List of waterways in Lincolnshire facts for kids

This article is about the many rivers, canals, and drains that flow through Lincolnshire, a county in England. These waterways are super important for the area, helping with everything from farming and transportation to providing homes for wildlife. Some are natural rivers that have been around for thousands of years, while others are man-made channels built to drain water from the land, especially in the flat Fens area. Let's explore some of these fascinating watery paths!

Important Waterways in Lincolnshire

River Ancholme

The River Ancholme is a key waterway in Lincolnshire. It actually has two main parts: the New River Ancholme and the Old River Ancholme. The New River Ancholme is a man-made channel, about 27 kilometers long, built to help drain the land. It starts near Bishopbridge and flows into the Humber estuary at South Ferriby. The Old River Ancholme is the natural river, and parts of it have been replaced by the new channel.

The old River Ancholme in Brigg

River Ancholme at Toft next Newton

River Bain

The River Bain begins its journey near Ludford and flows for about 130 meters down to join the River Witham. It's also known by names like Horncastle Canal or Horncastle Navigation, showing its history as a route for boats.

River Bain at Red Mill Bridge, Haltham

Barlings Eau

Barlings Eau starts near Cold Hanworth and flows into the River Witham at Short Ferry. It's another important drain that helps manage water levels in the region.

At Barlings Abbey

Billinghay Skirth

The Billinghay Skirth is formed by several smaller streams and drains coming together near Billinghay. It then flows into the River Witham at Tattershall Bridge.

Billinghay Skirth

Bourne Eau

The Bourne Eau is a waterway that starts in Bourne and joins the River Glen at Tongue End.

In Bourne

River Brant

The River Brant is a river that flows for about 23 kilometers. It starts at Gelston and meets the River Witham at South Hykeham.

At Blackmoor Bridge

Catchwater Drain

The Catchwater Drain, also known as Great Drain or Minting Beck, starts near Great Sturton and flows into the River Witham at Stixwould.

Mouth at the River Witham

Foss Dyke

The Foss Dyke is a very old canal, believed to have been built by the Romans! It connects Brayford Pool in Lincoln to the River Trent at Torksey. It's a historic waterway that has been used for transport for centuries.

The Foss Dyke

River Freshney

The River Freshney starts near Beelsby and flows into the North Sea at Grimsby Docks. It's an important river for the town of Grimsby.

Alexandra Dock

River Glen

The River Glen begins from two sources, Boothby Pagnall and Ropsley, and then splits into the East and West Glen Rivers. It eventually joins the River Welland at Surfleet.

Near Guthram Gowt

River Gwash

The River Gwash starts in Knossington, Leicestershire, and flows into the River Welland at Stamford.

At Belmesthorpe, Rutland

Humber Estuary

The Humber estuary is a very large and important waterway. It's where several rivers, including the River Trent, meet the North Sea. It's 62 kilometers long and is a busy shipping route.

Humber Bridge

Long Eau

The Long Eau is a waterway that starts near Legbourne and flows into the Great Eau at Theddlethorpe.

At Carlton Grange, Saltfleetby St Peter

River Lymn

The River Lymn is also known as the Steeping River or Wainfleet Relief Channel. It starts at Belchford and flows into the North Sea at Gibraltar Point. Some people believe this river was the inspiration for the famous poem "The Brook" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

In the Lincolnshire Wolds

River Nene

The River Nene is a long river, 161 kilometers in total, that starts in Badby, Northamptonshire. It flows all the way to the North Sea at The Wash, near Sutton Bridge.

At Tycho Wing's Channel

New River

The New River starts near Crowland and joins the River Welland at Little London, near Spalding.

New River drain

North Forty Foot Drain

The North Forty Foot Drain, also called Lodowick's Drain, starts at Chapel Hill and meets the South Forty Foot Drain in Boston.

At Benton's Bridge

Pauper's Drain

Pauper's Drain is about 9 kilometers long and starts near Crowle. It flows into the River Trent at Amcotts.

Pauper's Drain

Reeds Beck

Reeds Beck, also known as Old Reeds Beck, starts in Highhall Wood near Old Woodhall and flows into the Catchwater Drain at Stixwould.

