Lewis Drove Sluice
Lewis Drove Sluice – Godney Moor, Nr Bleadney, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5279
Sluice gates are a common sight across the Somerset Levels. But with no posts on this blog about these important structures I decided it was time to put this right. I planned a visit to a sluice using the Sun Seeker phone app.
Lewis Drove Sluice
I wanted to capture the phases of the sunrise over the Lewis Drove Sluice looking down the North Drain input the mist and the rising sun. I think this part of the Levels is called Godney Moor, or Westhay Moor. Calling it Westhay Moor may cause confusion with the nearby nature reserve, so I settled on Godney Moor.
The North Drain was built for the purpose of helping to funnel water away from this part of the Somerset Levels. It may be a drain, but that name seems a bit harsh today.
I arrived at 6am when there was only the beginning of a glow on the horizon. But after a lot of standing around on the Lewis Drove Bridge the sun appeared just before 7:30.
Lewis Drove Sluice – Godney Moor, Nr Bleadney, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5374
A note on the name, I have called it Lewis Drove, as this is what it says on the Environment Agency sign attached to the sluice. Ordinance Survey calls it Lewis’s Drove. I assume because you pronounce the extra s. But, life is too short to worry about apostrophe rules.
Anyway, soon the sun was up and things were getting a bit warmer.
Lewis Drove Sluice – Godney Moor, Nr Panborough, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5428H
There is more to this small corner of Somerset than a drain and a gate. Nearby teasels were silhouetted in the warm sunlight.
Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) – Lewis Drove Sluice, Godney Moor, Nr Panborough, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5409
Not far away a buzzard waited in a tree.
Buzzard in a tree – Lewis Drove Sluice, Godney Moor, Nr Panborough, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5380H
Up the road, passed the nursery, is Barrow Hill. I have photographed the other side of this hill many times. It was an interesting to see it from a new perspective.
Barrow Hill – From Lewis Drove, Godney Moor, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5301
And finally…
As I have mentioned before, these early morning trips are only viable after checking out the scene beforehand with the Sun Seeker phone app (other similar apps are available). The day before I popped by to check out the path of the morning sun.
Lewis Drove Sluice – Godney Moor, Nr Panborough, Somerset, UK. ID screen_7
Then on the day, I used the app again to help put my tripod in the best position.
Lewis Drove Sluice – Godney Moor, Nr Bleadney, Somerset, UK. ID screen_8
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