River Tas
Encyclopedia
The River Tas is a river
which flows northwards through South Norfolk
in England
- towards Norwich
. The area is named the Tas Valley after the river. The origin of the name of the river is uncertain - it may have taken it from the village of Tasburgh
or vice versa.
Tributaries which have their sources at Hempnall
and Carleton Rode
converge at Tasburgh
. The river then flows on through Newton Flotman
and Smockmill Common. In Shotesham Park the river splits into two channels which rejoin just above Shotesham ford. The pool here is a popular location in summer time for paddling, swimming and fishing. From Shotesham the river flows northwards through Stoke Holy Cross
, Dunston
, Caistor St Edmund, Markshall and Arminghall
. It joins the River Yare
at Trowse
- just south of Norwich
.
The Tas valley contains many interesting historical sites including: an Iron Age hill fort at Tasburgh
, the old Roman settlement of Venta Icenorum
(now Caistor St Edmund) and the site of a woodhenge at Arminghall
. The mill at Stoke Holy Cross
was the first location of the Colman's mustard business.
In Roman times the River Tas was considerably larger and provided a major transport route for the inhabitants of Venta Icenorum
. Today it is a small, picturesque river which winds its way, largely unnoticed, through farm land.
It contains roach, dace
, occasional trout
, small pike
and some chub
. One of the largest roach ever caught in the river was a 2.6 pound
specimen landed by local angler Bill Coleman in 1972. The best dace was probably one of 1.2 pounds caught by W. Comer in 1943.
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...
which flows northwards through South Norfolk
South Norfolk
South Norfolk is a local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in Long Stratton.-History:The district was formed on April 1, 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of Diss Urban District, Wymondham Urban District, Depwade Rural District, Forehoe and Henstead...
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...
- towards Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. The area is named the Tas Valley after the river. The origin of the name of the river is uncertain - it may have taken it from the village of Tasburgh
Tasburgh
Tasburgh is a civil parish and a village in the south of Norfolk, England. The River Tas flows nearby and Tasburgh Hall lies to the west of the village. The local church is dedicated to St...
or vice versa.
Tributaries which have their sources at Hempnall
Hempnall
Hempnall is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 1,310 in 522 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of South Norfolk.-External links:...
and Carleton Rode
Carleton Rode
Carleton Rode is a village in Norfolk, England, situated approximately five miles south-east of Attleborough. The village is extremely rural and is spread out over ....
converge at Tasburgh
Tasburgh
Tasburgh is a civil parish and a village in the south of Norfolk, England. The River Tas flows nearby and Tasburgh Hall lies to the west of the village. The local church is dedicated to St...
. The river then flows on through Newton Flotman
Newton Flotman
Newton Flotman is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It lies north of Tasburgh and south of Swainsthorpe, and the River Tas flows through it.It covers an area of and had a population of 1,197 in 497 households as of the 2001 census....
and Smockmill Common. In Shotesham Park the river splits into two channels which rejoin just above Shotesham ford. The pool here is a popular location in summer time for paddling, swimming and fishing. From Shotesham the river flows northwards through Stoke Holy Cross
Stoke Holy Cross
Stoke Holy Cross is a village in South Norfolk which lies approximately 4 miles south of Norwich.-Geography:It sits on the River Tas. It covers an area of and had a population of 1,568 in 674 households as of the 2001 census....
, Dunston
Dunston, Norfolk
Dunston is a small village which lies approximately 3 miles south of Norwich. It is located in the valley of the River Tas between Stoke Holy Cross and Caistor St. Edmund. It has a common which is popular with walkers....
, Caistor St Edmund, Markshall and Arminghall
Arminghall
Arminghall is a small village in the English county of Norfolk, around three miles southeast of Norwich in the parish of Bixley. Most of the houses in the village are located close to the church, which lies just west of the B1332 road from Norwich to Poringland. Syfer Technology, an electronic...
. It joins the River Yare
River Yare
The River Yare is a river in the English county of Norfolk. In its lower reaches the river connects with the navigable waterways of The Broads....
at Trowse
Trowse
Trowse, also called Trowse with Newton, is a village in South Norfolk which lies about south-east of Norwich city centre on the banks of the River Yare. It covers an area of and had a population of 479 in 233 households as of the 2001 census....
- just south of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
.
The Tas valley contains many interesting historical sites including: an Iron Age hill fort at Tasburgh
Tasburgh
Tasburgh is a civil parish and a village in the south of Norfolk, England. The River Tas flows nearby and Tasburgh Hall lies to the west of the village. The local church is dedicated to St...
, the old Roman settlement of Venta Icenorum
Venta Icenorum
Venta Icenorum, probably meaning "Market Town of the Iceni", located at modern-day Caistor St Edmund in the English county of Norfolk, was the civitas or capital of the Iceni tribe, who inhabited the flatlands and marshes of that county and earned immortality for their revolt against Roman rule...
(now Caistor St Edmund) and the site of a woodhenge at Arminghall
Arminghall
Arminghall is a small village in the English county of Norfolk, around three miles southeast of Norwich in the parish of Bixley. Most of the houses in the village are located close to the church, which lies just west of the B1332 road from Norwich to Poringland. Syfer Technology, an electronic...
. The mill at Stoke Holy Cross
Stoke Holy Cross
Stoke Holy Cross is a village in South Norfolk which lies approximately 4 miles south of Norwich.-Geography:It sits on the River Tas. It covers an area of and had a population of 1,568 in 674 households as of the 2001 census....
was the first location of the Colman's mustard business.
In Roman times the River Tas was considerably larger and provided a major transport route for the inhabitants of Venta Icenorum
Venta Icenorum
Venta Icenorum, probably meaning "Market Town of the Iceni", located at modern-day Caistor St Edmund in the English county of Norfolk, was the civitas or capital of the Iceni tribe, who inhabited the flatlands and marshes of that county and earned immortality for their revolt against Roman rule...
. Today it is a small, picturesque river which winds its way, largely unnoticed, through farm land.
It contains roach, dace
Common dace
The common dace , also known as the dace or the Eurasian dace, is a fresh- or brackish-water fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. It is an inhabitant of the rivers and streams of Europe north of the Alps as well as in Asia. It is most abundant in France and Germany, and has also spread to...
, occasional trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
, small pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
and some chub
European chub
The European chub , sometimes called the round chub, fat chub, chevin, pollard or simply "the" chub, is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae...
. One of the largest roach ever caught in the river was a 2.6 pound
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
specimen landed by local angler Bill Coleman in 1972. The best dace was probably one of 1.2 pounds caught by W. Comer in 1943.