Roman River
Roman River | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | England |
County | Essex |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | west of Great Tey |
• coordinates | 51°53′42″N 0°42′15″E / 51.8951°N 0.7041°E |
• elevation | 58 m (190 ft) |
Mouth | River Colne |
• location | opposite Wivenhoe |
• coordinates | 51°51′13″N 0°57′15″E / 51.8537°N 0.9541°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Basin features | |
River system | River Colne |
Tributaries | |
• right | Birch Hall Brook, Layer Brook |
Roman River | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Roman River is a river that flows entirely through the English county of Essex. It is a tributary of the River Colne, flowing into its tidal estuary below Colchester. The lower end of the Roman River is also tidal, with tidal water flowing upstream to just above Fingringhoe.
In the past, the river was important for milling. There was a
The Roman River has two major tributaries, the Birch Hall Brook and Layer Brook. The latter used to supply some of the water for Abberton Reservoir, through which it flowed. However, work to extend it began in 2009, and water from the upper Layer Brook is now pumped into the reservoir, because its level has been raised by 10.5 feet (3.2 m). The reservoir is of international importance for wildlife, and has several conservation designations to protect its status. The Essex Wildlife Trust operate a visitor centre near the raised dam, which enables visitors to see the large bird populations.
Route
The Roman River rises from springs to the west of
Another minor road crosses the river at Bounstead Bridge. This was formerly known at Brownsford, and the first bridge was built around 1563.[3] After the bridge, the river flows along the southern edge of Friday Wood. This is one of the few remaining sites of unimproved acid grassland in Essex, and is notable as the habitat for over 1000 species of moths and butterflies. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and forms part of the Roman River SSSI.[4] Layer Brook joins from the south, which is the outflow from Abberton Reservoir. Just before it reaches the B1025 Manwood Bridge, it has descended to a level where it becomes tidal. Beyond the bridge is Donyland Wood, formerly a separate SSSI, but now part of the Roman River SSSI. Together, the two areas of woodland cover 680.90 acres (275.55 ha).[4] The river meanders to the east, passing under another minor road at Fingringhoe.[1] The present bridge was built in 1923, but replaced an earlier structure,[5] as there has been a bridge at the site since at least 1875.[6] Having passed under Fingringhoe Mill, the river turns towards the north-east, and joins the River Colne opposite Wivenhoe.[1]
Layer Brook
The main tributary of the Roman River is Layer Brook. This rises near
Milling
Fingringhoe Mill was a
The mill was used to grind flour, but this ceased as a condition of the sale when the mill was sold in 1931. Subsequently, it was used to produce animal feedstuffs, particularly steam-cooked barley, maize and oats. The mill burnt down in 1936, when the oil generators caught fire, but was rebuilt in corrugated iron sheeting, and became electrically powered. The tide mill was used briefly in 1942 during an extended power cut, but the waterwheel was removed in the 1950s.[13]
In 1997, a six-month project began to demolish the concrete silos and remove the asbestos, which revealed the mill building and a four-storey Victorian granary. Both were sympathetically restored and have been converted into homes, and in 2001 the work received a Best Restoration award from Colchester Civic Society.[14] Set back from the river is the 17th century mill house. It is again timber-framed, with three storeys, with some brick and some plasterwork cladding. It was extensively modified in the early 19th century.[15]
Further upstream, a watermill at Layer de la Haye was first mentioned in the
There were two further mills on the river, although nearly all traces of them have disappeared. They were small affairs, serving the needs of the local population, and both were
Water quality
The
The water quality of the Roman River was as follows in 2019.
Section | Ecological Status | Chemical Status | Length | Catchment | Channel |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roman River[26] | Moderate | Fail | 12.1 miles (19.5 km) | 23.59 square miles (61.1 km2) | heavily modified |
Colne (inc part of Roman River)[27] | Moderate | Fail | heavily modified |
Reasons for the ecological quality being less than good include runoff from agricultural land, discharges from sewage treatment works and the transport infrastructure, and surface water abstraction affecting the flow in the river. Like many rivers in the UK, the chemical status changed from good to fail in 2019, due to the presence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and mercury compounds, none of which had previously been included in the assessment.
