River Colne, Hertfordshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colne |
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River Colne as it joins the Thames at Staines-upon-Thames
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| Country | England |
| Counties | Hertfordshire, Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Berkshire |
| Towns | Watford, Rickmansworth, Uxbridge, West Drayton, Staines-upon-Thames |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Unnamed brook east of Bell Bar, Brookmans Park 410 feet (120 m) 51°43′50″N 0°10′47″W / 51.7306°N 0.1798°W |
| 2nd source | "Water End" brook east side of North Mymms Park (coalesence of two streams, liable-to-flood meadow) |
| River mouth | River Thames Staines-upon-Thames town centre 48 feet (15 m) 51°25′58″N 0°30′55″W / 51.4329°N 0.5152°W |
| Length | 58 kilometres (36 mi) |
| Discharge (location 2) |
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| Basin features | |
| River system | Thames Basin |
| Tributaries |
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| Number of distributaries including namesake: | 6 |
The River Colne is a river in England. It is a tributary of the famous River Thames. More than half of the Colne's journey is in south Hertfordshire. Further downstream, it forms a border between Buckinghamshire and the London Borough of Hillingdon. The Colne joins the River Thames at Staines-upon-Thames.
Some smaller rivers branch off the Colne. These were built a long time ago, between the 1600s and 1750s. Their main purpose was to make the gardens of Hampton Court Palace and Syon Park look beautiful.
The Colne river valley has seen a lot of engineering. Many viaducts (bridge-like structures) and the Grand Union Canal cross its path. These were important during the Industrial Revolution.
People have dug for gravel and clay near the river in places like Rickmansworth. This digging created many lakes. These lakes are now home to lots of wildlife. They are protected as nature reserves. The river, its meadows, and these lakes form the Colne Valley regional park. This park covers about 43 square miles.
Contents
Where Does the Colne Flow?
The River Colne gets its name after two hidden streams meet. This happens at a spring in North Mymms Park in Hertfordshire. When there is a lot of rain, the streams can also meet in the meadows above.
The Source of the Colne
The streams that form the Colne start far away. Their main sources are about 2.5 to 4 miles away. They begin in places like Northaw, Brookmans Park, Hadley, London, and Borehamwood. These streams drain water from much of these areas.
Sometimes, a stream flows under the village of North Mymms. This stream drains most of the park. The park is a small, flat area that slopes down at its edges.
The River's Journey
The Colne flows from Water End in North Mymms. It first goes west, then north-northwest, and then west again. It then meets the Ellen Brook and turns south-southwest.
The river then winds its way southwest. It flows past Watford and Oxhey. It also goes past Rickmansworth and Batchworth. For a long stretch, it forms the border between Greater London (on the east) and Buckinghamshire (on the west).
The Colne passes through Denham Green and Uxbridge. In Uxbridge, it flows next to the Grand Union Canal. Here, one of its main branches, the Frays River, splits off. The River Pinn also joins the Frays River. Another branch, the Colne Brook, splits off between New Denham and Uxbridge.
At West Drayton, the Frays River rejoins the Colne. Then, two more branches, the Wraysbury River and the Duke of Northumberland's River, split off.
Soon after, at Longford, water is taken into the Longford River. This is a 12-mile long artificial channel. It was built in 1610 for King Charles I. It supplied water for the features in Bushy Park and the lakes in Hampton Court Park.
The Colne's Watery Network
The area that the Colne collects water from is very large. This area is called its drainage basin. The Gade, Ver, and Misbourne rivers flow into the Colne. These rivers start far north in the Chiltern Hills.
Other parts of west and northwest London are drained by different rivers. These include the Pymmes Brook, Brent, and Crane. In the northwest, near Tring, the Chiltern ridge is a clear dividing line. It separates the Colne's basin from the River Great Ouse basin.
