River Gipping
Encyclopedia
The River Gipping is the source river
for the River Orwell
in the county
of Suffolk
in East Anglia
, England, which gave its name to the former Gipping Rural District
and the village of Gipping.
The river was altered with the addition of 15 locks between Ipswich
and Stowmarket
to form the Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation, although this name has fallen out of use. The navigation was established by two Acts of Parliament in 1790 and 1793. Recently, the navigation has undergone restoration
.
. It is formed from waters drained off the arable farmed fields.
. From this village now known as Rattlesden
they attacked the Saxon stronghold of Haughley Castle
. Stowmarket
, a few miles South of Haughley, was of little significance then.
In 1065 Caen stone for Bury St. Edmunds Abbey
was imported from Normandy
and transported in flat-bottomed boats to Rattlesden. Stowmarket church bells were re-cast in the 17th century after being transported down-river.
The first proposal for the construction of the navigation was in 1719, but the traders of Ipswich objected, fearing loss of trade. It was not until 1789 that six local gentlemen (two of whom were vicars) with foresight realised that because of poor transport, due to badly-maintained turnpike roads, the population and industries were dwindling in the Stowmarket area. They engaged William Jessop
, who employed Isaac Lenny as the surveyor and a Parliamentary Bill for the construction of the navigation was passed on 1 April 1790. A Board of Trustees was appointed to manage the waterway, which was expected to cost £14,300.
was consulted. He reported that three turf and timber locks had been constructed between Stowmarket and Needham Market
, the other main town on the waterway, advised that further lock structures should be of brick and stone and estimated costs to complete the works. This amount was raised by a Parliamentary Bill of 28 March 1793. The final cost of construction was £26,263, which was nearly double the original estimate.
The navigation was completed in 1793 and three barges loaded with coal made the 17 miles (27.4 km) trip from Ipswich to Stowmarket on September 14, rising 90 feet (27.4 m) through 15 locks of broad construction each 55 by, the draught being 3.3 feet (1 m).
The Ipswich to Stowmarket railway line opened in 1846, and with it came a serious decline in traffic on the navigation. Under the terms of the authorising act of Parliament, the Board of Trustees had legal obligations to maintain the waterway, but by 1932 they were unable to meet these, as there was no income from traffic. They therefore applied for a Revocation Order, which was granted, and the Board ceased to exist after 1934. The waterway gradually fell into decay.
Claydon lock was destroyed when the A45 road was built. The river at this point was diverted through a new cut, and the site of the lock lies under the road, which has now become the A14 trunk road.
Water levels on the river are regulated by various devices. Hawks Mill lock at Needham Market has had an automatic rising sluice gate fitted, while Paper Mill lock incorporates an automatic tilting sluice gate.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
for the River Orwell
River Orwell
The River Orwell flows through the county of Suffolk in England. Its source river, above the tidal limit at Stoke Bridge, is known as the River Gipping. It broadens into an estuary at Ipswich where the Ipswich dock has operated since the 7th century and then flows into the North Sea at Felixstowe...
in the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
in 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...
, England, which gave its name to the former Gipping Rural District
Gipping Rural District
Gipping Rural District was a rural district in the county of East Suffolk, England. It was created in 1934 by the merger of the disbanded Bosemere and Claydon Rural District and the disbanded East Stow Rural District, under a County Review Order....
and the village of Gipping.
The river was altered with the addition of 15 locks between Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
and Stowmarket
Stowmarket
-See also:* Stowmarket Town F.C.* Stowmarket High School-External links:* * * * *...
to form the Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation, although this name has fallen out of use. The navigation was established by two Acts of Parliament in 1790 and 1793. Recently, the navigation has undergone restoration
Waterway restoration
Waterway restoration is the activity of restoring a canal or river, including special features such as warehouse buildings, locks, boat lifts, and boats. In the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, the focus of waterway restoration is on improving navigability, while in Australia the term...
.
Source
The source of the River Gipping is in the village of Mendlesham GreenMendlesham
Mendlesham, Suffolk is a small village with 1328 inhabitants, north east of Stowmarket and from LondonMendlesham is known for its large street fair which is held on every May Day bank holiday. Mendlesham has a popular community newsletter, and a good primary school. There are two public houses in...
. It is formed from waters drained off the arable farmed fields.
Early use of the River Gipping
In the year 860 the Danes sailed up the river and established the village of Rattles-dane near the source of the River RatRiver Rat
The River Rat is a river in the county of Suffolk in East Anglia, England.Its source is near the village of Rattlesden, and is the major tributary of the River Gipping....
