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River Ingrebourne

Coordinates: 51°34′08″N 0°14′55″E / 51.56901°N 0.24857°E / 51.56901; 0.24857
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Ingrebourne
Rainham Creek
Looking north from the bridge on Berkeley Drive
Location
CountryEngland
CountiesGreater London
London boroughsHavering
TownsUpminster, Hornchurch, Rainham
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationBrentwood, Essex
MouthRiver Thames
 • location
Rainham Marsh, Rainham
Length43.3 km (26.9 mi)
Discharge 
 • locationGaynes Park
 • average0.33 m3/s (12 cu ft/s)
 • minimum0.06 m3/s (2.1 cu ft/s)17 August 1972
 • maximum29.0 m3/s (1,020 cu ft/s)21 November 1974
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftWeald Brook, Carters Brook, Paynes Brook

The River Ingrebourne /ˈɪŋɡərˌbɔːrn/ is a tributary of the River Thames 27 miles (43.3 km) in length. It is considered a strategic waterway in London, forming part of the Blue Ribbon Network. It flows through the London Borough of Havering roughly from north to south, joining the Thames at Rainham.

Etymology

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The name is recorded in 1062 as Ingceburne and its suffix is a form of the Old English 'burna', meaning bourne, a type of stream. The meaning of the prefix is unclear, although it could refer to a person.[1]

Description

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The Ingrebourne rises near Brentwood, Essex, whence it flows in a southwesterly direction under the M25 motorway through the London Borough of Havering in north east London. The river passes under the motorway near Junction 28, where the first of its tributaries, the 2.7 miles (4.3 km) long Weald Brook joins, followed shortly by Carters Brook and Paynes Brook. After skirting south of the built-up area of Harold Hill, the route passes under the Great Eastern Main Line. From here it is partly non-urban: a large area of flood-plain follows before the Ingrebourne threads between the suburbs of Upminster and Hornchurch.

Ingrebourne Valley from Hornchurch Country Park

The river from here is surrounded by public open space: with Gaynes Parkway, the Ingrebourne Valley Greenway and Hornchurch Country Park taking up the area until reaching Rainham. Here the river divides, the main channel becoming Rainham Creek, where it flows into the Thames between Hornchurch Marshes (to the west) and Rainham Marshes (to the east) at Old Man's Head. The second channel becomes the Wennington Sewers complex.

Significance

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The Ingrebourne Marshes are a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the diversity of its wildlife and extensive areas of wetland reeds.[2] The river forms one of the strategic waterways identified in the Blue Ribbon Network policy in the London Plan. The Ingrebourne Valley is a Local Nature Reserve.[3]

Crossings

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Crossing Type Coordinates Opened Notes Photo
Putwell Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°36′25″N 0°15′29″E1582Carries the A12 road
Harold Park Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°36′0″N 0°14′59″E
River Ingrebourne Underline Bridge Edit this on WikidataRailway bridge, brick bridge51°35′46″N 0°14′31″ECarries the Great Eastern Main Line
Cockabourne Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°35′27″N 0°14′20″E1613
Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°35′20″N 0°14′24″E
Rainbow Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°35′17″N 0°14′23″E2002
Badger Bridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°34′54″N 0°14′47″E2002
Upminster Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°33′30″N 0°14′23″E1375
Hacton Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°33′3″N 0°13′58″E1299
Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge51°32′42″N 0°13′16″E
Footbridge Edit this on WikidataFootbridge, bicycle bridge51°32′11″N 0°12′56″E
Red Bridge Edit this on WikidataRoad bridge51°31′15″N 0°11′24″E1234Also known as Rainham Bridge
Rainham Viaduct Edit this on WikidataGirder bridge, high-speed railway viaduct51°31′7″N 0°11′12″E2007
Rainham Creek Culvert Edit this on WikidataBuried watercourse51°30′30″N 0°10′29″E1976Discharges into the River Thames at a sluice

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mills, A.D. (2001). Dictionary of London Place Names. Oxford.
  2. ^ Natural England, Ingrebourne Marshes citation
  3. ^ "Ingrebourne Valley". Natural England.
Next confluence upstream River Thames Next confluence downstream
River Beam (north) River Ingrebourne Mardyke (north)

51°34′08″N 0°14′55″E / 51.56901°N 0.24857°E / 51.56901; 0.24857