The River Valency ( kw, Dowr an Velinji) is a short river in north

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

, England, UK, with many small tributaries. After running past Lesnewth it cuts a valley before entering the sea at the harbour of the village of Boscastle. One of its tributaries is the Jordan, which runs north before joining the Valency in Boscastle just before the B3263 road bridge. Source of the Valency - geograph

The Valency valley is steep-sided and the sides of the lower section are wooded. The valley has been flooded many times, most seriously in the

Boscastle flood of 2004 The 2004 Boscastle flood ( kw, An Lanwes Kastel Boterel 2004) occurred on Monday, 16 August 2004 in the two villages of Boscastle and Crackington Haven in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The villages suffered extensive damage after flash f ...

when significant channel erosion occurred.BBC News May 2007 - Flood village bridge plan opposed
/ref> (Heavy rainfall for 7 hours over a wide area in the afternoon of 16 August 2004 led to severe flooding and structural damage.) The agricultural use and fast drainage within the catchment areas of the Valency and Jordan are related to the extent of the Boscastle flooding.

Etymology

The name has been explained as a corruption of the Cornish Melinjy (i.e. Melin-Chy = Mill-house) from the mill which existed in medieval times.

References

Valency category:Boscastle {{England-river-stub