The flow direction of the river has been changed, and it has been heavily modified, largely being culverted as it passes underneath the railway and bus stations.

Although now largely culverted, the Cheswold stretches across the northern part of Doncaster town, from the Don Foundry southwards, then under the railway lines at Doncaster railway station, before turning northwards past St Georges Church and thence following the course of what is now, the River Don Navigation.

[5] A map of 1767 shows the layout of Doncaster which was largely unchanged since Medieval times, and the writer suggests that the Cheswold was the original course of the River Don, but a northern cut, the present named River Don, was made to feed the mills north of the town.

[8] It has been suggested that during the Medieval period, craft which managed to make the "dangerous passage" up the Don River from the Humber Estuary, would have moored in the Cheswold, which was formerly the most important part of the town, and the highest navigable point on the River Don system.

[12] By the 13th century, when all defensive structures had been abandoned, houses fronted alongside the river, with backyards extending to the riverside.

Additionally, underneath the railway lines, a culverted archway, some 17 feet 6 inches (5.33 m) wide was built.