Ebbsfleet River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ebbsfleet River |
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The Ebbsfleet River just before it enters the Thames Estuary at Northfleet
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Eight natural springs at Springhead TQ 616728 10 m (33 ft) 51°26′13″N 0°18′54″E / 51.437°N 0.315°E |
| River mouth | River Thames estuary TQ 620750 0 m (0 ft) 51°27′01″N 0°19′47″E / 51.4503°N 0.3296°E |
| Length | 2.4 miles (3.9 km) |
The Ebbsfleet River is a small but important river in Kent, south-east England. It flows into the mighty Thames Estuary near a town called Northfleet. You can find it across from the busy container port of Tilbury Docks. The river is so important that a new town, the Ebbsfleet Garden City, is being built right around where the river flows!
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Ebbsfleet River has a long and interesting history.
What's in a Name?
Long ago, this river was simply known as the River Fleet. That's how the nearby towns of Northfleet and Southfleet got their names! The river starts from eight natural springs in a place called Springhead.
Roman Times and Pilgrims
Did you know that in Roman times, the area around the river's source was a busy settlement? It was called Vagniacis and had many temples. The Romans used the river to connect their famous road, Watling Street, to the River Thames.
Later, in the 1300s, the Ebbsfleet was a popular stopping point for pilgrims. These were people traveling to Canterbury for religious reasons. Imagine them resting by the river on their long journey!
A Working River
In 1451, there was already a bridge over the Ebbsfleet in Northfleet. Even in the 1500s, the river was still affected by the tides and was used by ships. This shows how important it was for transport and trade.
Watercress and Changes
In the 1800s, the Ebbsfleet area became famous for growing watercress. A man named William Bradbery started the first commercial watercress farm here in 1808. He later moved his business, but the Ebbsfleet was where it all began!
Around 1901, something big happened. A local water company started using all the river's water. This caused the riverbed to dry up. A scientist named Marie Stopes even studied the plants that grew in the dried-up riverbed. Today, you can still see parts of the old river.
Where the Name Comes From
The name "Ebbsfleet" might have been created in the 1600s by a historian named Thomas Philpott. He wrote about it in his book, Villare Cantianum. He might have been inspired by another place called Ebbsfleet in Thanet, which is about 75 km (47 mi) to the east on the Kent coast.
That other Ebbsfleet is mentioned in a very old book called the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. In that book, it's called "Ebba's Creek." So, it's possible our Ebbsfleet River got its name from a similar-sounding place with a long history!
