River Babingley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Babingley |
|
|---|---|
.JPG)
River Babingley
|
|
River Babingley within west Norfolk
|
|
| Country | England |
| County | Norfolk |
| Region | East of England |
| District | King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | In the village of Flitcham. |
| River mouth | Wootton Marsh, joins the Lynn channel of the River Great Ouse 52°47′6″N 0°22′28″E / 52.78500°N 0.37444°E |
| Length | 12.2 mi (19.6 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
|
The River Babingley is a small river located in the northwest part of Norfolk, a county in England. It flows for about 12.2 miles (19.6 km) from where it starts in the village of Flitcham. The river ends when it joins the River Great Ouse at Wootton Marshes.
Contents
Journey of the River Babingley
The Babingley River begins its journey in a place called “Further Back Wood,” which is a bit east of Flitcham village, near Abbey Farm. The river starts at a height of about 25 metres (82 ft). Long ago, there was a watermill here, which used the river's power. Today, only the river and the old millpond remain.
From Flitcham to Hillington Park
From its source, the river flows gently downhill towards the west. It goes under the B1153 road and enters Hillington Park. A smaller stream, called the River Cong, joins the Babingley here. The River Cong starts from a spring in a meadow near Congham.
The River Cong and its Waterfall
The River Cong flows through woods and over an impressive waterfall. In the past, this waterfall provided power for the machinery at the Congham Oil Mill. The Cong then flows under the A148 road and meets the Babingley near the Gatton Waters caravan site.
Past Hillington Park and West Newton Mill
After Hillington Park, the river flows into a lake that once powered another watermill. This mill, known as West Newton Paper Mill, used the river's strong flow to turn a large waterwheel. In the late 1700s, the mill changed from making paper to grinding corn. It continued grinding corn until a few years after the last big war.
From this lake, the river travels through a wooded valley, leaving the park and entering the countryside. This area is just south of the royal estate of Sandringham. The riverbanks along this part are very wooded. Just past Hillington, the river passes the northern edge of a lake used as a camping and caravan site.
.JPG)
Through Forestry and Past Babingley Village
The river keeps flowing west, going around the northern edge of a large forest managed by the Forestry Commission, and staying south of Sandringham. At the end of this forest, there used to be another watermill called Babingley Watermill, but like the others, no signs of it are left today.
The river then goes under the A149 road and flows around the north side of the village of Castle Rising. Here, it passes under Babingley Bridge. In the fields on the other side of the bridge, there was once a village also called Babingley, which is now lost. However, you can still find the remains of its old church, St Felix.
Towards The Wash and the Great Ouse
The river now enters an area of fen and marshland. It flows under an old, unused railway track that once connected King's Lynn to Wolferton. This railway line was often used by members of the royal family when they traveled to Sandringham.
The Babingley then winds its way north towards The Wash, which is a large bay. Finally, it flows into a man-made channel that directs it south through Wootton Marsh. The river then reaches Vinegar Middle, where it joins the River Great Ouse estuary in an area called Lynn Channel.
Saint Felix and the River Babingley's Story
Near the river, in the small village of Babingley, there's a famous story about Saint Felix of Burgundy. It's said that around 630 AD, Saint Felix landed here to bring Christianity to East Anglia. A local legend tells that his ship crashed while he was traveling up the River Babingley. The story goes that beavers rescued him, and he was so grateful that he made one of the beavers a bishop!
Images for kids
-
River Babingley
-
River Babingley within west Norfolk
