| WITHAM and BOSTON, with other Fenland Rivers and their tortuous trek across The Fens to The Wash |
| THE RIVERS THAT CROSS THE FENS There are four Fenland rivers that flow into the Wash. The Nene (or Neen, or Nen) The Great Ouse, The The Witham and The Welland. But the water in these rivers originates from many other rivers that flow into the main rivers, this includes the Till that flows into The Witham, The Glen that flows into The Welland, The Kym that flows into the The Nene, and the Granta and Cam that flow into the Ouse. In addition to this water either flows, is pumped into the Rivers from many man made drains and channels |
History of the River Witham. During the mid 1800s Sailing barges once navigated the river to the Brayford Pool at Lincoln. Just upstream from Lincoln near Saxilby, the Witham is joined by an Old Roman Canal that linked the Witham with the Trent, called the Fossdyke Canal (See below for greater detail). At South Hykeham the Witham is joined by the River Brant that drains the Wolds to the South of Lincoln. At Lincoln the Witham is joined by the River Till that drains the Wolds North East of Lincoln. The Witham flows eastwards from Lincoln via Bardney and Southrey where is is joined by the Nocton Delph Drain, and then via Langrick towards Boston. Boston was originally called St Botolph's Town. In 13th century it was the second biggest seaport in the country. Boston in the USA, which was originally named 'Trimountaine' took it's name from Boston on the River Witham in Lincolnshire. The Witham is joined by the South Forty Foot drain to the south of Boston, near the docks, and then the water flows towards The Wash, joining with the Welland just after 'The Haven' in the north west corner of The Wash. At this point, and near to the Pilgrim Memorial, the Witham it is joined by the Hobhole Drain. The water from these drains and rivers then flows into an area called 'Clay Hole' in The Wash, and eventually flows towards Skegness in The Wash, an area called the 'Boston Deeps'. |
| The River Witham rises near Thistleton in the County of Rutland (When travelling north on the AI it is off to the left between the Ram Jam Inn and Colsterworth) . It then heads towards theTrent Valley through the village of Woolsthorpe (of Sir Isaac Newton fame) towards Grantham. Left: The River Witham at Great Ponton near to it's source is only a few feet wide. It is not a coincidence that there are two villages north of Stamford in Lincolnshire called North Witham and South Witham near to the border with Rutland. It then continues northwards through Grantham towards Lincoln |
| Right: The Witham as it flows northwards through the centre of Grantham in Lincolnshire. Afterwards it continues westwards (away from the direction of the sea) through the villages of Marston, Long Bennington, Claypole and others, before continuing northwards, bypassing Newark and only then towards Lincoln. |
| Finally at Lincoln, The Witham turns south towards Boston. Below Bardney Bridge over the Witham to the East of Lincoln |
| Finally, the Witham flows into Boston, famous for its 272 feet high Stump and its links with the Pilgrim Fathers. The River Witham takes most of it's water from the Lincolnshire Wolds often from tributaries or drains. Eventually The Witham flows from the Port of Boston into the North West Corner of the Wash, where it joins up with the Welland. The Pilgrim fathers originally sailed from it's estuary called The Haven. |
| Above: Landrick Bridge over the Witham North of Boston |
| To the Left is The Haven at low tide in the North West Corner of The Wash (The North Sea Camp is to the left after about a mile). The location is just prior to where the Witham joins the Welland, and flows out into The Wash. [Main page] |
