| WELLAND and SPALDING |
| THE SOURCE OF THE WELLAND When the water flows into the Wash it is called the River Welland. This water may have started it's journey many miles from the Welland, in a completely different River. It could have originated in the River Glen in the Bourne area, the River Gwash which joins the Welland at Stamford, the River Chatter or the Eye Brook, which joins the Welland many miles to the west of the Fens, or it may have even thought it was in the Grand Union Canal. In fact the Welland itself rises in Warwickshire, flows along the border of Northamptonshire & Leicestershire and under the Harringworth Viaduct (picture below) into Rutland, and then through Stamford into Lincolnshire and across The Fens, where it joins the River Witham, and the combined waters flow out into the North West Corner of The Wash. |
| After leaving Tinwell the Welland diverts into two tributaries prior to flowing into Stamford either side of an area called Broadeng. The southern tributary then rejoins the main river before reaching The Castle Meadow, whose name originated from a Mediaeval Castle that was once built on the spot, and the river's acted as a moat . Prior to this meeting a further tributary diverts north of the main river and flows via The Kings Mill. This was man made and rejoins the main river again. This diversion is called the Mill Lade. The Mill Lade joins up again with the main river just before the Stamford Town Bridge. |
| See Ordnance Survey map 141 (Kettering and Corby) for this location |
| Apparently many years ago, the Welland was Navigable up to Stamford. To the east of the Town Bridge and just prior to Hudds Mill, the Welland Canal once diverted and flowed north of the main river and flowed beyond Uffington. This length of Canal had a total of seven locks. However, other than indentations in the ground this canal no longer exists. However, mainly because of Fen Drainage further down stream, it has become necessary to install locks and the river further downstream and lower the level of water in the main river. |
| Note: Across the Stamford Meadows used to be a Roman Road, where Bodica is reputed to have crossed the river.. |
| Above: The River Welland as it flows under an Old Stonebridge at Uffington to the East of Stamford. The River has still not reached the Fens, and is still in the low hills of south Lincolnshire, and the level of water is still below the level of the surrounding land The Flood of 1947 - [Top] |
| The River Welland continues on to Tallington, and then through Market Deeping, and Deeping St.James. Amongst the buildings on the right of the picture to the left is a pubic house called the Crown and Anchor (See sign), After the Deepings the Welland enters the Black Peat Fens proper. As it crosses the Fens the water in the river is higher than the surrounding land. As it flows seawards it passes Cowbit Wash (a large Flood plane) that is mainly arable land nowadays. It then enters the town of Spalding (famous for it's tulips), the river has now been diverted to go around the town (The Coronation Channel), it then continues on to Fosdyke after being joined by The Glen, and after that point it enters the North West corner of The Wash, where is joins the same channel as the River Witham |
| See Ordnance Survey maps 141 and 131 (1:50,000 series) for his location and the Wellands treak across the Fens to the Wash |
| Right: The beginning of Coronation Channel (cut after the 1947 floods) just after it leaves the old River Welland at Little London, near Spalding. It takes any extra water around Spalding Town. Below: Is the same Coronation Channel as it joins the old River Welland again.. The Church is Fulney Church, and the lock below it is to avoid the high tide going upstream See aerial view of Spalding (The Waterway from the left side is the Vernattes Drain, and the Welland travels from the bottom centre left, and the link that goes around the town to the right is the Coronation channel.) |
THE ROUTE OF THE RIVER GLEN. Although the River Glen joins the Welland at Surfleet, together with the Vernatt's Drain which flows from Pode Hole to the West of Spalding, also joins the Welland at Surfleet, but further up stream than the junction with the Glen. Prior to the Glen flowing through Surfleet in flows through Pinchbeck West, and from Tongue End (See below) where it is joined by the Bourne Eau from the town of Bourne. Further upstream, it flows north to the West of Bourne, and near it's source, the Glen divides up into the West Glen and the East Glen, and drains the limestone hills to the west of Bourne in Lincolnshire. |
In both the right and above pictures is the River Glen near it's source at two different locations between Little Bytham and Careby in Lincolnshire, to the west of Bourne in Lincolnshire. |