Reeds Beck at Red Bridge

River Rase

The River Rase is 25 kilometers long and starts at Tealby. It joins the River Ancholme at Bishopbridge.

The River Rase

River Slea

The River Slea, also known as Kyme Eau, starts at West Willoughby and flows into the River Witham at Chapel Hill.

To the west of Sleaford.

South Forty Foot Drain

The South Forty Foot Drain, also called Black Sluice Navigation, starts at Guthram Gowt and flows into the River Witham at Black Sluice in Boston. This drain was finished in 1770 and is actually below sea level in some parts!

At Pointon

Stamford Canal

The Stamford Canal is a canalized part of the River Welland near Stamford. Parts of it have dried up over time.

Deeping St James High Locks

River Torne

The River Torne starts in Maltby, Yorkshire, and flows into the River Trent at Keadby.

River Torne

River Trent

The River Trent is a very long river, stretching 298 kilometers! It starts in Biddulph Moor, Staffordshire, and eventually joins the Humber estuary at Trent Falls.

The North bank of the River Trent

Vernatt's Drain

Vernatt's Drain starts at Pode Hole and flows into the River Welland at Surfleet.

Vernatt's Drain

River Waring

The River Waring starts at Belchford and flows into the River Bain at Horncastle.

Near Low Toynton

River Welland

The River Welland is 105 kilometers long and starts in Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire. It flows into the North Sea at The Wash, near Fosdyke. The part of the river below Spalding is affected by the tides.

Stamford

River Witham

The River Witham is a major river in Lincolnshire, flowing for 132 kilometers. It starts at South Witham and flows into the North Sea at The Wash. The part of the Witham that is affected by the tides, below Grand Sluice in Boston, is known as The Haven.

Grand Sluice, Boston. The point when the Witham becomes the tidal Haven.

Other Waterways

• All Hallows Drain starts at Horsington and flows into the Catchwater Drain at Stixwould.
• Blue Gowt Drain starts at Pode Hole and flows into the River Glen at Surfleet.
• Bucknall Beck starts at Bucknall and flows into the Engine Drain/River Witham at Southery.
• Crofts Drain starts at Woodhall Spa and runs parallel to The Sewer, flowing into Kirkstead Engine Drain at Kirkstead.
• Daubeney's Beck starts at Thimbleby and flows into Monk's Drain at Poolham.
• Dorrington Dike (also known as Digby Dam) starts at Dorrington and flows into Billinghay Skirth at Billinghay.
• Haltham Beck starts at Low Hammeringham and flows into the River Bain at Kirkby on Bain.

Haltham Beck

• Hemingby Beck starts at Asterby and flows into the River Bain at Hemingby.
• Kirkstead Abbey Drain starts at Kirkstead and flows into Kirkstead Engine Drain, also at Kirkstead.
• Kirkstead Engine Drain starts at Kirkstead and runs parallel to the River Witham, flowing into Kirkstead Mill Beck at Kirkstead.
• Kirkstead Mill Beck starts at Kirkstead and flows into the River Witham at Kirkstead.
• Mill Drain starts in Tattershall Thorpe Parish and runs parallel to the River Witham, flowing into it at Tattershall.
• Miningsby Beck starts at Asgarby and flows into Haltham Beck at Wood Enderby.
• Monk's Drain (also known as Poolham Beck) starts at Thimbleby and flows into the Catchwater Drain at Stixwould.
• Odd's Beck starts at Martin and flows into Monk's Drain at Halstead.
• Stainfield Beck starts at South Willingham and flows into Barlings Eau at Stainfield.

Stainfield Beck

• The Sewer (also known as Woodhall Sewer) is 6.9 kilometers long and starts at Roughton, flowing into the River Witham at Kirkstead.
• Thunker Drain starts at Greetham and flows into the River Waring at Horncastle.
• Tupholme Beck starts at Tupholme and flows into the Engine Drain/River Witham at Southery.

Tupholme Beck

• West Ashby Beck starts at Farthorpe, West Ashby and flows into the River Bain at Furzehills.
• Wispington Beck starts at Baumber and flows into the Catchwater Drain at Bucknall.