River Ash
Encyclopedia
The River Ash is a small river in Surrey
, England
and its course of some 10 km or 6 miles is just outside Greater London
. The course of the river has been much influenced by human action. It flows from the River Colne
, just south of Staines Moor
, eastwards through the borough of Spelthorne
, running through the towns of Staines
, Ashford
and Shepperton
before joining the River Thames
in the creek behind Sunbury Lock
at Sunbury
. It goes through many back gardens in Old Charlton Road, Shepperton
.
There are maps dating back to medieval times documenting the changes made to the course of the river by man. The earliest one shows the history of the Shepperton Studios
site, more particularly Shepperton Manor. This refers to the monks of Westminster, who, it is suggested, may have done some widening still visible today.
In 1910 the Metropolitan Water Board
built the Staines Aqueduct to supply water from the River Thames
at Hythe End
to its works at Sunbury. This meant that the river was now in a siphon
at three locations: Birch Green and Shortwood Allotments as well near the Queen Mary Reservoir
at Laleham
.
Shortly after this, the River Ash was diverted to make way for the Queen Mary Reservoir
in Laleham. Parts of the original course can still be seen near the Laleham Intake and Pumping Station.
In the early 1960s, the outflow from the River Colne, where the River Ash starts, was moved some metres south and some 100 metres of its length was diverted to make way for the Staines Bypass (the A30
) . Here it flows underground for 270 metres beneath the Crooked Billet roundabout.
.
More work has been carried out recently under the River Ash Flood Alleviation Scheme. A major upgrade of the water treatment works at Ashford Common was started by Thames Water Utilities
during 1994 and 1995, resulting in increased flow and flood risk at properties along Old Charlton Road, Shepperton
and Heriden Way, as the works discharges to the lower River Ash near the M3
. Consequently, a flood relief channel was suggested. This was built during the first five months in 1995 and cost a total of £450,000.
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, 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...
and its course of some 10 km or 6 miles is just outside Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
. The course of the river has been much influenced by human action. It flows from the River Colne
River Colne, Hertfordshire
The Colne is a river in England which is a tributary of the River Thames. It flows mainly through Hertfordshire and forms the boundary between the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire and the London Borough of Hillingdon...
, just south of Staines Moor
Staines Moor
Staines Moor is a Site of Special Scientific Interest at the NW corner of Surrey, England. It is around 2 sq km in area, and consists of rough pasture. The River Colne, Hertfordshire runs through it. It lies between Staines to the south and the village of Stanwellmoor to the north.The Staines Moor...
, eastwards through the borough of Spelthorne
Spelthorne
Spelthorne is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. It includes the towns of Ashford, Laleham, Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell and Sunbury...
, running through the towns of Staines
Staines
Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and Greater London Urban Area, as well as the London Commuter Belt of South East England. It is a suburban development within the western bounds of the M25 motorway and located 17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in...
, Ashford
Ashford, Surrey
Ashford is a town almost entirely in the Surrey borough of Spelthorne in England, with a small part falling within Greater London. It is a suburban development situated 15 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in London and forms part of the London commuter belt...
and Shepperton
Shepperton
Shepperton is a town in the borough of Spelthorne, Surrey, England. To the south it is bounded by the river Thames at Desborough Island and is bisected by the M3 motorway...
before joining the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in the creek behind Sunbury Lock
Sunbury Lock
Sunbury Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England near Walton-on-Thames in north-west Surrey. The lock adjoins the southern bank about half a mile downstream of the Weir Hotel....
at Sunbury
Sunbury-on-Thames
Sunbury-on-Thames, also known as Sunbury, is a town in the Surrey borough of Spelthorne, England, and part of the London commuter belt. It is located 16 miles southwest of central London and bordered by Feltham and Hampton, flanked on the south by the River Thames.-History:The earliest evidence of...
. It goes through many back gardens in Old Charlton Road, Shepperton
Shepperton
Shepperton is a town in the borough of Spelthorne, Surrey, England. To the south it is bounded by the river Thames at Desborough Island and is bisected by the M3 motorway...
.
