River Babingley
Encyclopedia
The Babingley is a minor river in the northwest of the county Norfolk
in England
. It runs 12.2 miles (19.6 km) from its source at the village of Flitcham to the River Great Ouse
at Wootton Marshes
were it terminates.
The Babingley rises in “Further Back Wood”, a little way east of the village of Flitcham, close to Abbey Farm. Its source is at a height of 25 metres (82 ft). A watermill
once stood on the river bank, but traces of it are long gone; the watercourse and the millpond are all that remain.
From here the river runs through a gentle sloped valley westwards and passes under the B1153 road and into Hillington Park. There is tributary spring in a meadow on the Hillington side of Pond Farm, at Congham. This tributary of the river is called the River Cong
, flowing through the woods and over an impressive waterfall, where in the past it powered all the machinery within the Congham Oil Mill. The Cong then flows on under the A148 and joins the Babingley close by the Gatton Waters caravan site. After Hillington Park the river flows into the lake that served another long-gone watermill that stood close to Hillington Hall The now increased force of water once powered the large waterwheel at what, years ago was known as West Newton Paper Mill. In the late 18th century sadly the miller went mad and his son then took over the business. It then changed over from making paper to grinding corn which lasted up until a few years after the last war. From the lake the river runs through a wooded valley out of the Park and into the countryside south of the royal estate of Sandringham
. The banks of the river along this stretch are very wooded. Just past Hillington, the river passes the northern edge of a lake that has been used as a camping and caravan site.
The river continues westward skirting the northern edge of a large Forestry Commission plantation and south of Sandringham. At the end of the plantation there once was Babingley Watermill; again, no traces survive.
The river passes under the A 149 road
and skirts around the north of the village Castle Rising
, were it passes under Babingley Bridge. In the fields on the other side of the bridge once was the village of Babingley
, now lost, although the remains of the church of St Felix can still be found.
The river now crosses into fen and marshland and passes under the disused railway bed of the line that runs from King’s Lynn to Wolferton
and once carried many members of the royal family
on their way to Sandringham. The river now meanders in a northerly direction towards the wash. It then switches back on itself into a man-made watercourse that directs it southward through Wootton Marsh towards Vinegar Middle where the river finally runs into the river Great Ouse
at Lynn Channel.
, near the river, Saint Felix of Burgundy
is said to have landed in 600 AD to introduce Christianity to East Anglia
. Local legend has it that St. Felix' ship was wrecked while travelling up the river Babingley. According to legend, he was rescued by beavers, and subsequently made one of the beavers a bishop.
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It runs 12.2 miles (19.6 km) from its source at the village of Flitcham to the River Great Ouse
River Great Ouse
The Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. At long, it is the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The river has been important for navigation, and for draining the low-lying region through which it flows. Its course has been modified several times, with the first recorded being in...
at Wootton Marshes
North Wootton, Norfolk
North Wootton is a village near the town of King's Lynn in Norfolk, England, and remains a separate civil parish.It covers an area of and had a population of 2,387 in 935 households as of the 2001 census....
were it terminates.
The Babingley rises in “Further Back Wood”, a little way east of the village of Flitcham, close to Abbey Farm. Its source is at a height of 25 metres (82 ft). A watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
once stood on the river bank, but traces of it are long gone; the watercourse and the millpond are all that remain.
From here the river runs through a gentle sloped valley westwards and passes under the B1153 road and into Hillington Park. There is tributary spring in a meadow on the Hillington side of Pond Farm, at Congham. This tributary of the river is called the River Cong
River Cong (Norfolk)
The River Cong is in the west of the county of Norfolk. Its is a tributary of the River Babingley. The spring rises in a meadow pool on the Hillington side of Manor Farm, Congham...
, flowing through the woods and over an impressive waterfall, where in the past it powered all the machinery within the Congham Oil Mill. The Cong then flows on under the A148 and joins the Babingley close by the Gatton Waters caravan site. After Hillington Park the river flows into the lake that served another long-gone watermill that stood close to Hillington Hall The now increased force of water once powered the large waterwheel at what, years ago was known as West Newton Paper Mill. In the late 18th century sadly the miller went mad and his son then took over the business. It then changed over from making paper to grinding corn which lasted up until a few years after the last war. From the lake the river runs through a wooded valley out of the Park and into the countryside south of the royal estate of Sandringham
Sandringham House
Sandringham House is a country house on of land near the village of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. The house is privately owned by the British Royal Family and is located on the royal Sandringham Estate, which lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-History and current...
. The banks of the river along this stretch are very wooded. Just past Hillington, the river passes the northern edge of a lake that has been used as a camping and caravan site.
The river continues westward skirting the northern edge of a large Forestry Commission plantation and south of Sandringham. At the end of the plantation there once was Babingley Watermill; again, no traces survive.
The river passes under the A 149 road
A149 road
The A149 is a major route in Norfolk, linking Kings Lynn to Great Yarmouth. It runs via the coast rather than on a more direct route such as the A47. The eastern section runs through The Broads.-Kings Lynn to Wells next the Sea:...
and skirts around the north of the village Castle Rising
Castle Rising
Castle Rising is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is best known as the location of Castle Rising Castle, which dominates the village...
, were it passes under Babingley Bridge. In the fields on the other side of the bridge once was the village of Babingley
Babingley
Babingley is one of Norfolk's lost villages. This small parish was located on the western side of the A149, 1 mile north-west of Castle Rising, and 5½ miles north-north-east of King's Lynn. Today, the village of Babingley is constituted by several houses on the A149 - the King's Lynn to Hunstanton...
, now lost, although the remains of the church of St Felix can still be found.
The river now crosses into fen and marshland and passes under the disused railway bed of the line that runs from King’s Lynn to Wolferton
Wolferton
Wolferton is a village in the north of the English county of Norfolk. The village is situated some 3 km west of the village of Sandringham, 12 km north of the town of King's Lynn and 60 km north-west of the city of Norwich....
and once carried many members of the royal family
House of Windsor
The House of Windsor is the royal house of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V by royal proclamation on the 17 July 1917, when he changed the name of his family from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor, due to the anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom...
on their way to Sandringham. The river now meanders in a northerly direction towards the wash. It then switches back on itself into a man-made watercourse that directs it southward through Wootton Marsh towards Vinegar Middle where the river finally runs into the river Great Ouse
River Great Ouse
The Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. At long, it is the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The river has been important for navigation, and for draining the low-lying region through which it flows. Its course has been modified several times, with the first recorded being in...
at Lynn Channel.
Saint Felix and the river Babingley
In the hamlet of BabingleyBabingley
Babingley is one of Norfolk's lost villages. This small parish was located on the western side of the A149, 1 mile north-west of Castle Rising, and 5½ miles north-north-east of King's Lynn. Today, the village of Babingley is constituted by several houses on the A149 - the King's Lynn to Hunstanton...
, near the river, Saint Felix of Burgundy
Felix of Burgundy
Felix of Burgundy, also known as Felix of Dunwich , was a saint and the first bishop of the East Angles. He is widely credited as the man who introduced Christianity to the kingdom of East Anglia...
is said to have landed in 600 AD to introduce Christianity to East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
. Local legend has it that St. Felix' ship was wrecked while travelling up the river Babingley. According to legend, he was rescued by beavers, and subsequently made one of the beavers a bishop.