How People Used the River Valley
People have thought about connecting the Colne to London for a long time. In 1641, Sir Edward Forde suggested building a canal. Its main goal was to supply clean water. In 1766, two more canals were proposed. One would go from Marylebone to Uxbridge, and another from Marylebone to West Drayton.
The Grand Union Canal
The river changed a lot in the 1790s. This was when the Grand Junction Canal was built. This canal later became part of the Grand Union Canal in 1929. The canal followed the river valley and even used parts of the river channel.
Construction started from Brentford. For 3 miles, it used the channel of the River Brent. It then moved west and north, reaching Uxbridge in November 1794. To reach the Midlands, it continued along the river channel. It then ran next to the River Gade but did not take over its channel.
The Slough Arm of the canal was built in 1882. It needed three aqueducts (water bridges) to cross the Frays River, the River Colne, and the Colne Brook.
Lakes and Industries
Between Croxley Green and Thorney/West Drayton, there are many large lakes. Some of these were once used for growing watercress. Others were chalk pits. Many were created from brickmaking. This industry grew in the valley after 1800. The Grand Junction Canal company found good "brick earth" while building the canal.
Cool Bridges and Markers
There are two special markers next to the river. These are called London Coal Duty markers. They show where a tax had to be paid on coal entering the London area.
One marker is in Colney Heath Local Nature Reserve. It is a square cast iron pillar. It was made in 1861 or 1862 and is 5 feet high. It is painted white.
The second marker is a stone monument called an obelisk. It is 13 feet high and was built in 1861 at Colne Bridge. It was moved in 1984 and repaired by Watford Borough Council.
Near this obelisk is a railway viaduct with five arches. It was built in 1837 for the London to Birmingham Railway. Each arch is about 40 feet wide and 45 feet high. Robert Stephenson designed this structure. It is a grade II listed building, meaning it's historically important.
Telford's Bridge
At London Colney, there is a brick bridge with seven arches. It carries Barnet Road over the river. This bridge dates back to 1774. It is called Telford's Bridge, but it is not believed that Thomas Telford designed it. It was changed in the 20th century with new walls and railings.
The Water Gauge Obelisk
There was a long disagreement about water levels in the Batchford area. This happened after the Grand Junction Canal was built. In 1825, an 8.2-foot tall obelisk was put in a pond. It was used to measure the water level. The obelisk records an agreement between the canal company, John Dickinson (who owned paper mills), and R. Williams (a landowner).
Rivers Joining and Leaving the Colne
The Colne has many rivers and streams that flow into it (tributaries) or branch off from it (distributaries). Here are some of them, listed from the mouth of the Colne (where it meets the Thames) up to its source:
- Sweeps Ditch (a branch in Staines-upon-Thames)
- Wraysbury River (a branch from West Drayton to Staines)
- the Ash (a branch from Staines near Sunbury-on-Thames)
- Colne Brook (a branch from Uxbridge Moor to Hythe End, Wraysbury)
- the Alder Bourne (from Fulmer to Uxbridge Moor)
- Longford River (man-made branch from Longford to Bushy Park and Hampton Court)
- Duke of Northumberland River (man-made branch from West Drayton to Isleworth)
- Frays River (a branch from Watford to West Drayton)
- the Pinn (from Harrow Weald to West Drayton)
- the Misbourne (from Amersham to Uxbridge)
- the Chess (from Chesham to Rickmansworth)
- the Gade
- Hillfield Brook
- the Ver (from Dolittle Mill)
- Tykes Water (or The Brook, Radlett) (from Aldenham Reservoir)
- Ellen Brook (from Hatfield)
- Butterwick Brook (from eastern St Albans)
- Water End (the wide end of the Mimmshall Brook, which drains water from north Brookmans Park via Welham Green)
- Mimmshall Brook (from Elstree to Water End)
- Catherine Bourne (from Shenley to Mimmshall Brook)
- Ray Brook (from Brookmans Park to Water End)
- Potters Bar Brook (from Potters Bar to Water End)
