River Quin
Encyclopedia
The River Quin is a small watercourse which rises near Barkway
in north east Hertfordshire
, England. The river is fed by a number of sources including spring
s from Biggin Moor, Great Hormead Brook, Little Hormead Brook and various field ditches, including the Braughing Bourne - the site of a former glacier
from the Ice Age. It flows south, close to the B1368 road to the southwest of Braughing
where it joins the River Rib
at Gatesbury. This area was the site of a former Roman settlement. Until recently the river was diverted at this point to irrigate watercress
beds before flowing into the Rib.
The Quin Valley also includes the villages of Hare Street and Great Hormead
as well as the smaller settlements of Hay Street and Dassels
. The valley is shallow around the river with gently sloping sides at the northern end, becoming slightly narrower with steeper sides at the southern end of the area. Its sides are dominated by open arable farmland
in small to medium fields with some occasional large fields particularly at the northern end. There is an absence of woodland
and few mature trees grow alongside the river.
In Braughing, there are two ford
crossings, one at Sheeps Lane and the other at Maltings Lane. The river is prone to severe flooding after heavy rain, rendering the fords impassable, particularly in the autumn and winter months. In 1922, a donkey and cart were swept away when its owner tried in vain to cross Sheeps Lane Ford. The animal was drowned.
Barkway
Barkway is a long-established village and civil parish in the North Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England, about five miles south-east of Royston,35 miles from London and 15 miles from the centre of Cambridge....
in north east Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England. The river is fed by a number of sources including spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
s from Biggin Moor, Great Hormead Brook, Little Hormead Brook and various field ditches, including the Braughing Bourne - the site of a former glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
from the Ice Age. It flows south, close to the B1368 road to the southwest of Braughing
Braughing
Braughing is a village and civil parish, between the rivers Quin and Rib, in the non-metropolitan district of East Hertfordshire, part of the English county of Hertfordshire, England...
where it joins the River Rib
River Rib
The River Rib originates near the East Hertfordshire village of Buckland and runs parallel with the A10 through Buntingford, Westmill, Braughing, Puckeridge and Standon until it reaches its confluence with the River Lea near Hertford.-History:...
at Gatesbury. This area was the site of a former Roman settlement. Until recently the river was diverted at this point to irrigate watercress
Watercress
Watercresses are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plants native from Europe to central Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings...
beds before flowing into the Rib.
The Quin Valley also includes the villages of Hare Street and Great Hormead
Great Hormead
Great Hormead is a small village in Hertfordshire. It stands near the River Quin. It is on the B1038 road. There is also the village of Little Hormead nearby.-External Links:* *...
as well as the smaller settlements of Hay Street and Dassels
Dassels
Dassels is a hamlet in East Hertfordshire District, in the county of Hertfordshire. Nearby settlements include the town of Ware and the village of Braughing. It is on the B1368 road. It is near the River Quin....
. The valley is shallow around the river with gently sloping sides at the northern end, becoming slightly narrower with steeper sides at the southern end of the area. Its sides are dominated by open arable farmland
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
in small to medium fields with some occasional large fields particularly at the northern end. There is an absence of woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
and few mature trees grow alongside the river.
In Braughing, there are two ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
crossings, one at Sheeps Lane and the other at Maltings Lane. The river is prone to severe flooding after heavy rain, rendering the fords impassable, particularly in the autumn and winter months. In 1922, a donkey and cart were swept away when its owner tried in vain to cross Sheeps Lane Ford. The animal was drowned.