Day 50. The Lench Gully

 To continue the story of the park, we will look at the conspicuous dip running through the Lower Park towards the river.

This was once the Lench Ditch, an ancient waterway which ran from a pond further up the hill,  now almost silted up. It probably helped drain the ancient road of Shakersway (see Day 15). It  was recorded on a 1721 land survey, and was  named after the area of scrubland near the river, called The Lenches in the 18^th century and now known as Linch Bank. The name derives from an Old English word meaning 'a terrace of sloping ground'. The area was used for common grazing until incorporated into the park.

                                Linch Bank.

The ditch was probably filled in when the park was landscaped in the 18^th century, apart from this lower section which was presumably too deep. A culvert was installed to drain the water from the pond, which can still be seen emptying into the river.