River Ainse (or Eyn) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Ainse (Eyn) |
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Eade's Mill on the River Ainse(Eyn)
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 Location of the river mouth within Norfolk
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| Country | England |
| State | Norfolk |
| Region | East of England |
| District | Broadland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Heydon 47 m (154 ft) 52°47′17″N 1°05′30″E / 52.7880°N 1.0917°E |
| River mouth | River Wensum Lenwade 14 m (46 ft) 52°43′30″N 01°7′13.5″E / 52.72500°N 1.120417°E |
| Length | 14.2 km (8.8 mi) |
The River Ainse, also known as the River Eyn, is a small river located in the county of Norfolk, England. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river. The River Ainse is a tributary of the River Wensum, which means it joins the Wensum at a place called Lenwade. The Ainse itself also has several smaller streams that flow into it.
The River Ainse: A Short Journey
The River Ainse starts its journey near a village called Heydon. From there, it flows for about 14.2 kilometers (which is roughly 8.8 miles). This makes it a relatively short river. As it travels, it collects water from other small streams. Its journey ends when it meets the River Wensum at Lenwade.
Eade's Mill: A Historic Watermill
One of the most interesting spots along the River Ainse is Eade's Mill. This historic watermill is located in Great Witchingham. It was built a very long time ago, in the year 1666. Imagine how many years that is!
For centuries, watermills like Eade's Mill were super important. They used the power of flowing water to turn a large wheel, which then helped grind grain into flour. This was a common way to prepare food before electricity was invented.
How Eade's Mill Changed Over Time
Eade's Mill continued to use its waterwheel for a very long time. The waterwheel was still working well until 1948. That's less than a hundred years ago!
Later, in 1972, the mill was still being used, but for a different purpose. It became a hammer mill. Instead of grinding flour for people, it was used to grind up pig meal. This time, it wasn't powered by the river's water. Instead, it used electricity.
Today, Eade's Mill and the buildings around it are considered important historical sites. They are "listed," which means they are protected because of their special history and architecture. It's a cool reminder of how things used to be!
