River Colne, Hertfordshire

The Colne is a river and a tributary of the River Thames in England. It flows mostly through south Hertfordshire and then forms the boundary between Buckinghamshire and the London Borough of Hillingdon. The river ends where it meets the Thames at Staines-upon-Thames, near a place called Penton Hook Lock.

Over time, people built two small rivers that branch off from the Colne, mainly for beauty around Hampton Court and Syon Park. These are similar in size and time to the New River.

As the river passes through places like Rickmansworth, people dug up gravel and clay. This created many flooded areas that are now home to many animals and plants. These special places are protected and are part of the Colne Valley regional park, which covers 43 square miles (110 km²). The river, its meadows, and the lakes make this park a lovely area for nature lovers.

Route

The River Colne starts when two underground streams meet near North Mymms Park in Hertfordshire. These streams come from places like Northaw, Brookmans Park, Hadley, London, and Borehamwood.

The river flows westward, passing through places such as Watford, Oxhey, Rickmansworth, and Batchworth. It also forms a border between Greater London and Buckinghamshire. Along its path, the river meets other smaller streams and channels, such as the Frays River near Uxbridge.

Some villages and areas are named after the river, including Colney Heath, London Colney, Colney Street, and Colnbrook. The river has also been used for transportation and water supply over the years. In the 1790s, the Grand Junction Canal was built along part of the river’s valley.

Structures

Near the River Colne, there are two special markers that show where taxes were collected on coal entering London. One marker is a white iron pillar made in 1861 or 1862 and stands in Colney Heath Local Nature Reserve. The other is a tall stone tower moved in 1984 and is close to the Colne Viaduct. This bridge, built in 1837, has five big arches and carries trains from London to Birmingham.

There is also an old brick bridge from 1774 in London Colney called Telford's Bridge, even though it might not have been designed by the famous builder Thomas Telford. The bridge was changed later with new sides and railings added.

Tributaries and distributaries

The River Colne has several smaller streams and channels that flow into it or spread out from it. These include:

• Sweeps Ditch (a channel in Staines-upon-Thames)
• Wraysbury River (a channel from West Drayton to Staines)
• the Ash (a channel from Staines near Sunbury on Thames/Shepperton)
• Colne Brook (a channel from Uxbridge Moor to Hythe End, Wraysbury)
  • the Alder Bourne (Fulmer to Uxbridge Moor)
• Longford River (an artificial channel from Longford to Bushy Park and Hampton Court)
• Duke of Northumberland River (an artificial channel from West Drayton to Isleworth)
• Frays River (a channel from Watford to West Drayton)
  • the Pinn (from Harrow Weald to West Drayton)
• the Misbourne (from Amersham to Uxbridge)
• the Chess (from Chesham to Rickmansworth)
• the Gade
  • the Bulbourne
• Hillfield Brook
• the Ver (from Dolittle Mill)
• Tykes Water (or The Brook, Radlett) (from Aldenham Reservoir)
• Ellen Brook (from Hatfield)
  • Butterwick Brook (from eastern St Albans)
• Water End (the broad northern end of the Mimmshall Brook)
• Mimmshall Brook (from Elstree to Water End)
  • Catherine Bourne (from Shenley to Mimmshall Brook)
  • Ray Brook (from Brookmans Park to Water End)
  • Potters Bar Brook (from Potters Bar to Water End)