River Freshney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids River Freshney
The old granary and riverside walk above Alexandra Dock
Country	England
Counties	Lincolnshire
Physical characteristics
Main source	Beelsby 60 m (200 ft) 53°30′11″N 0°10′28″W / 53.503132°N 0.174338°W / 53.503132; -0.174338 (Source)
River mouth	Grimsby Docks 0 m (0 ft) 53°34′04″N 0°04′58″W / 53.567877°N 0.082890°W / 53.567877; -0.082890 (Mouth)
Length	14 km (8.7 mi)

The River Freshney is a river in North East Lincolnshire, England. The town of Grimsby is built along its banks. The river starts from several natural springs in the Lincolnshire Wolds. Some local stories say it begins at Welbeck Hill.

Long ago, the Freshney flowed into the River Humber. But it was later changed to flow into Grimsby Docks. In 1669, landowners decided to move the river's path. This was done to bring fresh water to Grimsby's old port and help keep it from getting blocked with mud. The work was likely finished in the early 1700s.

Where the River Flows

The River Freshney starts from a few springs. The furthest south spring is just north of Beelsby. It flows north and meets another stream. Both then go under the A18 road.

Another stream, called Team Gate Drain, starts near Waltham. It joins with a stream from Welbeck Hill. These combined streams flow north. They pass under the A46 road near Laceby. As the river flows along the east side of Laceby, it is called Laceby Beck.

A stream from Aylesby joins the river next. The river then flows between some lakes at Laceby Acres. A channel called the New Cut Drain runs next to the river from this point. They both pass under the A1136 road. They also flow on either side of the Freshney Bog Nature Reserve.

The river then goes under Cromwell Road and a railway line. After this, the New Cut Drain follows the river's old path. But the main river turns sharply. It goes under the railway line towards the docks. It then passes under several bridges in Grimsby. These bridges carry Boulevard Avenue, Earl Street, and Alexandra Road.

Another sharp turn brings the river into Alexandra Dock. Here, there is a special gate with flap doors. This gate helps control the water flow. The Freshney pumping station also helps move water out when the river level is high.

Corporation Bridge crosses Alexandra Dock. It is a historic bridge that can lift up to let ships pass. It was built in 1925 and opened in 1928. After the A180 Westgate road crosses Alexandra Dock, Union Dock connects it to Royal Dock. Finally, a lock at the end of Royal Dock connects the river to the River Humber.

Understanding River Levels and Floods

How Freshney Bog Helps

Freshney Bog was built in 2001. It is a special area designed to hold extra water. When the river gets too full, this area can store the overflow. This helps protect Grimsby from floods. It is a very important part of the town's flood defense system.

The 2007 Floods

In 2007, there were very heavy floods in the United Kingdom. In just 24 hours, the River Freshney area received a whole month's worth of rain. The ground was already full of water. The river and the New Cut Drain could not hold all the extra water.

The Freshney Bog storage area filled up completely. But it still wasn't big enough for all the water. Because of this, about 200 houses were flooded.

River Levels Today

At the Laceby Beck measuring station, the river's normal levels are usually between 0.62 and 2.55 feet (0.19 and 0.78 meters). On November 8, 2019, the river reached 3.64 feet (1.11 meters). This is thought to be the highest the river has ever been since measurements started.

On April 2, 2018, it reached 3.46 feet (1.05 meters). This was the second highest level recorded. On October 27, 2019, the river rose to 1.01 meters, which was its third highest level. Thanks to changes made after the 2007 floods, these higher levels were mostly managed well.

The Environment Agency did work on the New Cut Drain in 2013. This was to help reduce the risk of houses flooding. This work was planned after the big flood on July 21, 2007. At that time, the river reached 3.25 feet (0.99 meters), which was a record then.

The work included building new flood banks. They also removed parts of old banks to let more water be stored when the river is high. Even with these improvements, some people who live near the river are still worried. They report water sometimes seeping through walls and up through roads when the river levels are high.

Water Quality of the Freshney

The Environment Agency checks the water quality of rivers in England. They give each river an overall "ecological status." This status can be high, good, moderate, poor, or bad. They look at things like:

• The types and numbers of tiny animals (invertebrates)
• The types of plants
• The types of fish

They also check the "chemical status" by measuring chemicals in the water. This is rated as good or fail.

Current Status

In 2016, the River Freshney's water quality was:

Both the ecological and overall status have gotten better since 2014. Back then, both were rated "bad." The chemical status was "fail."

Why Water Quality Isn't Perfect

The water quality is not yet "good" for a few reasons:

• The river channel has been changed by people.
• Water is taken from underground sources.
• Sewage is sometimes discharged into the river.
• Farming practices in the area can lead to poor soil management.

Friends of the Freshney

A group called "Friends of the Freshney" was started in the 2000s. They organize regular clean-ups of the lower part of the river. They often focus on the area that flows through the Duke of York Gardens in Grimsby. The group meets regularly to plan their efforts.

Points of Interest Along the River