River Roding
The River Roding (/ˈroʊdɪŋ/) rises at Molehill Green, Essex, England, then flows south through Essex and London and forms Barking Creek as it reaches the River Thames.
| Roding (Barking Creek) | |
|---|---|
 The Roding, just before reaching the Thames at Barking | |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Counties | Essex, Greater London |
| Districts / Boroughs | Epping Forest, Uttlesford, Redbridge, Newham, Barking and Dagenham |
| Towns | The Rodings, Chipping Ongar, Loughton, Woodford Green, Ilford, Barking |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Molehill Green, Essex |
| • coordinates | 51°53′57″N 0°16′40″E / 51.8993°N 0.2778°E |
| • elevation | 93 m (305 ft) |
| Mouth | River Thames |
• location | Creekmouth |
• coordinates | 51°30′51″N 0°05′57″E / 51.5142°N 0.0993°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 50 km (31 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Redbridge |
| • average | 1.85 m3/s (65 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 0.08 m3/s (2.8 cu ft/s)13 August 1990 |
| • maximum | 62.4 m3/s (2,200 cu ft/s)22 November 1974 |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Loughton |
| • average | 1.41 m3/s (50 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | High Ongar |
| • average | 0.48 m3/s (17 cu ft/s) |
Course
The river leaves Molehill Green and passes through or near a group of eight or nine villages in Essex known collectively as the Rodings, as their names are 'Roding' prefixed with various different specific names (High, Margaret, Aythorpe, etc.). After Chipping Ongar, the river flows under the M25 motorway by Passingford Bridge and Abridge.
The river then runs between Loughton and Chigwell, where the Roding Valley Meadows make up the largest surviving area of traditionally managed river-valley habitat in Essex. This nature reserve consists of unimproved wet and dry hay meadows, rich with flora and fauna and bounded by thick hedgerows, scrubland, secondary woodland and tree plantation. The meadows stretch down to the M11 motorway and the Roding Valley tube station is situated close to the area, although Loughton or Buckhurst Hill are better placed for a visit. The river then enters Woodford.
Redbridge takes its name from a crossing of the river which then passes through Ilford and Barking near the A406 North Circular Road. The River Roding through Ilford project is a government-backed scheme to improve amenities along this stretch of the river. After Barking, the tidal section is known as Barking Creek, which flows into the Thames at Creekmouth, where the Barking Barrier acts as a flood defence.
As a boundary
In Essex the river forms part of the boundary between the district of Epping Forest and borough of Brentwood. The river marks the southernmost part of the boundary between the London Borough of Newham and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
Former name
Ilford takes its name from Ilefort, "ford on the River Hyle", which was the ancient name for the lower part of the Roding, based on an earlier Celtic word.
See also
References
External links
