River Rom
Encyclopedia
The River Rom, also in places known as the River Beam, is a tributary of the River Thames
in England that flows through the north east London
suburbs, forming the boundary between the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham
and Havering
in the south and flowing through channels underneath Romford
in the north.
and flows through it underground in a man-made channel. To the south of the town centre it flows under Roneo Corner. At Eastbrookend Country Park it is joined by a tributary, The Ravensbourne
, which rises in Ardleigh Green
and flows through Emerson Park
and Harrow Lodge Park. The Rom then continues under the name of the River Beam and forms the boundary between the London Borough of Havering
and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
before reaching the River Thames
near the Ford Motor Company
Works. The Beam Valley comprises 182 acre (0.73652852 km²) of land running north along the River Beam from the near the Ford Motor Works. The valley also includes various historical features including tank traps, pillboxes and a section of the old Romford Canal.
from the name of the town of Romford
, which is located on a crossing of the river. The name 'Romford' is first recorded in 1177 as Romfort, which is formed from 'rūm' and 'ford' and means "the wide or spacious ford". The name of the river is first recorded in the 13th century as le Markediche, meaning 'boundary ditch' and referring to the ancient boundary between the parishes of Dagenham and Hornchurch
. The more recent name of River Beam originated from an early bridge over the river, consisting of a beam of wood.
The river contains unbranched bur-reeds (Sparganium erectum
and Sparganium
emersum) and fool's watercress (Apium
nodiflorum), and supports water voles, Kingfisher
s and Reed buntings
; the surrounding farmland also has Lapwing
and Golden Plover
in winter. Apart from the actual river environs, the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation also includes Foreberry wood through which the river Rom runs. This contains both Pedunculate Oak
and Hornbeam
coppice.
Also in the upper parts of the river is another Site of Importance for Nature Conservation where the river flows through King George Playing Field in Romford
.
Further downstream, the Beam Valley is a mixture of woodlands, acid grassland, ponds and marsh areas and is a haven for many types of wildlife. There are plans to develop the area to improve the conservation interest and to create new opportunities for recreation and education. The River Beam is home to the rare water vole, while the grassland in the valley contains some uncommon plants.
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 England that flows through the north east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
suburbs, forming the boundary between the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 1,937; and the area was characterised by farming, woodland and the fishing fleet at Barking. This last industry employed 1,370 men and boys by 1850, but by the end of the century had ceased to exist; replaced by...
and Havering
London Borough of Havering
The London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
in the south and flowing through channels underneath Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
in the north.
Description
The river rises to the north of RomfordRomford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
and flows through it underground in a man-made channel. To the south of the town centre it flows under Roneo Corner. At Eastbrookend Country Park it is joined by a tributary, The Ravensbourne
The Ravensbourne
The Ravensbourne is a tributary of the River Beam in northeast London, England.It rises in Ardleigh Green and flows through Emerson Park and Harrow Lodge Park, before joining the Beam at Eastbrookend Country Park.-References:...
, which rises in Ardleigh Green
Ardleigh Green
Ardleigh Green is a place in the London Borough of Havering, east London, England and part of the Hornchurch post town. It is a suburban development....
and flows through Emerson Park
Emerson Park
Emerson Park is a suburban development in the London Borough of Havering, east London, England. It is a principally residential district located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Housing:...
and Harrow Lodge Park. The Rom then continues under the name of the River Beam and forms the boundary between the London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Havering
The London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 1,937; and the area was characterised by farming, woodland and the fishing fleet at Barking. This last industry employed 1,370 men and boys by 1850, but by the end of the century had ceased to exist; replaced by...
before reaching 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,...
near the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
Works. The Beam Valley comprises 182 acre (0.73652852 km²) of land running north along the River Beam from the near the Ford Motor Works. The valley also includes various historical features including tank traps, pillboxes and a section of the old Romford Canal.
Etymology
The name 'River Rom' is a back-formationBack-formation
In etymology, back-formation is the process of creating a new lexeme, usually by removing actual or supposed affixes. The resulting neologism is called a back-formation, a term coined by James Murray in 1889...
from the name of the town of Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
, which is located on a crossing of the river. The name 'Romford' is first recorded in 1177 as Romfort, which is formed from 'rūm' and 'ford' and means "the wide or spacious ford". The name of the river is first recorded in the 13th century as le Markediche, meaning 'boundary ditch' and referring to the ancient boundary between the parishes of Dagenham and Hornchurch
Hornchurch
Hornchurch is a large suburban town in England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Hornchurch is in North-East London .It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan. It comprises a number of shopping...
. The more recent name of River Beam originated from an early bridge over the river, consisting of a beam of wood.
Wildlife and Environment
The Rom rises in the north western part of Havering and here it has been designated as a Site of Importance for Nature ConservationThe river contains unbranched bur-reeds (Sparganium erectum
Sparganium erectum
Sparganium erectum, the simplestem bur-reed or branched bur-reed, is a perennial plant species in the genus Sparganium.The larvae of the moth Plusia festucae feed on Sparganium erectum.-See also:...
and Sparganium
Sparganium
Sparganium is a genus of flowering plants, containing about 20 species in temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It was previously placed alone in the family Sparganiaceae...
emersum) and fool's watercress (Apium
Apium
Apium is a genus of about 20 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, with a subcosmopolitan distribution in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Australia. They are medium to tall biennial or perennial plants growing wet ground...
nodiflorum), and supports water voles, Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
s and Reed buntings
Reed Bunting
The Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae....
; the surrounding farmland also has Lapwing
Lapwing
Vanellinae are any of various crested plovers, family Charadriidae, noted for its slow, irregular wingbeat in flight and a shrill, wailing cry. Its length is 10-16 inches. They are a subfamily of medium-sized wading birds which also includes the plovers and dotterels. The Vanellinae are...
and Golden Plover
Eurasian Golden Plover
The European Golden Plover is a largish plover. This species is similar to two other golden plovers. American Golden Plover, Pluvialis dominiica, and Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva, are both smaller, slimmer and relatively longer-legged than European Golden Plover, and both have grey...
in winter. Apart from the actual river environs, the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation also includes Foreberry wood through which the river Rom runs. This contains both Pedunculate Oak
Pedunculate Oak
Quercus robur is commonly known as the Pedunculate Oak or English oak. It is native to most of Europe, and to Anatolia to the Caucasus, and also to parts of North Africa.-Taxonomy:Q...
and Hornbeam
Hornbeam
Hornbeams are relatively small hardwood trees in the genus Carpinus . Though some botanists grouped them with the hazels and hop-hornbeams in a segregate family, Corylaceae, modern botanists place the hornbeams in the birch subfamily Coryloideae...
coppice.
Also in the upper parts of the river is another Site of Importance for Nature Conservation where the river flows through King George Playing Field in Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
.
Further downstream, the Beam Valley is a mixture of woodlands, acid grassland, ponds and marsh areas and is a haven for many types of wildlife. There are plans to develop the area to improve the conservation interest and to create new opportunities for recreation and education. The River Beam is home to the rare water vole, while the grassland in the valley contains some uncommon plants.