Little Stour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Stour |
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River Stour and Tributaries
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lyminge |
| River mouth | River Stour |
The Little Stour is a river in Kent, England. It's a smaller river that flows into a bigger one called the River Stour.
The top part of the Little Stour is known as the Nailbourne. This part of the river sometimes dries up, especially in summer. The lower part was once called the Seaton Navigation because boats could travel on it.
The Nailbourne starts in a village called Lyminge. It flows as a special type of stream called a chalk stream. This means it flows over chalk bedrock. It's also a winterbourne, which means it only flows during wet seasons.
The Nailbourne joins the Little Stour near Bekesbourne. Then, the Little Stour flows into the Great Stour at a place called Plucks Gutter, close to East Stourmouth.
Contents
The River's Journey
The Nailbourne's Path
The Nailbourne river begins in Lyminge. It then flows through the Elham Valley until it meets the Little Stour at Bekesbourne.
The water of the Nailbourne first appears at St Ethelburga's Well in Lyminge. The stream often has plenty of water from Lyminge to Elham for most of the year. However, it often has no water from Elham to Bishopsbourne, even in winter.
But in very wet years, this usually dry stream can become a fast-flowing river. It can even flood roads, fields, and houses. For example, in 2001, there was a lot of flooding throughout the Elham Valley.
A few smaller streams flow into the Nailbourne. Most of them don't have names. However, maps show one called the East Brooke. This stream runs from Etchinghill and joins the Nailbourne in Lyminge.
The Little Stour's Path
The Little Stour starts from springs near Well Chapel in Bekesbourne. After passing some watercress farms, the Nailbourne joins the Little Stour (when it's flowing).
The Little Stour then flows into the Great Stour at Plucks Gutter. This is close to West Stourmouth. The combined river is usually known as the River Stour.
Towns and Villages Along the River
The Little Stour and Nailbourne flow through several towns and villages. These include:
- Lyminge
- Elham
- Barham
- Kingston
- Bishopsbourne
- Bridge
- Patrixbourne
- Bekesbourne
- Littlebourne
- Wickhambreaux
- Ickham
- West Stourmouth
River Use and History
Water Mills
The Little Stour was once used to power four watermills. These mills were located in the villages of Littlebourne, Wickhambreaux, and Ickham. Watermills used the river's flow to grind grain or do other work.
Boat Travel
The part of the river from the mills and a loading area (wharf) at Seaton was made suitable for boats before 1831. Because of this, it was sometimes called the Seaton Navigation. This meant small boats could travel along this section of the river.
River Environment
In 2007, the Little Stour was identified as a sensitive area. This means it was at risk from too many nutrients coming from water treatment plants. Because of this, a company called Southern Water had to take steps by 2014. Their goal was to reduce certain chemicals in the water they released into the Little Stour.
Around the same time, a company called Newater wanted to release treated water into the Nailbourne at Elham. This plan aimed to help with water shortages in Southeast England. While the Environment Agency said the plan was safe, some groups, like the Little Stour & Nailbourne River Management Group, had concerns.
River Legends
There are some interesting legends about the Nailbourne. One story says that Saint Augustine performed a miracle. He supposedly brought water to the Elham Valley.
Local legend also says that if the stream runs dry, it's because Woden and Thor are unhappy. These were gods that local people used to worship before Saint Augustine. Another local belief is that the Nailbourne only flows once every seven years. And when it does flow, it's a sign of bad luck.
Local Governance
The name "Little Stour" is also used for an electoral ward. An electoral ward is an area used for local elections. This ward includes the village of Littlebourne and nearby areas. In 2011, about 2,718 people lived in this ward.
