Portskewett, South Wales
First screened 30 March 2008

Secrets of the Severn

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Maritime archaeologist Nigel Nayling reveals some of the secrets of the Severn.

Portskewett holds a prominent position on the Welsh side of the River Severn. One of the highest tidal rivers in the country, the Severn estuary represents a diverse and complicated environment. Shallow mud flats mean that the rising tide can race in faster that you can run, while the river bed, which is constantly changing shape, influences dramatic currents that regularly take lives.

Tumbling hot chocolate
When the river is churning in full flow it looks more like tumbling hot chocolate than water. Maritime archaeologist Nigel Nayling explains that this is because the water 'is carrying so much sediment. The estuary changes all the time. Large sand banks can appear overnight while the more established ones change shape. Archaeologists often talk about interpreting the landscape, but sailors need to interpret the seascape every day. It's not like on land where once you know a hill you can remember it and know what's just around the corner the next time you walk it. The same stretch of water can be different every day. On the water you can be safe, yet just yards away in a slightly different stretch you could be in great danger.'

Fascinating environment
Nigel, who is a specialist in nautical archaeology at University of Wales Lampeter, has studied the Severn and its environs.

'It's a fascinating environment,' he says. 'When we did the little sail with Phil we explored some of the currents. The river is basically strongly influenced by currents, tides and the wind. The current can run at 12 knots. If you are resting in the lea of a sand bank it's like waiting on the side of the current. If you then move onto it it's like jumping on the back of a running horse. A person who sails the Severn has to know it. They see something different in the maritime landscape and think in its terms. The historical sailors, whether in small boats or the larger ferries, were incredibly skilled and would have needed to make incredibly tough judgement calls all the time when navigating.'

Portskewett and the Severn
So what of Portskewett itself? 'It looks like Portskewett was effectively an island in Roman times surrounded by wetlands,' says Nigel. 'People actually worked the foreshore from way before that as we have evidence of prehistoric fish traps being discovered all the time.'

During the medieval period the sea walls were constructed to protect Portskewett. According to Nigel, this would have changed people's relationship with the sea by restricting access to the river. However, the foreshore of the Severn itself was largely unaffected as the river was a valuable, respected resource and efforts would have been made to protect that too.

Was Portskewett a port before the seawalls were built? 'It was certainly important,' says Nigel, 'but I'd be reluctant to be drawn on place-name interpretation as being quite literal when we're dealing with a borders location with Wales because there is lots of room for interpretation.'

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