There are maps dating back to medieval times documenting the changes made to the course of the river by man. The earliest one shows the history of the Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios is a film studio in Shepperton, Surrey, England with a history dating back to 1931 since when many notable films have been made there...
site, more particularly Shepperton Manor. This refers to the monks of Westminster, who, it is suggested, may have done some widening still visible today.
In 1910 the Metropolitan Water Board
Metropolitan Water Board
The Metropolitan Water Board was founded in 1903 to bring the nine private water companies supplying water to London under a single public body. The members of the board were nominated by the various local authorities within its area of supply. A Royal Commission had reported in 1899 on the need...
built the Staines Aqueduct to supply water from the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
at Hythe End
Hythe End
Hythe End is a place in Berkshire between Wraysbury and Staines, England on the northern bank of the River Thames close to Bell Weir Lock.Hythe End consists of several riverside homes, mainly on The Island, Hythe End. There are gravel pits to the north which make up a Site of Special Scientific...
to its works at Sunbury. This meant that the river was now in a siphon
Siphon
The word siphon is sometimes used to refer to a wide variety of devices that involve the flow of liquids through tubes. But in the English language today, the word siphon usually refers to a tube in an inverted U shape which causes a liquid to flow uphill, above the surface of the reservoir,...
at three locations: Birch Green and Shortwood Allotments as well near the Queen Mary Reservoir
Queen Mary Reservoir
The Queen Mary Reservoir is one of the largest of London's reservoirs located in the Staines/Sunbury area of West London within the borough of Spelthorne in Surrey. It lies south of the A308 and west of the M3 motorway...
at Laleham
Laleham
Laleham is a village in the borough of Spelthorne, in the county of Surrey in South East England and adjoins Staines. It is within the historic boundaries of Middlesex. To its south is Laleham Park by the River Thames, across green belt farmland to its north and south east are Ashford and...
.
Shortly after this, the River Ash was diverted to make way for the Queen Mary Reservoir
Queen Mary Reservoir
The Queen Mary Reservoir is one of the largest of London's reservoirs located in the Staines/Sunbury area of West London within the borough of Spelthorne in Surrey. It lies south of the A308 and west of the M3 motorway...
in Laleham. Parts of the original course can still be seen near the Laleham Intake and Pumping Station.
In the early 1960s, the outflow from the River Colne, where the River Ash starts, was moved some metres south and some 100 metres of its length was diverted to make way for the Staines Bypass (the A30
A30 road
The 284 miles A30 road from London to Land's End, historically known as the Great South West Road used to provide the most direct route from London to the south west; more recently the M3 motorway and A303 road performs this function for much of the route and only parts of A30 now retain trunk...
) . Here it flows underground for 270 metres beneath the Crooked Billet roundabout.
Flooding and alleviation
The most recent serious flood on the River Ash was in 1947, when homes and roads were severely affected by flood waters. This was not due to the flood prevention methods on the River Ash but to those on the River Colne, as well as high water levels on the River ThamesRiver Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
.
More work has been carried out recently under the River Ash Flood Alleviation Scheme. A major upgrade of the water treatment works at Ashford Common was started by Thames Water Utilities
Thames Water
Thames Water Utilities Ltd, known as Thames Water, is the private utility company responsible for the public water supply and waste water treatment in large parts of Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Kent, and some other areas of in the United Kingdom...
during 1994 and 1995, resulting in increased flow and flood risk at properties along Old Charlton Road, Shepperton
Shepperton
Shepperton is a town in the borough of Spelthorne, Surrey, England. To the south it is bounded by the river Thames at Desborough Island and is bisected by the M3 motorway...
and Heriden Way, as the works discharges to the lower River Ash near the M3
M3 motorway
The M3 motorway runs in England for approximately from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, to Southampton, Hampshire and forms an unsigned section European route E05. It is dual three lanes as far as Junction 8 near Basingstoke and then dual two lane until Junction 9 near Winchester and then dual three...
. Consequently, a flood relief channel was suggested. This was built during the first five months in 1995 and cost a total of £450,000.
See also
- Tributaries of the River ThamesTributaries of the River ThamesThis article lists the tributaries of the River Thames, in England. It also includes significant backwaters and waterways which also have confluences with the main stream of the River Thames.Most of the tributaries are natural, but a few were man-made...
- List of rivers of England