across to the Rugby Club and the Sugarbeet Factory. Must be easily a 20 foot rise just through natural means
Thankyou ANT that video is excellent,very informative,brilliantly explained,I’ve watched it three times,👍👍👍👍
Thanks for joining me on this trek! If you found the 'wishbone' split as fascinating as I did, hit that like button to help more people discover Nottingham's hidden history. Do you know of any other locations like this?
Brilliant thanks – iI used to play in these areas as a kid . We always wondered what the huge ditch was
I've lived in Radcliffe on and off for 40 years and used to go down and stand by the weir when the steps were much more precarious than they are today. Great info you've shared here. Thank you for your effort. 👍🏻
I live in Shelford and in the spring and winter it dose have water in it!!!
I rode my moped into, what I now know was the Trent, many, many moons ago.
❤❤❤ thanks👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Fascinating video – who realised that the Trent came so close to the beautiful village of Shelford, characterised by pantile roofs, multicoloured bricks and hip roofed barns
Lovely video Ant I had one question at what point did the river change it's course.
What little gems these types of videos are of our hidden/forgotten histories. I live near the river further down at Besthorpe. Fascinating and thank you 👍🏻
Spectacular scenery . Brilliant filming. Really interesting Ant. Thank you for all your research. So much to see and learn.
Great to see it up close. I used to fly over it from Tollerton but you don’t get a feel for the size of the banks or the power.
Very interesting and well worked video, thank you 😊
Love these videos, great content. Thanks for sharing your journeys!
At 10:43 the patterns in that field in the bottom right hand corner are interesting.
Often walk the dog along that route. Really interesting video. Thanks for sharing
Great video. So interesting. I live in Carlton and my son lives in Radcliffe, so I'm always passing through Shelford 😊
Intriguing drone footage. With the fields so dry it looks like the footprint of other archeology in those areas by the mill bridge. What could be hidden there? A Roman villa, yet undiscovered?
I lived in The Holmes, at the end of Stoke Ferry Lane where you stand by the bridge, in the middle of the bend of the current path of the Trent until 2006, then the house and buildings are now gone. Great to see the village from a new viewpoint.
Brilliant footage! Thanks Ant, cheers cobber.
You need to talk with a local farmer. There is a lady farm owner who lives directly opposite the church. I used to be the vicar!