The River Witham, from source to sea
Great Britain 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster Mapping Extracts © Crown copyright Ordnance Survey. All Rights Reserved. Educational licence 100045616.
Contents
- A pictorial description of the River Witham's indirect route from its source:
- to the sea:
- The first few miles, flowing east to the sea
- The bend north, and up to Grantham and the Vale of Belvoir
- The bend west, into the Vale of Belvoir
- A bend north again, through the Vale of Belvoir to Lincoln
- The bend east, through the Lincoln Gap, and into the Fens
- The final bend south-east to Boston
- Boston
- The Haven, to the sea
- Selected References
Boston
The River Witham passing the Boston'Stump'
The tower of St Botolph's church, completed in 1510, and always known as 'the Stump', rises 272 feet above the flat surface of the Fens. It has long served as a valuable landmark for those on land and sea; and, during World War II, for pilots returning to air bases in Lincolnshire.
The tower of St Botolph's church, completed in 1510, and always known as 'the Stump', rises 272 feet above the flat surface of the Fens. It has long served as a valuable landmark for those on land and sea; and, during World War II, for pilots returning to air bases in Lincolnshire.
The Grand Sluice, Boston
The original barrage (subsequently enlarged and improved) was completed in 1766, and provided a much needed stabilisation on the water levels of the river Witham; improving navigation and reducing flooding. The barrage allows the river to be isolated from large tidal variations in 'The Haven' (the name of the final part of the river's connection to The Wash).
The original barrage (subsequently enlarged and improved) was completed in 1766, and provided a much needed stabilisation on the water levels of the river Witham; improving navigation and reducing flooding. The barrage allows the river to be isolated from large tidal variations in 'The Haven' (the name of the final part of the river's connection to The Wash).
The influence of the Grand Sluice is clearly illustrated from these two pictures. Note how the level of the water in the River Witham in the distance, beyond the Grand Sluice, is unaffected by the large change in level of water in the tidal part, this side of the sluice.
The tidal nature of the canalised Witham downstream of the Grand Sluice makes it less visually appealing
Black Sluice pumping station and lock
The Witham below the Grand Sluice continues to receive drainage waters from the Fens; here from the South Forty Foot Drain - a major drainage dyke south-west of Boston. A new lock installed in 2009 as part of the Fens Waterways Link project allows navigation into the first 19 miles of the Drain
The Witham below the Grand Sluice continues to receive drainage waters from the Fens; here from the South Forty Foot Drain - a major drainage dyke south-west of Boston. A new lock installed in 2009 as part of the Fens Waterways Link project allows navigation into the first 19 miles of the Drain
[map TF 3322 4309]
Port of Boston
The importance of Boston as a port grew in the middle ages. The export of wool, booming since the 13th century, contributed to the town paying more tax than any other town except London. Other exports included grain, salt and lead; with wine, timber and fish as the main imports. By the 16th century movement of the wool trade to other centres, and silting of the river, led to a decline in port activity. Fortunes revived in the 18th century when drainage of the Fens and improvement in the Witham navigation made Boston a major route for exporting grain to London. Present annual tonnage is reported as about 1.3 million, principally dry bulk goods, grain and feedstuffs, hazardous cargo, forest products and general cargo.
The Haven, to the sea
The Haven was a tidal creek up which early settlers could access habitable land beyond the coastal salt flats; with Boston developing at its head. The growth of Boston as a port, however, only occurred after 1014, when the river Witham entered the Haven after severe flooding diverted it from an outflow further west.
Memorial to the Pilgrim Fathers
In 1607 members of the Scrooby Congregation, Protestant separatists from Nottinghamshire, chartered a Dutch vessel to transport them to the Netherlands. Whilst awaiting the vessel near this spot they were arrested and briefly imprisoned in Boston. They later escaped to the Netherlands from the Humber in 1607. In 1620 many of the congregation then emigrated to the colony of Virginia aboard the Speedwell in company with the Mayflower.
In 1607 members of the Scrooby Congregation, Protestant separatists from Nottinghamshire, chartered a Dutch vessel to transport them to the Netherlands. Whilst awaiting the vessel near this spot they were arrested and briefly imprisoned in Boston. They later escaped to the Netherlands from the Humber in 1607. In 1620 many of the congregation then emigrated to the colony of Virginia aboard the Speedwell in company with the Mayflower.
Pillbox overlooking the salt flats of Frampton Marsh south of the Haven embankment
There are several pillboxes of this type on both slopes of the south embankment of the Haven: small, square, with small embrasures.
There are several pillboxes of this type on both slopes of the south embankment of the Haven: small, square, with small embrasures.
[map TF 3971 3913]
The Witham finally reaches the sea
Looking towards Tabs Head, marked by the navigation beacon visible just offshore. Here the river Witham on the left flows into The Wash alongside the River Welland on the right.
The Witham at this point is 35 miles from its source (by crow), but has travelled 86 miles to get here.
Looking towards Tabs Head, marked by the navigation beacon visible just offshore. Here the river Witham on the left flows into The Wash alongside the River Welland on the right.
The Witham at this point is 35 miles from its source (by crow), but has travelled 86 miles to get here.
Selected References
Most of the publications below are available as .pdf files from the web
Fox, Jon (2022). The Witham: Lincolnshire's River. ISBN: 978-0-9932696-2-2. This detailed, and beautifully illustrated book was published after the above article.
Wikipedia articles on the River Witham, Lincoln, Boston, History of Lincolnshire.
Boreham, S et al., 2010. The Quaternary history of the Wash fluvial network, UK. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 121, 393-409.
Bridgland, D.R. et al. (2015). New insight into the Quaternary evolution of the River Trent, UK., Proceedings of the Geologists' Association., 126, 466-479.
Geology of the Grantham district: memoir for 1:50000 geological sheet 127, British Geological Survey, 1999.
Gibbard, P.L. et al. (2013). The Bytham river reconsidered. Quaternary International, 292, 15-32.
Lee, J.R. et al., 2008. Pre-Devensian lithostratigraphy of shallow marine, fluvial and glacial deposits in northern East Anglia. Quaternary of northern East Anglia - Field Guide. Edinburgh: Quaternary Research Association.
Abbeys of the Witham Valley. Lincolnshire Museums 1978.
Antiquities from the River Witham, Archaeology Series No. 12, Lincolnshire Museums Information Sheet, 1979.
Boston Borough Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, AECOM, October 2010.
River Witham Catchment Flood Management Plan, Summary Report December 2009. Environment Agency.
National Library of Scotland - Map Images.
'http://www.localhistories.org/locallist.html.
Great Britain 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster Mapping Extracts © Crown copyright Ordnance Survey. All Rights Reserved. Educational licence 100045616.
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