river river lowland river east england miles long drains eastwards wash river rises flows generally northeast reach wash near major rivers laid channels widely spaced intention flood waters space spread tide estuary prevented free floods new works constructed control flooding longer solely pasture farming significant improvements river new cut locks constructed market locks built river section market canal section known canal longest canal locks britain built river provided final outlet sea land drainage schemes implemented seventeenth century completely successful steam powered pumping station built navigation upper river including canal ceased remained active port end second world war navigation authority river far upstream shallow draught west bridge progress hindered derelict lock traditional head navigation wharf road management lower river tied drainage river remains important provides final sea pumped water wildlife river varies length faster habitat trout slower lower reaches perch estuary conditions flat landscapes favour birds migratory species geography tributaries form river system area square miles km2 area miles designated main river managed flood control total miles tidal sea walls protect adjacent land flooding miles fresh water run low lying land area square miles km2 sea level flooded defences basin runs broadly south west north east direction extension north rivers underlying geology consists western end lincolnshire limestone centre including valleys eastern soils relies artificial pumping prevent flooding rainfall area varies inches year light land efficiently drained winter months reserves making area prone drought summer months length forms county boundary lower lincolnshire course rises close foot near miles small stream forms border flows westwards round passing grounds hall conference centre flow generally eastwards market carried river early nineteenth century bridge grade listed structure east river passes plan house built late sixteenth century modified early eighteenth century king charles believed stayed battle arms square moat surround house site scheduled ancient monument market county border leaves river west town wholly picks east river jordan joins centre flowing northwards railway station join west near county border relatively straight sections river suggesting channel engineered arched bridge built fine masonry causeway south carries road river arched bridge dating early nineteenth century carries road long distance crosses way lincolnshire joins north river approaches dismantled railway joined approaching south river remains south railway county border follows course north river near road bridge river plain north eighteenth century causeway yards long stone pierced seven large arches numerous smaller arches drainage pipes causeway large semi circular passing places western passes north near south county border eye brook form joins north flows past river forms channels county border following smaller northern channel crossed yard brick arches completed carries valley apart carrying suburban lines london longest railway built britain flows eastwards join north bank way long distance crosses river turtle bridge probably dates fourteenth century widened added subsequently road medieval bridge pointed arches widened eighteenth century flows south join river near known mill building earliest known date limestone bridge arches crosses river dating fifteenth century widened river passes railway bridge flow county border leaves river west town river forms border lincolnshire great north road labelled crosses river pumping station north bank pumped large quantities water reservoir construction lowest point river crossed road crosses river arched stone bridge designed iron stone piers erected july replace earlier bridge washed away flood river passes site ruins mill marks point canal left river present mill building dates river canal crossed level joins north remains canal follow river north bank county border follows old course river south north main course flows old course consists streams fed eastern stream supplied power mills western stream dates mill mill retains seventeenth century modified 19th century improved design surviving type lincolnshire western edge market streams join joined carried diverted waters river early 1950s section crossed king street follows course roman road crosses south original channels series arches comprise grouped structures cross channels area funded seventeenth eighteenth centuries longest span feet carry inscribed stones recording county involvement north early nineteenth century stone rubble arched bridge carries road drainage ditch near eighteenth century bridge probably rebuilt following century crosses mill stream pair early nineteenth century bridges built limestone carry road northernmost channel bridge gate carries date grade listed stone structure round arches remains high lock low lock junction old course south drain drain meet river officially point edge river laid historically pasture river allowed flood land tidal levels prevented water sea river bounded north west bank drainage channel south east bounded bank land channels forms high wash fodder lots southern bank variously named wash bank wash lands designed flooded building coronation flood relief channel purpose obsolete wash passing flow diverted coronation channel town protected sea lock east town approached drain runs parallel river carrying water pumped crossed road bridge nearby marsh pumping station houses beam engine wheel land drainage built ran replaced electric pumps forms museum land drainage run partnership drain passes join river protects entrance allow boats reach tongue end miles upstream mouth pumping stations towns drainage channels final bridge reached joined bordered salt marshes finally flows wash wash river banks fertile land composed marine suits growing famous commercial growing pioneered 1880s large scale fields introduced peak acres fields tons flowers exported railway station grown acres reduced acres points course history origin river unknown appears old english form changed middle english form folk etymology scandinavian influence mentioned lord reign erected strong embankment prevent flooding meadows adjoining river fertile fields pleasure garden reign complaints channels favourable passage barges abbot narrowed course planting willow trees fourteenth century charged failing repair river causing damage king people argued tidal point arm sea responsible river earlier rivers granted act parliament improvements allow navigation act granted reign elizabeth detailed prospered result river stated mills built resulted longer diverted water powers granted restore river old channel new clear exactly meant evidence work carried terms act powers revived given permission build new mile artificial cut run eastern edge near mill market rejoin river decision ratified grant james corporation expected work completed unable find suitable contractor carry work failed reach agreement terms potential contractors finally called took job built cut locks included high lock low lock river james cost return expenditure given lease tolls years paid rent cut known canal earliest post roman canals england opened years start industrial revolution brought golden age canals britain built longest