River Dove, Suffolk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dove |
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The River Dove, near to Thornham Magna
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 Location within Suffolk
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| Country | England |
| Region | Suffolk |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Bacton 63 m (207 ft) 52°15′21″N 1°00′04″E / 52.2559°N 1.001°E |
| River mouth | River Waveney near Hoxne 22 m (72 ft) 52°21′38″N 1°11′49″E / 52.3606°N 1.19685°E |
| Length | 24.5 km (15.2 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | River Waveney |
| Tributaries |
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The River Dove is a lovely river found in the county of Suffolk, England. It is like a smaller stream that flows into the larger River Waveney. The River Dove starts near a village called Bacton and makes its way through towns like Eye before joining the Waveney.
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The River Dove: A Journey Through Suffolk
The River Dove begins its journey as several small streams in the area of Bacton. It starts quite high up, about 63 meters (207 feet) above sea level. From there, it flows downhill, first heading north, then turning east.
Where Does the River Dove Flow?
As the river continues, it passes through the village of Finningham. Here, it flows under the railway line that connects Stowmarket to Norwich. Further along, near Thorndon, another stream joins the Dove, making it bigger. The river then turns north again.
It flows along the eastern edge of the town of Eye. You can see it running right next to where the old Eye Priory used to be. After Eye, the river forms the western border of the Hoxne area. It winds and turns a lot here.
Meeting the Gold Brook
Near Hoxne, the River Dove meets another stream called Gold Brook. This is an important meeting point! After joining Gold Brook, the River Dove finally flows into the River Waveney. This happens right at the border between Suffolk and Norfolk.
Gold Brook: A Stream with a Story
Gold Brook is a stream that flows for about 8 kilometers (5 miles). It starts in the area of Southolt and travels north through Redlingfield before reaching Hoxne. It then joins the River Dove.
The Legend of Goldbrook Bridge
As Gold Brook enters Hoxne, it goes under a bridge called Goldbrook Bridge. This bridge is on the road to Cross Street. According to an old story, something very famous happened here! King Edmund the Martyr supposedly hid under this bridge to escape from the invading Danes.
The legend says that a newly married couple saw his shiny spurs under the bridge. Because they saw him, the Danes captured King Edmund. The story goes that King Edmund then put a curse on all new couples who crossed that bridge. People even in the 1800s would avoid the bridge on their wedding day! The same legend says King Edmund was killed on the hill above the bridge.
Eye: An Island Town by the River
The River Dove flows right next to the town of Eye. Eye is famous for its important medieval castle. The name "Eye" actually comes from an old word that means "island."
Why Was Eye Called an Island?
In the past, the River Dove, its smaller streams, and the marshy land around them would often flood. When this happened, the town of Eye would become surrounded by water, making it seem like an island! Even today, the area around the river can still flood quite often.
The River in Art
The River Dove has even been featured in art! In 1909, a famous artist named Alfred Munnings painted a picture called A Suffolk Pastoral, the River Dove with a distant clover field. It shows the beauty of the river and the countryside around it.
