River Beane

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Beane
RiverBeaneHertford.jpg
Weir on the River Beane, Hartham Common
Location
Country United Kingdom
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationNr. Sandon, Hertfordshire
  elevation90 m (300 ft)
Mouth  
  location
Hertford, Hertfordshire
into River Lea
Length17.8 km (11.1 mi)
River Beane

The River Beane is a short river in the county of Hertfordshire, England. A tributary of the River Lea, it rises to the south-west of Sandon in the hills northeast of Stevenage and joins the Lea at Hartham Common in Hertford.

Contents

Watermills

In medieval times there were a number of watermills along the course of the Beane. A few of the buildings and mill races survive.

Abstraction

The Beane valley remains mainly rural in character. However, Hertfordshire's population increased substantially in the second half of the twentieth century, and the consequent demand for water has affected rivers such as the Beane and the Mimram. In the case of the Beane, a licence was given to abstract water near Aston for Stevenage's water supply. The river has since been adversely affected by over-exploitation of the chalk aquifer in its upper reaches.

The photo shows a dry section south of Walkern where from the 1990s until about 2014 there was only seasonal flow. An indication of the scale of the decline in flow is that the section at Walkern was once big enough to power a watermill and to support watercress beds. [2]

Dry bed of the Beane near Aston, Hertfordshire in 2006 River Beane near Aston - geograph.org.uk - 172067.jpg
Dry bed of the Beane near Aston, Hertfordshire in 2006

The lower Beane is more robust and there has continued to be regular flow through Watton-at-Stone, Stapleford and Waterford until the confluence with the River Lea. However, overall the river has performed badly in assessments by the Environment Agency of flow level.

Restoration

The state of the upper Beane resulted in calls for the river's restoration. [6] The management plan for the river includes the objective that there is adequate flow along the length of the river to support a ‘good status’ chalk stream ecology (as defined by the European Union's Water Framework Directive). [7]

One possible approach to the restoration of the upper Beane which was discussed was to use recycled water from sewage treatment works. For decades sewage from the Stevenage area has bypassed the river, being pumped down the Beane valley to Rye Meads near Hertford for treatment and eventual discharge into the River Stort. However, the water could theoretically have been discharged into the Beane if treated further upstream. [8] In the event another option was chosen. Affinity Water was told to take less water from its pumping station near Aston, even though obtaining water from a less environmentally damaging source was difficult as the River Lea's catchment area as a whole is under pressure.

The cascade at Woodhall Park Casade, Weir and Sluice on river Beane, Woodhall Park 1 2020-08-26.jpg
The cascade at Woodhall Park

There have been initiatives to improve the condition of lower stretches of the river, where there are issues regarding water quality and weirs. For example, where it passes through the Woodhall Park estate (near Watton) the river has been modified by an 18th-century landscaping project. This had the adverse consequence of impeding fish passage and a channel has now been constructed which by-passes the obstruction. [9] [10]

Access

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) has launched a circular trail at Waterford, which includes some scenic sections of the River Beane.

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References

  1. Fitzpatrick-Matthews, K (2020). "Walkern" . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 Walkern Mill
  3. SELE HOUSE including front railings (1268844). Historic England
  4. "Sele Mill". Open Plaques. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  5. Richard L. Hills, ‘Tate, John (c.1448–1507/8)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 24 June 2015. Subscription or UK public library membership required.
  6. "Campaigners in walk along dry River Beane". Hertfordshire Mercury . 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  7. River Beane: Catchment management plan www.riverleacatchment.org.uk
  8. Waste Water Report, Halcrow Group
  9. Historic England. "Cascade (1089081)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  10. "Broadwater and River Beane renovation". Woodhall Estate. 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2019.

51°47′N0°05′W / 51.783°N 0.083°W / 51.783; -0.083