River Stort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stort |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Region | Hertfordshire |
| City | Bishop's Stortford |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | New Lake Near Langley, Essex, England 130 m (430 ft) 52°00′10″N 0°04′06″E / 52.0027°N 0.0683°E |
| River mouth | River Lea Near Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire 28 m (92 ft) 51°45′52″N 0°00′51″E / 51.7644°N 0.0141°E |
| Length | 38 km (24 mi) |
The River Stort is a river in Essex and Hertfordshire, England. It flows for about 24 miles (38 kilometers). The river starts near the village of Langley. It then flows until it joins the River Lea near Hoddesdon.
What's in a Name?
You might think the town of Bishop's Stortford was named after the River Stort. But it's actually the other way around! This is a bit unusual.
In the 1500s, mapmakers like Christopher Saxton and William Camden were making maps. They saw the town called Stortford. They thought the town was named because of a "ford" (a shallow place to cross a river) on the river. So, they named the river "Stort."
However, the river was originally called the Stour. This change in name is an example of "back-formation." It means a new word (or name) is created by taking away a part of an older word.
The Stort Navigation is a special part of the River Stort. It's a section that has been "canalised." This means it was changed to make it easier for boats to travel. It's like turning a natural river into a canal.
This waterway is about 14 miles (22 kilometers) long. It runs from Bishop's Stortford all the way to where it meets the Lee Navigation. The Lee Navigation is another important waterway.
The Stort Navigation has 15 "locks." Locks are like water elevators for boats. They help boats move up or down between different water levels. This allows boats to travel smoothly along the river.
The River's Journey
The River Stort begins its journey north of Langley. From there, it generally flows south. It passes through small villages like Clavering and Manuden. It also flows through the busy market town of Bishop's Stortford.
After Bishop's Stortford, the river continues past Sawbridgeworth. Then, it changes direction and flows west. It goes past the towns of Harlow and Roydon.
Finally, the River Stort reaches its end. It flows into the River Lea at a place called Feildes Weir, near Hoddesdon. This last 14-mile (22-kilometer) section is the part that was made into the Stort Navigation in the 1700s.