Points of interest
Point | Coordinates (Links to map resources) |
OS Grid Ref | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Source of Roman River | 51°53′42″N 0°42′15″E / 51.8951°N 0.7041°E | TL861252 | |
Source of Roman River | 51°53′00″N 0°43′46″E / 51.8832°N 0.7294°E | TL879240 | |
Crossing under railway and A12 road | 51°53′02″N 0°47′44″E / 51.8840°N 0.7955°E | TL924242 | |
Source of Birch Hall Brook | 51°50′15″N 0°47′51″E / 51.8374°N 0.7975°E | TL928191 | |
Junction with Birch Hall Brook | 51°51′25″N 0°50′28″E / 51.8569°N 0.8412°E | TL957214 | |
Source of Layer Brook | 51°48′30″N 0°43′18″E / 51.8084°N 0.7217°E | TL877157 | |
Layer Brook enters Abberton Reservoir | 51°48′47″N 0°49′02″E / 51.8130°N 0.8171°E | TL942164 | |
Layer Brook joins Roman River | 51°50′39″N 0°53′52″E / 51.8441°N 0.8978°E | TL997201 | |
B1025 Manwood Bridge | 51°50′44″N 0°55′06″E / 51.8456°N 0.9182°E | TM011203 | Tidal below here |
Fingringhoe Tide Mill | 51°50′49″N 0°56′46″E / 51.8470°N 0.9460°E | TM030205 | |
Junction with River Colne | 51°51′13″N 0°57′17″E / 51.8537°N 0.9546°E | TM035213 |
Bibliography
- Benham, Hervey (1983). Some Essex Water Mills (2nd ed.). Mersea Bookshop. ISBN 978-0-9508919-0-3.
- Fautley, Matthew; Garon, James (2005). Essex Coastline: Then and Now. Potton Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9548010-0-7.
- Hopkirk, Mary (1934). "Story of Layer de la Haye". Essex County Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021.
- Wilson, Daniel (2012). "Abberton Reservoir enhancement" (PDF). Water Projects Online. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
References
- ^ a b c d e Ordnance Survey, 1:25,000 map
- ^ "Roman River Valley Nature Reserve". Essex Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ Hopkirk 1934, p. 6.
- ^ a b "SSSI notification" (PDF). Natural England. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- ^ Fautley & Garon 2005, p. 63.
- ^ "OS County Series map 1875-1876". Ordnance Survey.
- ^ Wilson 2012, pp. 241–242.
- ^ "Abberton Reservoir Enhancement Scheme Dam Raising" (PDF). British Dam Society. p. 2. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- ^ "Attenborough Officially Opens Abberton Scheme". Essex Wildlife Trust. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018.
- ^ "Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre". Essex Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ Historic England. "Fingringhoe Mill (1225577)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ Fautley & Garon 2005, p. 62.
- ^ Fautley & Garon 2005, pp. 62–63.
- ^ "Fingringhoe Mill". Lexden Restoration & Development. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ Historic England. "Mill House (1239717)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ "Village History". Layer de la Haye Parish Council. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ Hopkirk 1934, p. 2.
- ^ Hopkirk 1934, p. 5.
- ^ Hopkirk 1934, p. 10.
- ^ Hopkirk 1934, p. 15.
- ^ "1:2,500 County Series map". Ordnance Survey.
- ^ Benham 1983, p. 102.
- ^ Historic England. "Layer Mill (1223963)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ Benham 1983, pp. 101–102.
- ^ "Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ "Roman River". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.
- ^ "Colne (inc part of Roman River)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.
External links
Media related to Roman River at Wikimedia Commons