Chevet & Newmillerdam- An interesting past.
Last week I walked from Newmillerdam to Wintersett (Wakefield) , through Chevet. Chevet and Newmillerdam are on the fringe of the Barnsley bird recording area and a very under watched area. Chevet park (grounds of Chevet Hall) which included Newmillerdam has a significant history when it comes to natural history and having walked through the area it inspired me to write a few notes on the area.
 |
Map of Chevet Park
|
Chevet hall stood at the pinnacle of Chevet park. Chevet hall was a stately home built in 1529 for Sir John Neville (Sheriff of Yorkshire), who was eventually executed by Henry VIII. The home was demolished in 1960 due to mining subsistence.
 |
| Chevet Hall |
The Park had many different habitats from parkland to woodland, farmland and a lake (Newmillerdam) which was one of only a few waterbodies in Wakefield at the time.
 |
Newmillerdam -early 1900's
|
Mr Roebuck commented that Wild Boars were plentiful at Chevet Park during a talk at Wakefield Naturalists on the historic mammals of Yorkshire on 20th April 1881. Chevet Park was also one of the last places to see Red Squirrel in the district.
The first mention of birds was in 1526 at the marriage feast of Sir John Neville’s first daughter, the feast contained Cranes, Herons, Snipe, Bittern, Quail, Larks, Dotterel and Bustards. In 1528 household records show 12 Spoonbills cost 1s a piece , 10 Bitterns 13s 4d.
Later in 1530 at his second daughters marriage included Peacocks, Cranes and Bitterns.
Other historic Bird Records noted by William Talbot during the 1800’s included Long eared Owl, Barn Owl, Blackcap, Crossbills (Shot) , Cormorant, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Scaup & Goosander. Notable birds recorded included Bitterns shot by LMS Pilkington Bart of Chevet Hall in 1845, followed by one shot by Mr W Hall (Superintendent of the Police) on 3rd January 1870. 3 Waxwings were shot in winter 1855 and one was stuffed by W Talbot. In 1858 a Red- Necked Grebe was shot at Newmillerdam, a Slavonian Grebe was also recorded (and shot) but no dates were given. Most notably a Honey Buzzard was shot by the gamekeeper Mr Mellow in September 1858 and sent to Talbot for preserving, and was given to LMS Pilkington Bart of Chevet Hall.
Chevet and Newmillerdam has remained seriously under watched for many years. However there is some interesting records in the past 100 years. The oldest modern day record is of a Water Rail on 27th October 1946, with one also in 28th December 1946. A Pied Flycatcher was noted on 16 April 1947 and it is likely to have bred in the area as there were records regularly in subsequent years. Spotted flycatchers regularly bred here, as did Lesser spotted woodpeckers.
The 1950’s saw some interesting records , 2 Dippers were seen on 5th November 1950, a Jack Snipe was seen on 16th January 1951, followed by a Green Sandpiper from 10th April until 17th April 1951. A Common Scoter was on the Lake on 14 July 1951. In 1953 a total of 800 Skylarks were on snow covered ground at Chevet on 15th January , later that year a roost of 4000 Jackdaws were seen as they left early morning on 29th November 1953. Later in 1956 , 100 Bramblings were seen in Chevet Woods on 27th January 1956, followed by several thousand Greenfinch on 29th January 1956. A ‘would be’ mega was seen on 29th April 1956 as a Common Buzzard flew over. In 1958 a Merlin was seen on 19th April.
In the 1960’s records were once again few and far between, the only notable bird was a Common Nightingale on 6th May 1963.
The 1970s saw another few interesting birds a Scaup stayed from 11th April until 11th September 1971. A flock of Common Eider at Wintersett saw 3 of the birds move to Newmillerdam between 5th – 26th December 1971. In 1972 a drake Red Crested Pochard was present on 20th May. A Little Tern stayed for 4 days between 20th– 24th August 1972, a notable flock of 80 Brambling roosted on 29th November 1972. In 1975 Pochard bred at Newmillerdam and in 1977, 2 pairs of Gadwall were introduced to Newmillerdam by South Yorkshire Wildfowl Association , 1 pair bred and raised 4 young. On 31st May 1977 a drake Ring necked duck was present, and with others at Fairburn and Tophilllow it suggests there was an influx.
The 1980’s and 1990’s have seen a barren period for records. During the 80’s only a Tree Pipit in 1982, a Mandarin Duck in 1984 were notable and in 90’s the 1991 Wood Warbler on 17th April was the only notable sighting.
 |
Newmillerdam 2020
|
At present the area is very rarely watched, but with a good range of habitats and a significant size lake it would make an excellent patch for a keen birder. Over the Lake there was the usual array of water birds as well as a number of Sand Martins (4) which I suspect are nesting in the Dam walls, I also noticed Swifts feeding over the treetops, I guess most of these will be from nearby colonies such as Kettlethorpe. Swallows (2) were seen and Nuthatches heard (3). Leaving the Woods towards Wintersett you follow a footpath along Bleakley Dike which is a stream that runs from Cold Hiendley reservoir to Newmillerdam. Along the field edges near the Dike the Habitat is superb scrub hosting Whitethroats , Yellowhammers , Reed Buntings, Lesser Whitethroats , Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers , Garden Warblers , Bullfinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. The footpath will bring you to Chevet Water Treatment Plant, again excellent habitat with all 3 wagtails feeding. The treatment plant it surrounded by scrub but is easy to walk around and view from, and looks excellent for migrants and wintering rarities. As you follow Bleakley Dike to the east you eventually reach Chevet Lane and the edge of the Wintersett recording area.
 |
| Chevet water treatment plant |
 |
| Bleakley Dike |
 |
| Bleakley Dike |
 |
Bleakley Dike
|
Chris Swaine
18/6/2020