canal locks britain busy barges carrying flour coal timber limestone people market james villages river presented petition elizabeth requesting drained banks river neighbouring poor state repair suggested undertake work cost received acres land reclaimed result work unrest early resulted works destroyed group led earl granted permission drain south work included making deeper wider james construction drains included drain running known drain called sir declared completed efficient drainage wait construction pumping station river split channels broadly following present course river joining old reach near writing described channel slow course river longer flows unique triangular spanned junction remains centre town port river improvements townspeople refused repair river reign claimed sea importance port increased river improvements canal customs house officials acted customs officers goods arriving warehouses exports included rape oil hides wool greater variety imports including stone timber coal glass exotic imports included french spanish imports tea coffee chocolate drainage addressed act awarded earl manchester acres land return drainage works obliged maintain banks river ensure kept clean free flowing ensure tolls charged navigation river east bad weather stopped completing task tried renting land granted tenants unable pay rent poor state drainage reduced crop yields april received letter captain expressing opinion way improve drainage improve river proposing construction river drain perry engineer set standard engineering reports published recommendations plans approved offered land covering nearly acres payment work sold land finance project began work foot wide gates operated chains connected high tide water penned banks set main channel bed river dragging wooden iron spikes low tide gates opened flow miles downstream navigation lock constructed vessels gain access river perry died february buried churchyard lock lasted removed commissioners perry succeeded published paper flow open drains calculated flow rates observation field modify results oversaw programme repairs ran miles north west river employed ran miles south east river deeper constructed reservoir mouth reservoir covered acres provided water channel son took death father spent nearly bank repairs rebuilt perry soon taller doors set tide gates prevent tide moving upstream rebuilt navigation lock surveyor works continued act consultant engineer devised scheme cut new channel junction estuary river boston end mile cut huge navigation lock asked second opinion suggested shorter mile cut requested help proposed mile cut drain moved miles downstream improvements drain carried act parliament obtained act obtained cut work carried cut built new act prominent civil engineer considered problems river end reports produced second assisted formed basis act channel deeper north bank stronger enlarged recommendations replace drove drainage pumps steam pumping station implemented reports provision steam engines authorised act trustees appointed act continued manage replaced internal drainage board subsequently renamed plans route new channel meet river near boston authorised money raised time financial crisis caused french wars shorter channel finished improving drainage navigation reported improvements making recommendation river constrained high banks action water channel estimated cost suggested branches deposited scheme cost work went years effects resulted bed river feet lower river act enabled trustees raise money repair walls tide washed away fill employed invented superintendent works passing land drainage act created spent end second world war chief engineer drainage board devised plan relieve flooding creating bypass channel building divert waters river upstream market scheme cost work carried coronation channel opened september lock constructed time exclude tide upper river channel bypasses villages market james 1960s 1970s sections river deeper reduce risk flooding agricultural land address habitat environmental issues causes engineering work limited company charitable trust set seeking direct regeneration river organisations known collectively published major document outlining proposals february navigation river far romans navigation formed system including car ran western edge crossed river near modern navigation improved canal boats canal small feet wide capable carrying seven fourteen tons normally worked trains vessels arrival railways river trade declined midland railway reached opened line passing carriage coal upper river stopped locks deteriorated april traffic ceased tried sell line auction failed ownership disputed trade lower river carried barges early 1800s trade increasing river simultaneously vessels carrying tons reach port facilities 1820s ships loaded tons river worsened trade records indicate vessels carried tons increased tons pressure merchants cater larger vessels later improvements carried act parliament obtained barges tons use port river maintained drainage commercial traffic continued despite railways tolls collected tons coal arrived boat early 1900s regular trade carriage corn hay straw cargo transferred larger ships commercial carrying ceased end second world war july water taxi service launched route high street upstream river turning going vessels feet drawing feet proceed estuary high water travel inland far lock pass lock feet normal summer water levels accommodate boats drawing feet river officially point joins length boats allowed section restricted feet long considerably lock dimensions suggest navigation stretch severely restricted mile bar provided feet increased new single span arched bridge installed early smaller boats carried continue use old course river cut restrictions allowed small coasters reach town bridge swing bridge comply provisions demise traffic allowed replaced fixed bridge feet powers original act rescinded port act obtained allow happen redundant developed provide pleasure craft lock sets gates pointing sea points lock level higher level tide falls intermediate gate closes prevent use principle tolls use river established act parliament reversed act imposed high tolls reduced provisions act parliament obtained river managed bridge licence required use wash managed went administration managed section wildlife river upper reaches supports wild brown trout population perch dominate middle reaches pike perch inhabiting lower lengths collaboration resulted construction rock ramp allow migrating sea trout pass river acting barrier tons rock tons finer material forming layer create ramp finer material ensures water mainly flows ramp ramp enables young river provides habitat stone large numbers use river sea smaller populations seen upstream common grey seal found way wash river spent weeks sleeping gardens river james seal spotted downstream eventually way sea south bank river bridge established nature reserve strip land soil excavated raise banks habitat provided broad woodland covering acres salt water tidal covering acres acres variety birds seen including little water rail spend winter consist shallow pools muddy visited common little river mouth river large provides breeding grounds common reed summer common common winter birds prey feed flocks support bar tailed reserve marsh reserve managed
River Welland