river flows miles english counties kent source near mouth bay prior mouth east new changed course great storm blocked exit sea known sixteenth century final miles river bed high tide level control levels prevents salt water entering river system high tides retains water river summer months ensure health surrounding marsh habitat river tidal miles river navigation roman times small boats far flowed loop northern edge diverted southern edge built engineer repairs later extended try channel clear criticised shipping river defensive line protect england threat invasion french early 1800s lower section formed link halves scots float rebuilt square miles km2 valley inundated resulted implemented river banks raised pumping stations installed river managed number bodies including passing land drainage act managed jury kent sussex river authorities finally unusual jurisdiction free river licence required use management levels adjacent river undertaken passes near villages etymology modern river comparatively recent probably dating sixteenth century derived village located river rises means open land cattle based old english prior called known length celtic word meaning river anglo saxon charters appearing means river old english thirteenth century known river rises feet ordnance descends rapidly joined river time reaches feet average annual rainfall inches underlying geology resulting rain rapidly reaching river flowing sea river valley prone winter floods summer months flow low dry periods bed river drops sea level lower river flows slowly surrounding land crossed networks canals ditches pumped river winter drain land summer water transferred direction manage habitat miles mouth river control levels river tidal closed tide rises prevent salt water passing river dry years kept closed summer water maintain marsh environment navigation lock bypasses heavy rainfall high tide outflow tide locked river acts huge holding reservoir flood water managed times high flow water pumped river hold million cubic feet water covers area acres built 1980s output taken pipeline provides public water supply hastings history near mouth longer follows ancient course flowed joined sea widely asserted hurricane known great storm caused large quantities mud deposited port mouth river water river created new channel joining near combined rivers flow sea argued patterns occupation marsh suggest change route took place century date thirteenth century situated distance sea harbour visited commercial shipping fleet fishing boats early developments river known shipping roman times possibly upstream records small boats reaching saxon norman periods stone building transported river fourteenth century iron shipped sixteenth century century later iron store erected served served area higher land west isolated high ground north south valley northern edge known south called routed northern isle built western end levels sea prevented entering levels built eastern end valley enabled levels agriculture year round suitable summer grazing perennial problem river tides deposited large quantities channel summer months flow river insufficient away result acres drowned lands meaning flooded acres usable summer months onwards effort expense spent trying drain including construction purpose limit tide control outflow river works particularly successful negotiations started commissioners levels divert river levels initial reluctance agreement reached february western end levels kent wall dam essentially holding reservoir river water sea water released controlled way main channel channel called constructed levels new river flowing south isle october navigation routed new channel reducing length miles channel north known disaster occurred lady day exceptionally high tide flooded broke walls commissioners authorised construction new sea work began september decided built instead height regularly adjusted attempt manage water flowed channel conflicting needs navigation drainage deteriorated failed new channels built financial burden result sea entering huge pay rent land available original owners agreement reached sea excluded levels work began areas land sides valley largely completed work included new channel built southern edge valley called ended repairs necessary water temporarily diverted worked regulating penn built water routed built land reclaimed built close sea finally excluded commissioners kent sussex levels employed civil engineering contractor repairs timber lock lower river built sheet pile wall foundations commissioners offered job maintaining levels paid year moved held post fourteen years river estuary caused mounting problems drainage levels carried work reconstructed provide extra outlet new channels excavated levels early runoff passed resigned post busy engineering projects navigation vessels river sailing barges feet size draught feet pamphlet published announced barges operating river years earlier main fuel places served river listed reading street small boats worked river path boats bow hauled men scots float ill adapted present vessels navigate civil engineer end eighteenth century turbulent period britain war france hostilities countries ceased signing treaty napoleonic wars began fears france invade england order attack proposed initially small canal near extended planning phase near canal join river defence system course completion scheduled june construction start late time completed invasion thought unlikely acts parliament obtained commissioners levels obliged acts ensure navigation possible bridges provided feet principle free river tolls collected use brothers john george taken father death produced reports river difficult navigate prone flooding critical way tidal water allowed enter river scots float thought river channel resulted forming brothers criticised angles bridges crossed channel rebuilt connected river commercial barge pass