River Flit facts for kids
The River Flit is a small river in Bedfordshire, England. It flows for a short distance through the county. The river's name, Flit, comes from the older name of the nearby village, Flitton.
Where Does the River Flit Flow?
The River Flit begins as a small pool. You can find it near Carters Hill, close to the M1 motorway. It starts just east of the village of Chalton, Bedfordshire.
From its start, the river flows north. It reaches the town of Flitwick. Then, it turns northeast, passing by Greenfield and Flitton. The river continues through Clophill, Chicksands, and Shefford. In Shefford, another river called the River Hit joins it. After that, the Flit flows past Stanford. Finally, it meets the River Ivel near Langford.
The Shefford Canal Story
After the River Hit joins the Flit, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the river's path was changed. This part became a canal. A canal is a waterway built by people to connect places. This canal was known as the Shefford Canal or the River Ivel Navigation.
The canal was finished in 1823. It helped connect Shefford to the North Sea. This meant that barges, which are flat-bottomed boats, could bring important goods like coal to the town.
However, the canal became less used over the years. By 1876, a dam was built on the River Ivel at Sandy. This dam closed the Shefford part of the canal for good. Today, some parts of the canal near Shefford are dry. Other parts have been filled in.
