river river river entirely county lincolnshire east england rises south close passes lincoln boston flows haven tidal arm wash near extremely old unknown origin archaeological documentary evidence shows importance navigation iron age onwards roman times lincoln constructed link river trent mouth river moved following severe flooding boston important port onwards constructed prevent flooding sea culminated constructed maintained river levels boston helped channel land lower river runs subject land drainage drains connected flood doors block river levels rise rapidly river pool lincoln boston locks lincoln grand passage lock restricted short periods tidal levels suitable river provides access drains north boston south foot drain south reopened waterways link project link river near navigation links trent route course british rivers result possibly rebound older rivers source river high ground near lincolnshire flows generally north close parallel trent outskirts newark turning east lincoln upper waters important agricultural water extraction coarse fish common pike small mammals like water native gap limestone near believed represent earlier course upper river boston leading near distance miles river forms boundary lincolnshire river largely follows line crosses river north junction near lincoln river flows exits narrow channel passes high bridge bridge navigation small size volume water pass gap limited times flood leaves main channel runs miles industrial areas south main city centre rejoin main channel routed drainage ditch constructed early 19th century joins main channel lock origins unknown known drainage channel century thought pre medieval roman parts allow construction railway station lincoln river turns east south making cut belt known lincoln gap section believed lower course trent periods near boston north bank river section great northern railway lincoln boston long distance water rail way follows course river lincoln boston path uses sections river abandoned railway tracks opened stages final miles completed september path route features number sculptures length commissioned local artists include lincoln sheep lincoln red cows lincoln pigs extinct history extremely old apparently roman celtic influence meaning known archaeological evidence points river navigation far iron age artefacts recovered display london collection lincoln originally tidal lincoln important navigation roman times lincoln meeting point street joining london york leading leicester bath important roman fort britain important roman cities situated near water enabled goods transported bulk lincoln possess advantage romans constructed lincoln river trent improved river lincoln wash built car lincoln near cambridge gave lincoln access east coast gave access trent trading continued medieval period evidenced importance town small village needed maintenance clear henry overseen channel inquiries consider state inhabitants region maintain lincoln centre collection business taxes came cost maintaining waterways having finally decided large cost james presented originally flowed wash haven port established estuary result massive flooding diverted flow haven boston gave rise growth boston port 12th 13th centuries wool salt boston received charter river affected restricted trade despite construction barriers onwards built boston erected boston navigation difficult river act parliament obtained improvement navigation son commissioned produce detailed survey river produced engraved map printed report running pages following year main recommendation mile new cut eliminate course channel boston estimated cost landowners taking action time report formed basis improvements following meetings landowners held asked father died evaluate plans consider plan grand produced suggested cut extended miles boston built extension landowners moved location nearer boston approved report action taken consulted king asked review positioning landowners asked edwards engineers produced joint report estimates drainage works improvements navigation report approved meeting held january decided new cut revert alignment suggested location suggested edwards produced engraved map parliamentary approval works obtained june act parliament obtained edwards engineer project drew detailed plans checked altered slightly involvement scheme construction started april drainage element project included finished having cost work locks work connected navigation cost continued locks located major construction maintained height water boston near normal high tide level massive flood gates cope tides completed effective haven actually encouraged river act created navigation commissioners continued promote drainage schemes actively creating drainage network known drains transformed northern lincolnshire farming land today channels managed internal drainage boards reduce flood risk surrounding properties land environment campaign promote construction canal commissioners river asked engineer assess state navigation particular reference problems navigating lincoln channel restricted medieval bridge proposed solutions avoided route city entirely course south second involved lowering channel bridge inches deep normal water levels commissioners imposed toll traffic passing bridge decided channel bypassing city grave financial consequences opted improving existing channel work remove wooden floor lower river bed bridge foundations completed commissioners dropped collection tolls bridge received traffic passing locks increased volume traffic grew response easier passage bridge completed edwards grand consisted channels feet wide fitted pointed gates sides lock adjacent north bank additional flood relief channel required lock originally small lengthened current feet pointed doors non tidal replaced steel gates improvements state deteriorated commissioners asked advice stated lock badly placed associated staunch danger collapse recommended demolished rebuilt suggested access boston new cut built south rejoin river boston harbour suggested high bridge lincoln demolished rebuilt years later suggested locks removed replaced near church commissioners petitioned parliament new authorised work carried company borrow drainage element scheme navigation element new locks built replaced original locks new channel cut near upstream plan lock dropped stamp end lock rebuilt alternative route provided recorded time obtained main aim allowing capital raised tolls gradually risen improvements raised reached income exceeded months march september cent paid following year spent improvements needed optimistic commissioned sir investigate extension link river proposals implemented traffic carried sailing vessels barges hauled horses march steam boat arrived river named built robinson yard despite boiler explosion march fortunately causing injury crew passengers second steam operating july soon displaced sailing boats flood lost power floating jammed wheels following year lincoln man invented new type resulted boats travelling faster wooden vessels superseded iron boats railways reached lincoln august years proposal lincoln boston railway hoped build railways area negotiated arrangement guarantee fixed income merge london proposals absorbed great northern railway time act parliament obtained original agreement retained leased years payment year figure represented average profits previous years plus cent railway company agreed pay interest amounting held railway lincoln boston ran eastern bank river opened october stations located near landing stages steam railway draw passengers away river included provision fourth class carriages set mile steam boats ceased operation freight traffic declined coal passing grand dropping tons tons railway company maintain river spent making lock deeper feet request drainage commissioners leased navigation great northern time manchester sheffield lincolnshire railway built large warehouse dock total traffic river fallen tons averaged tons years world war mainly general merchandise agricultural produce waterways following second world war navigation eventually responsibility british waterways result transport act july managed current navigation today commercial traffic apart tour boats ceased port boston haven pleasure craft carry lock grand lock feet long possible longer boats pass certain states tide unlike sea locks reverse facing gates close tide normal high tide water level higher level river low tides insufficient water haven allow exit lock passage restricted brief period approximately hours high water possible navigate drains small vessels new lock completed december provides entry south foot drain vessels able reach wash waterways link lincoln boston locks boston lincoln lincoln unusually lock main navigation high bridge lincoln medieval structure feet wide metres high normal river levels times flood bridge spans river feet consists arch built extensions added british bridge secular medieval buildings standing believed second oldest masonry arch bridge country currently scheduled ancient monument grade listed building traffic lights short section pool stamp end lock indicate state river times flood green indicates flows low normal boats proceed stretch red indicates flows high great care required flashing red indicates flows high boats use section connecting waterways number drains connect river protected flood doors consist single pair gates designed close level river rises level drain adventurous river joined connects navigation navigation eventually restored lock drops drains system drainage ditches prevent flooding north boston november active campaign restore navigation project won support parish councils points interest tributaries lower river till river following flow south foot drain foster drain drain historical descriptions
River Witham