River Kennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Kennett |
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River Kennett at Dalham, dry in August, 2005
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 Location within Suffolk
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| Country | England |
| County | Suffolk |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Dalham, Suffolk, East Anglia, England 108 m (354 ft) 52°13′12″N 0°30′35″W / 52.22000°N 0.50972°W |
| River mouth | Lee Brook near Freckenham, Suffolk, England 0 m (0 ft) 52°19′0.12″N 0°25′58.8″E / 52.3167000°N 0.433000°E |
| Length | 28 km (17 mi) |
The River Kennett is a river that flows through Suffolk and Cambridgeshire in eastern England. It is about 28 kilometers (17 miles) long.
Contents
Where Does the River Kennett Flow?
The River Kennett starts in the hills west of Cowlinge Hall in western Suffolk. It begins at about 108 meters (354 feet) above sea level. The river first flows northeast towards the village of Cowlinge.
The River's Journey Through Counties
After Cowlinge, the river turns west and crosses into Cambridgeshire. It stays in Cambridgeshire for a short distance before flowing back into Suffolk. This happens just north of Lidgate. From there, it flows north through Dalham and Moulton.
Near Kentford, the river forms the border between Suffolk and Cambridgeshire for about a mile. It then flows through Cambridgeshire again, just north of the village of Kennett. After this, it forms the county border for another three miles as it passes Red Lodge.
Where the Kennett Ends
The River Kennett eventually reaches Freckenham. Here, it joins Lee Brook, which is a smaller river that flows into the River Lark. This meeting point is south of Freckenham, at about 10 meters (33 feet) above sea level. The River Kennett often dries up during the summer months.
What About the River's Water Level?
In recent years, since 2015, the water level in the River Kennett has been very low. Sometimes, it has even been dry in winter, especially in areas like Lidgate, Ousden, and Dalham.
Why Does the River Sometimes Dry Up?
For a while, the only reason any water flowed through Moulton was because of a sewage treatment plant between Dalham and Moulton. This plant released water into the river. Luckily, in early December 2019, after a lot of rain, the river started flowing again in these areas. It was only a small stream, but it was flowing!
When the River Was Too High
Not long ago, in the winter of 2013-2014, there was a lot of flooding. On February 7, 2014, the river overflowed its banks in Moulton. Water covered the road near the church, and some houses were almost flooded.
The History of the River Kennett
The villages of Kentford and Kennett both got their names from the river. The name "Kennett" comes from an old Celtic word, but its exact meaning is not known today.
How the River Has Changed Over Time
The path of the River Kennett has changed many times over hundreds of years. You can see clues about these changes by looking at how the river's path sometimes differs from the boundaries of the Kennett parish.
An Ancient Bridge Over the Kennett
In Moulton, the river flows under a very old bridge called a packhorse bridge. This bridge was built in the 15th century, which means it's over 500 years old! It is considered a special historical building. This bridge has four arches, which are curved openings. The fact that it has so many arches suggests that the river was wider and had more water when the bridge was first built.
Images for kids
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River Kennett at Badlingham, near Chippenham, Cambridgeshire
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The 15th-century Moulton Packhorse Bridge
