The River Ingrebourne is a

tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...

of the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...

27 miles (43.3 km) in length. It is considered a strategic waterway in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, forming part of the

Blue Ribbon Network The Blue Ribbon Network is a policy element of the London Plan relating to the waterways of London, England. Aside from the River Thames, the major components of the network are: #Grand Union Canal #Regent's Canal #River Lee Navigation #River Br ...

. It flows through the

London Borough of Havering The London Borough of Havering () in East London, England, forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 259,552 inhabitants; the principal town is Romford, while other communities are Hornchurch, Upminster, Collier Row and Rainham. The ...

roughly from north to south, joining the Thames at Rainham.

Etymology

The name is recorded in 1062 as ''Ingceburne'' and its suffix is a form of the Old English 'burna', meaning

bourne Bourne may refer to: Places UK * Bourne, Lincolnshire, a town ** Bourne Abbey ** Bourne railway station * Bourne (electoral division), West Sussex * Bourne SSSI, Avon, a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Burrington, North Somerset * Bourne ...

, a type of stream. The meaning of the prefix is unclear, although it could refer to a person.

Description

It rises near

Brentwood, Essex Brentwood is a town in the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the East of England. It is in the London commuter belt, situated 20 miles (30 km) east-north-east of Charing Cross and close by the M25 motorway. In 2017, the popula ...

, whence it flows in a southwesterly direction under the

M25 motorway The M25 or London Orbital Motorway is a major road encircling most of Greater London. The motorway is one of the most important roads in the UK and one of the busiest. Margaret Thatcher opened the final section in 1986, making the M25 the lon ...

through the

in north east

. The river passes under the motorway near Junction 28, where the first of its tributaries, the 2.7 miles (4.3 km) long

Weald Brook Weald Brook is a water course in the parliamentary constituency of Hornchurch and Upminster. Weald Brook flows into the River Ingrebourne The River Ingrebourne is a tributary of the River Thames 27 miles (43.3 km) in length. It is consi ...

joins, followed shortly by Carters Brook and Paynes Brook. After skirting south of the built-up area of Harold Hill the route is partly non-urban: a large area of flood-plain follows before the Ingrebourne threads between the suburbs of Upminster and

Hornchurch Hornchurch is a suburban town in East London, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross. It comprises a number of shopping streets and a large residential area. It historically formed ...

The river from here is surrounded by public open space: with Gaynes Parkway, the Ingrebourne Valley Greenway and

Hornchurch Country Park Hornchurch Country Park is a 104.5-hectare park on the former site of Hornchurch Airfield, south of Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering, east London. Site The River Ingrebourne passes through the park and if forms part of Thames Ch ...

taking up the area until reaching Rainham. Here the river divides, the main channel becoming Rainham Creek, where it flows into the Thames between

Hornchurch Marshes Hornchurch Marshes is an area of the London Borough of Havering, adjacent to the north bank of the River Thames in London, England. Susceptible to flooding from three adjacent rivers, it was the southernmost marshland section of the ancient paris ...

(to the west) and

Rainham Marshes Rainham may refer to: *Rainham, Kent, Medway, England **Rainham railway station (Kent) *Rainham, London, London Borough of Havering, England **Rainham railway station (London) Rainham railway station is on the London, Tilbury and Southend line, ...

(to the east) at Old Man's Head. The second channel becomes the Wennington Sewers complex.

Significance

The

Ingrebourne Marshes Ingrebourne Marshes are a 74.8 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering. Ingrebourne Valley Local Nature Reserve includes a small part of the SSSI west of the River Ingrebourne. The si ...

are a

Site of Special Scientific Interest A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...

because of the diversity of its wildlife and extensive areas of wetland reeds. The river forms one of the strategic waterways identified in the

policy in the London Plan. The Ingrebourne Valley is a Local Nature Reserve.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ingrebourne Rivers of London Geography of the London Borough of Havering Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Havering 1Ingrebourne

Etymology

Description

Significance

See also

References