| The West Glen dodges backwards and forwards under the main London to Edinburgh railway line and drains an area of land between Stainsfield and Careby in west Lincolnshire. Later travelling between Langtoft and Bourne in Lincolnshire, across the Fens proper. It travels through an area named Tongue End (the name relates to a long area of original wash and barrow pits which was between the Glen and the Counter Drain, and has now been drained and is mostly arable land) It travels at the side of a nature reserve which is about a kilometer long and two hundred metres wide. This was originally pits where the earth was removed to build up the banks of the Glen (bearing in mind that the level of the water in the Glen is now higher than the surrounding land, an area that wildlife inhabits in the spring, autumn and summer, and when the area froze over in the winter was ideal for the speed skating championships. |
| The River Glen continues from the west across the Fens and joins the Welland seawards of Surfleet, near Spalding. Right: A picture of the Glen as it flows near Surfleet Village before reaching the Welland. Below: The location where both Rivers join and flow towards Fosdyke as The Welland to The Wash. (Note at this point the rivers are tidal |
| The silt in the outfall of the Welland needed attention, and Thomas PEAR was responsible for cutting a new river, from the junction of the Glen and Welland to the Wash. At the time a girder bridge was built similar to Sutton Bridge, to carry the A17 from Norfolk to Lincolnshire. Pear put a sluice at the end of the Glen, so tidal water could not travel back up the Glen |
WELLAND WILDLIFE The Welland is well known as a fisherman's River, and below Deeping St James, fishermen can been seen sitting alongside it about 10 metres apart at the side of Deeping High Bank which many years ago was the subject of flooding, but nowadays is a feeding ground for the Perch, sticklebacks, The Great Diving Beetle, with it's Larva, and many other fish. Flying above the water, can be spotted the Mayfly, which contrary to it's names can be seen during any warm summer month. Also, hovering above water are dragon flies, namely the Banded Demoiselle. The male has a dark blue body and wings, and the female has a dark green body. Also can be seen is the Alderfly, a flying insect with a slow laboured flight. Vegetation growing at the waters edge generally includes bullrushes and reeds. The real bullrush is a tall reed like plant with leafless stems, underneath a crown of brown spiky heads, and must not be confused with reedmace, which has brown sausage shaped tops. Vegetation that floats on the surface of the water includes the yellow flowered water lily, and the Water Crowfoot which is similar to a yellow daisy, and flowers from April onwards Creatures that live under the water and are unable to swim include, The White Ramshorn Snail, the Flat Worm, Mayfly Larva, the Gaddis Fly Larva. the Alderfly Larva, the Fresh Water Mussel, and the Blood Sucking Leech, and many more. |
| Right: The River Welland as it flows towards Stamford near the village of Tinwell |
| Left: The original River Welland looking up stream near Victoria Bridge as it flows through Spalding in Lincolnshire, on the left is Cowbit Road and on the right is London Road. The Junction with the Coronation Channel is about half a mile further upstream. In 1947 the level of the water was higher than the two roads. |
| Right : A public sign near to the Junction of the Welland, Glen and Vernatts at Surfleet near Spalding Lincolnshire, which shows the general area of the Fens many year ago [See also Fenland Intrigue] |
| River Welland |
| River Welland at Uffington |
| Peakirk in distance |
| Deeping St.James beyond trees |
| Entrance to Old Welland } |
Fulney Church and Lock on the Coronation Channel
| West Glen |
| West Glen |
| South end of Coronation Channel |
| River Welland |
| Aerial view of Welland between Spalding and Fosdyke (Fosdyke bridge upper right and junction of Glen and Welland Lower Left |
The River Welland looking upstream starts it's
journey across the Fens, between Deeping St.
James and Crowland in Lincolnshire
journey across the Fens, between Deeping St.
James and Crowland in Lincolnshire
Flood bank.
Welland
River Glen
| River Welland looking west as it flows under an old stone bridge at Deeping St. James. |
| The viaduct is about two miles south of Uppingham, and the railway across the viaduct travels from Stamford to Market Harborough. About half a mile to the right, the railway travels through a tunnel in a hillside near to the village of Glaston |
| See Ordnance Survey (Pathfinder Series 1: 25,000) numbers 877, 878. 857 and 837 for the Welland and Glen's treak across the Fens towards the Wash. No 857 takes in the junction of the Welland and Glen, and 838 takes in the estuary as it enters the Wash |
| River Welland as it flows near Ketton It is a village to the West of Stamford in Lincolnshire |