lock canal vulture carrying tons december lock replaced connection river pleasure craft times regular boat trips scots float called star lock offered lower river currently operate trip boat bridge flooding extensive flooding square miles km2 inundated areas water months kent river board introduced bill parliament improvements river banks construction associated lock prevent tidal flooding time river fishing fleet freighter tons river trade timber concern house_of_lords lock large accommodate freighter possible open sets lock gates tide level suitable bill act parliament lack parliamentary time constructed began completed involved raising level river wet level area acres junction raised periods high flow river tide locked levels flood storage scheme included installation pumping stations raise water low lying marshes river screw pumps drainage ditches deliver water pumping stations jurisdiction responsibility river resided number legal bodies past established letters patent issued provisions statute dated lower river covered established created manage protect stocks fish river parts britain rights duties bodies competed overlapped early twentieth century situation chaotic attempt resolve confusion passing land drainage act areas established created overall responsibility area jury created board overall responsibility local management rivers drainage control transition eased commissioners terms act sought replace boards larger organisations east sussex river board took responsibilities jury gut board changes followed responsibility passed kent sussex river authorities years later structures replaced authorities responsibility supply drinking water drainage function rivers lasted passing water act split apart functions management river responsibility southern region finally april abolished formation agency responsibility drainage water quality case rivers holds navigation rights unusual jurisdiction free river licence required use acts harbour authority harbour unique situation acts powers manage flood control main rivers defined series statutory main river maps water quality responsibility main rivers resides main river tended cover larger areas formed marsh manages miles drainage ditches pumping stations pump water drainage ditches owned route rises springs south eastern cottage hill near hill feet sea level springs found near foot foot river rises north eastern slopes hill flows opposite direction flows south east picking water streams reach western edges crossed road little bridge site scheduled ancient monument river curves east southern edge passing sewage works south bank crossing abandoned railway embankment road bridge tributary joins south drove mill house dates seventeenth century timber framed faced red brick ground floor attached storey mill building dates following century converted house mill machinery present isolated living space glass panels river joined tributaries north second south crossed minor road bridge drops foot soon bridges turks bridge tide brook joins north storey building originally mill house junction grounds grade listed storey railway line following valley tide brook runs parallel river continues eastwards passing north bridge carries road river railway crosses south bank railway station joins north road crosses river joins southwest railway river turn south reach tributary flows northwest near turns south runs parallel joining network channels river joins river mill nearby mill called mill burnt georgian farmhouse subsequently demolished original farm building standing dating late eighteenth century little east grade listed abbot house stands south river abbey founded house probably built modified sir nineteenth century attic bedroom wooden fireplace dating 1830s surrounded medieval tiles described quality additional ruins near river turns northeast passing abandoned railway bridge dropping foot reach local road crosses river bridge passes site british settlement south bridge section bridge railway station western terminus kent east sussex railway north bank river built soon sir lord restored ruins gave years later buildings grade listed grounds include second world war scheduled ancient monument final miles sea bed river high water mark tides numerous drainage ditches traversing valley floor river pumping stations banks discharge water drained low lying land river channel kent ditch joins northern bank forms boundary counties junction boundary runs centre river bridge carries road channel built arches earlier medieval style lies south loop south takes river kent east sussex railway area known county boundary follows small channel north main channel river passed northern edge prior boundary joins near river channel joins short channel splits reading sewer little north flowing southwards second originally flowing northwards main channel public follows eastern bank heath channel continues north bank river bridge sussex border path long distance follows county boundary low lying land channel passes called soon new bridge carries road river channel turns south run eastern edge marsh military road built crosses western bank river lock disused entrance canal lock structure contains mechanism regulate water levels canal summer months water pumped river canal marshes military road continues follow west bank saxon shore way follows eastern bank comes river tidal approaches eastern edge crossed fixed bridge carries railway line bridge installed replaced swing bridge erected construction railway opened carries new road joined southern edge river channel wide known harbour village called harbour southern end wide section wharf river served railway line collect wharf replaced landing stage slightly downstream served railway sea tower built protect french invasion stands west channel numbered structures built time nearby rescue station run river enters bay points interest
River Rother, East Sussex