A rhyne ( Somerset), rhine/rhyne ( Gloucestershire), or reen (

South Wales South Wales ( cy, De Cymru) is a loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, south Wales extends westwards ...

) (all pronounced "reen"; from Old English ''ryne'' or

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

''rhewyn'' or ''rhewin'' "ditch") is a term used in parts of England and Wales for a drainage ditch, or canal, used to turn areas of wetland close to sea level into useful pasture. Water levels (and hence the level of the water table) will usually be controlled by a system of

sluice Sluice ( ) is a word for a channel controlled at its head by a movable gate which is called a sluice gate. A sluice gate is traditionally a wood or metal barrier sliding in grooves that are set in the sides of the waterway and can be considered ...

gates and pumps, allowing the land to become wetter at times of the year when this will improve grass growth. Rhynes represent an early method of swamp or marsh drainage. Large sections of swampland were surrounded by trenches deep enough to drain the water from the encircled mound and leave the land relatively dry. Regular clearing and dredging is necessary to keep the rhynes clear of debris so that they flow freely. Rhynes have been used extensively in the United Kingdom, especially on marshy coastal areas such as the Somerset Levels, and the

North Somerset Levels The North Somerset Levels is a coastal plain, an expanse of low-lying flat ground, which occupies an area between Weston-super-Mare and Bristol in North Somerset, England. The River Banwell, River Kenn, River Yeo and Land Yeo are the three prin ...

. Other examples in England exist in the

Framilode Framilode is a village on the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, England, in the parish of Fretherne with Saul. It consists of two settlements: the larger, Framilode, is at the mouth of the River Frome. The smaller settlement, Fra ...

and Saul area of Gloucestershire, where they drain into either the River Severn or

Sharpness Canal The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal (also known as the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal) is a ship canal in the west of England, between Gloucester and Sharpness; for much of its length it runs close to the tidal River Severn, but cuts off a signi ...

, and the Pilning Levels alongside the Severn Estuary in South Gloucestershire between Avonmouth and Aust. In southeast Wales, they can be found on the Caldicot and Wentloog Levels. Many of them are still in use today. Many rhynes in England and Wales are maintained as part of the water resource management operations of internal drainage boards. The rhynes near

Wembdon Wembdon is a semi-rural village near Bridgwater, in Somerset, England. Wembdon is now home to an Anglican church, a small shop (combined with the post office), a pub and a small garage. History Wembdon was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ...

village have some early references, including Fichet's rhyne in 1579 and the Great or Wildmarsh rhyne in 1705. The etymology of the name is unclear. Some sources claim that rhyne is derived from the Irish word ''rathin'', a diminutive of ''rath'' —a circular mound or entrenchment.Gill, W. Walter (1929). ''A Manx Scrapbook''. London & Bristol: Arrowsmith. Chapter IV
''The Parish of German''
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{{Reflist} Drainage canals Hydraulic engineering Water supply and sanitation in England and Wales

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