History of the River Wharfe

River Wharfe at Pool. © David Spencer - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

In the 17th century the River Wharfe was a successful commercial navigation as far as Tadcaster, but alas a new, improved Aire & Calder meant a rapid decline for the Wharfe. Work did begin to make the River the main form of transportation for a local brewery, however, this project never really took off and eventually the remaining local navigations ceased in 1914.

A carving of a river goddess believed to be Verbeia, was found in a town called Wharfedale which the Romans inhabited and from which the River Wharfe is named.