River Lavant, West Sussex

River Lavant
East Dean is recognised as the source of the Lavant, springs feeding the village pond
Location
Country	England
Region	West Sussex
Physical characteristics
Source	East Dean, West Sussex
• location	West Sussex
Mouth	Chichester Harbour
• location	West Sussex
Length	14.5 km (9.0 mi)
Discharge
• location	Graylingwell
• average	0.3 m3/s (11 cu ft/s)
• minimum	0.0 m3/s (0 cu ft/s)28 December 2005
• maximum	7.8 m3/s (280 cu ft/s)14 December 2000

The River Lavant is a winterbourne that rises at East Dean and flows west to Singleton, then south past West Dean and Lavant to Chichester. From east of Chichester its natural course was south to the sea at Pagham, but the Romans diverted it to flow around the southern walls of Chichester and then west into Chichester Harbour.

History

Depiction of Lavant course round Chichester from John Speed's imprecise 1610 work

The Lavant may once have had its source north of Midhurst, with the increased drainage area possibly leading to size more akin to the River Rother; however, erosion and weathering over centuries have led to its current source and size. ^[1]

The Lavant's course has changed on multiple occasions, one significant instance being in Roman times when the river was believed to have been diverted through Chichester to provide drinking water for the town. ^[2]

The Lavant is believed to have made its way to the sea via Pagham Rife and Pagham Harbour. ^{[3] [4]} Newbury notes historians have conjectured this diversion may have taken place in either Roman or medieval times, one side effect being less stress on drainage to lands to the north of Pagham. ^[3]

Floods

See also: 1993–94 West Sussex floods

The Lavant has been responsible for multiple flooding events throughout recent centuries, with the St Pancras area of Chichester being most typically affected. ^[4] Floods were recorded in 1713, 1763, 1771, 1797, 1809, 1826, 1938 and 1960. ^[4]

In January 1994 heavy rainfall caused the River Lavant to burst its banks, causing extensive flooding in Chichester and surrounding villages—the worst for 130 years—and forcing the closure of the A27 and A259 roads. ^{[5] [6]} Military "Green Goddess" fire engines were stationed in the city for several weeks pumping out groundwater through miles of pipes. When exceptionally high rainfall in the autumn of 2000 threatened renewed flooding of Chichester a project was led by the Environment Agency, using emergency powers to build a relief channel to divert excess water back into the natural route of Pagham Rife. This brought forward work planned for 2001, compressing it into two weeks, and was completed days before the anticipated flood surge in the River Lavant occurred. ^[7] The emergency work was subsequently made into a permanent relief channel, with sluices at Westhampnett.

Course

The Lavant rises at East Dean, ^[8] in the foothills of the South Downs, approximately 9 miles (14 km) north-north-east of Chichester. At East Dean the Lavant may emerge as small springs in various gardens and roadways, and may contribute to the filling of the village pond, ^[9] though at other times the river may simply begin to form as a trickle at some point alongside its course to Charlton, a village about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the west along the valley. ^[9]

Lavant passing by West Dean estate, February 2007

The river continues east to Singleton, then curves southwards remaining a little to the east of the A286 road past West Dean and Mid-Lavant and through to East Lavant. ^[10] The Lavant continues through farmland towards the former site of Westhampnett Mill, passing Summersdale and Graylingwell to the west and Goodwood airfield and racing circuit to the east. ^[10] Near to site of the former mill, ^[10] which is now the top end of The Barn retail park, the Lavant bifurcates, the eastern distributary taking a clockwise course to come in on the north side of the A285, the western distributary heading to join the other where Church Road meets Westhampnett Road. ^[10] The meeting is now immediately after culverts constructed under Abel Smith Way, completed c. 2020.

Culverts enable the Lavant to pass underground at Southgate c. overground beside Market Avenue

The Lavant continues westwards towards Chichester, crossing to the south side of the A285 at St. James Road before proceeding beside it to the Green Lane footbridge. ^[10] Thereafter it runs between the A285 and A286 before it enters a long culvert starting from about middle of the A286 one way system at Hornet / St Pancras about 100m from Eastgate.

The river continues in the culvert along or beside Market Road, eventually exiting the culvert in the garden of Market Walls. ^[11] It flows under the former Southgate, emerging the other side of South Street, and again bifurcates. ^[12] Distributaries and tributaries join south of the Chichester bypass and the Lavant outflows to Chichester Harbour past the sewerage works between Fishbourne and Apuldram. ^[10]

References

Footnotes

1. Newbury 1987, p. 3.
2. Capita Symonds 2008, 4.43.
3. Newbury 1987, p. 20.
4. Green 2002, p. 163.
5. "Looking back 25 years to Sussex's flooding disaster". Chichester Observer. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
6. "Article in The Independent". Independent.co.uk . August 1994. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
7. "University of Manchester case study into managing unexpected urgent projects". Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
8. Green 2002, p. 162.
9. Newbury 1987, p. 4.
10. Newbury 1987, p. xii.
11. Newbury 1987, p. 33.
12. Newbury 1987, p. 33, 35.

Sources

• Capita Symonds (29 July 2008). Strategic Flood Risk Assessment of Chichester District Council (PDF) (Report). Vol. II - Technical Report. Chichester District Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 September 2021.
• Green, Kenneth (2002). Chichester: an Illustrated History. Derby: Breedon Books Limited. ISBN   1859833365. OCLC   751863431.
• Newbury, Ken (1987). The River Lavant : Chichester's river from source to mouth. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. OCLC   18521704.

Further reading

• Newbury, Ken (7 December 2000). The River Lavant : Chichester's river from source to mouth (1 ed.). Phillimore & Co. ISBN   978-1860771620.
• Saunders, John M. (August 1996). River Lavant Culvert, Chichester, West Sussex. : An Archaeological Evaluation for West Sussex County Council (PDF) (Report). Thames Valley Archaeological Services. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 September 2021.

50°49′38.09″N0°48′33.7″W / 50.8272472°N 0.809361°W / 50.8272472; -0.809361