. From this village now known as Rattlesden
Rattlesden
Rattlesden is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located around four miles west of Stowmarket, the parish also includes the hamlets of Hightown Green and Poystreet Green. Its large and ancient church, St. Nicholas, dates from the 13th century and...
they attacked the Saxon stronghold of Haughley Castle
Haughley Castle
Haughley Castle was a medieval castle situated in the village of Haughley, some north-west of the town of Stowmarket, Suffolk. Prominent historians such as J. Wall consider it "the most perfect earthwork of this type in the county," whilst R...
. Stowmarket
Stowmarket
-See also:* Stowmarket Town F.C.* Stowmarket High School-External links:* * * * *...
, a few miles South of Haughley, was of little significance then.
In 1065 Caen stone for Bury St. Edmunds Abbey
Bury St. Edmunds Abbey
The Abbey of Bury St Edmunds was once among the richest Benedictine monasteries in England. Its ruins lie in Bury St Edmunds, a town in the county of Suffolk, England.-History:...
was imported from Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and transported in flat-bottomed boats to Rattlesden. Stowmarket church bells were re-cast in the 17th century after being transported down-river.
The first proposal for the construction of the navigation was in 1719, but the traders of Ipswich objected, fearing loss of trade. It was not until 1789 that six local gentlemen (two of whom were vicars) with foresight realised that because of poor transport, due to badly-maintained turnpike roads, the population and industries were dwindling in the Stowmarket area. They engaged William Jessop
William Jessop
William Jessop was an English civil engineer, best known for his work on canals, harbours and early railways in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.-Early life:...
, who employed Isaac Lenny as the surveyor and a Parliamentary Bill for the construction of the navigation was passed on 1 April 1790. A Board of Trustees was appointed to manage the waterway, which was expected to cost £14,300.
Construction of the Navigation
Work started that year at the Ipswich end but the contractors Dyson and Pinkerton were dismissed due to problems with trespass. A local contractor was employed to continue work at the Stowmarket end and in 1791 John RennieJohn Rennie
-People:* John Rennie the Elder , engineer * Sir John Rennie the Younger , engineer * John Rennie , naval architect...
was consulted. He reported that three turf and timber locks had been constructed between Stowmarket and Needham Market
Needham Market
Needham Market is a town in Suffolk, England. It initially grew around the wool combing industry, until the onset of the plague, which swept the town from 1663 to 1665. To prevent the spread of the disease, the town was chained at either end, which succeeded in its task but at the cost of...
, the other main town on the waterway, advised that further lock structures should be of brick and stone and estimated costs to complete the works. This amount was raised by a Parliamentary Bill of 28 March 1793. The final cost of construction was £26,263, which was nearly double the original estimate.
The navigation was completed in 1793 and three barges loaded with coal made the 17 miles (27.4 km) trip from Ipswich to Stowmarket on September 14, rising 90 feet (27.4 m) through 15 locks of broad construction each 55 by, the draught being 3.3 feet (1 m).
The Ipswich to Stowmarket railway line opened in 1846, and with it came a serious decline in traffic on the navigation. Under the terms of the authorising act of Parliament, the Board of Trustees had legal obligations to maintain the waterway, but by 1932 they were unable to meet these, as there was no income from traffic. They therefore applied for a Revocation Order, which was granted, and the Board ceased to exist after 1934. The waterway gradually fell into decay.
Today
With the increase in interest in waterways as leisure facilities, the Inland Waterways Association began to take an active role in the improvement of the River Gipping from the 1970s. Initially, this involved the setting up of the Gipping Way, a footpath from Ipswich to Stowmarket which uses the towpath for most of its route. Between 1994 and 2004, members of the IWA worked on the reconstruction of first Bosmere and then Creeting locks. Work parties are now concentrating on the restoration of Baylham lock.Claydon lock was destroyed when the A45 road was built. The river at this point was diverted through a new cut, and the site of the lock lies under the road, which has now become the A14 trunk road.
Water levels on the river are regulated by various devices. Hawks Mill lock at Needham Market has had an automatic rising sluice gate fitted, while Paper Mill lock incorporates an automatic tilting sluice gate.
See also
- Rivers of Great Britain
- Canals of Great Britain
- History of the British canal systemHistory of the British canal systemThe British canal system of water transport played a vital role in the United Kingdom's Industrial Revolution at a time when roads were only just emerging from the medieval mud and long trains of pack horses were the only means of "mass" transit by road of raw materials and finished products The...
External links
- Ipswich Branch of Inland Waterways Association who are restoring the navigation.