| THE NORTH SEA CAMP (Prison) This was originally an extension set up by Stafford Prison in 1935. Originally, it was a camp site for detained persons in a remote area of the country called Frieston Marsh. (Nearby is the RSPB reserve) The inmates of the North Sea Camp were involved in land reclamation from the Wash. Since that time it has become more permanent, and moved from it's original use as a Borstal, to a Young Offenders Institution, and nowadays it is a Category D prison (open prison for trusted detainees) This is at a location on the north bank of the Witham, a few miles beyond the Pilgrim memorial, and close to the junction of the Witham and Welland as they enter The Wash, and is of no danger to walkers in the area. If you do not believe this take an aerial view of the area. (The prison is on the left and on the upper bank of the Witham). On the opposite side of the River Witham is another RSPB reserve called Frampton Marsh, Both the Reserves are in South Lincolnshire and on the eastern edge of the fens. This reserve is north of the mouth of the River Welland and south of the mouth of the River Witham as it enters the Wash. To get to the Frampton reserve, a person must first leave the A16 near Kirton and follow the signs to Frampton Marsh. It is described as having 930 acres, and is a SSSI grade 1*. SPA Ramsar site. It mainly consists of saltmarsh which is grazed and covered in dangerous creeks and is in the north west corner of The Wash, it is home for Redshank, Brent Geese, and in the winter Shelduck, Wigeon, Dunlin and Knot can be seen. It is also a wintering place for birds of prey like the Hen Harrier, Short Eared Owl, Sparrowhawk and Merlin. Saltmarsh plants that are present include Sea Aster, and Sea Wormwood. It is warden controlled between April and September. |
| THE HISTORY OF THE FOSSDYKE CANAL The length of this canal is nearly twelve miles long, is currently navigable, and has one lock, and links the River Witham with the River Trent It was originally dug by the Romans. It is connected to the River Trent by a lock at a place called Torksey. |
| THE HISTORY OF THE CARR DYKE The origin of this 'Canal' remains a mystery, but it is thought to have been constructed by the Romans and orginally travelled from Cambridge to Lincoln around the western edge of the fens. It's initial use is also a mystery, some say it was a drainage channel, while others say it was constructed to carry stone and produce. Traces can still be seen today, as it travels through EYE just north of Peterbrough, and then to the east of the villages of BASTON and LANGTOFT, Better know for their extensive sand and gravel workings., and then through THURLBY south of Bourne in Kesteven. |
| Go to: Mayflower/Pilgrim Fathers - Top of page - Main page |
| The Kirkstead Bridge over the Witham to the North of Boston |
| BOSTON STUMP |
| River Witham |
| Boston Town Road Bridge |
| RIver Witham looking towards The Wash flowing through the centre of Boston (Lincolnshire) at low tide. The single arch is 86 feet wide and was erected in 1805-07 (Note: The Guildhall is to the distant right - Not in picture). |
| Left: Old dockyard crane still in situ. Below: River Witham passing the docks between Boston and The Wash |
| River Witham flowing to right towards The Haven. The River is now a shipping Lane. |
| Note Boston Stump in distance. |
| The view of Boston and the Witham from the bunker on the left. |
| A concrete bunker guarding the River Witham against a Nazi Invasion, and a navigation post to guide the modern Germans safely into the port of Boston, |
Boston Stump. Skirbeck Church
| River Witham |
| The River Witham near it's source in Rutland |
| Aerial views of Fens Northern Fens: (Rivers Witham and Welland enter the Wash in the top right corner) Southern Fens:: (Ouse enters Wash top right) |
See also: Car Parking, Walking and Picnicing
| Above: A Pilot Boat on it's way up The Haven to Shephard it's flock of large ocean going ships from the Boston Deeps through the mudflats and sandbanks in The Wash to the relative safety of Boston Dockland. There are similar boats elsewhere |
| THE BOSTON FAIR Since the Hanseatic Merchants in the reign of Henry III about 1260, there has always been a fair at Boston (UK) to the North East of the Fens. The main products dispensed by the fair in the early days were fish and Wool. The port of Boston was only second in size to Yarmouth for fish in the Eastern Counties. It is rumoured that the stump was built on bales of wool, to stabilise the soft ground. The fish was even acquired for the King. It remained prominent as a port until Mary's reign, when it was so large that it was able to send 17 ships and 361 men to the Siege of Calais, and slowly over the years it's trade has slowly subsided, and today it is no more than a very small container port. In early years fish was far more popular than red meat. |