The River Waveney from source to sea
Great Britain 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster Mapping Extracts © Crown copyright Ordnance Survey. All Rights Reserved. Educational licence 100045616.
Briefly -
The River Waveney forms part of the boundary between Suffolk and Norfolk. It rises here at Redgrave and Lopham Fen and flows in an easterly direction through the towns of Diss, Bungay and Beccles. There is a weir at Billingford, shortly after the River Dove, flowing northwards from Eye, joins the Waveney on the southern bank. The Waveney passes around Bungay and on to Beccles. Then, having skirted past Oulton Broad it passes through Somerleyton and Haddiscoe before merging with the Yare in Breydon Water before discharging into the North Sea having travelled about 59 miles. The "ey" part of the name means "river" thus the name is tautological.
All the photographs in this article were either taken on public land or footpaths wherever possible. Where access to private land was required, permission was always sought and granted before any photographs were taken. Please do not take photographs on private land without asking first. I am very grateful to all the landowners who allowed me access to their property to compile this record.
The source of the River Waveney is a ditch on the east side of the B.1113 Redgrave Road
close to the 82-foot (25 m) contour, and flows in an easterly direction across Redgrave Fen,
and flowing through Bressingham Fen before encountering two railway bridges at Bressingham Steam Museum
at Roydon Further Fen.
The first road encountered is Doit Road Bridge
between Wortham and Roydon, Norfolk.
On to Diss, where the river creates the southern boundary of the town and passes beneath the Denmark Bridge
which connects Palgrave with Diss in Norfolk.
Passing close to the converted Button’s windmill
it then continues to the bridge at Lower Rose Lane,
and a few yards further on, a small un-named tributary joins the river from the south, at Stuston Bridge
and is soon joined by Frenze Beck coming down from Winfarthing in Norfolk.
The Frenze Bridge is on the A.1066.
Skirting north of the Stuston Common golf course, it then passes under the new dual carriageway of the A140 south of Scole,
and then beneath the old Scole Bridge,
and within just a few yards under the A143 road bridge
where it is almost concealed by numerous trees.
From there it meanders for a mile and a half across grazing marshes to Billingford Bridge
and just within sight of Billingford windmill, near the main road.
After further meandering it is joined by the River Dove from Mellis
at "The Crotch"
just before Hoxne Mill,
after which it turns north east and passing through more grazing marshes and taking the scenic route around Syleham church
and more meandering before reaching the Syleham Bridges
where the great Syleham Mill once stood until it was completely destroyed by a fire in 1928. Only the dye works fronting Syleham Road could be saved which has since been converted into cottages.
From Syleham the river takes a northern route towards Weybread and passes under the small private bridge at Hill Farm
Under the footbridge near Luck’s Mill
and passing the site of Luck’s Mill of which only a bridge remains.
Then meeting a weir on the relief channel before Needham Mill.
The former Needham mill actually stands on the Suffolk side and is in Weybread but calling it Needham made things a lot simpler. Needham Mill was built as a small 4 storey red brick building. The mill was rebuilt after the fire of 1838 and again about 1870 after a fire destroyed the earlier timber-framed weather-boarded building. Milling ceased around 1934 and the wheel and machinery were removed during the second world war and sold towards the war effort. It is now a private dwelling.
Turning east again at Weybread, and where Weybread water mill used to stand.
It was one of the largest and worked with a head of seven feet of water. Running with two waterwheels, one having a diameter of twenty feet and twelve feet wide, both wheels were cast iron with wooden floats and driving ten pairs of stones. The mill's life came to an abrupt end when it was burnt down on the evening of Friday 6th February 1920, leaving just the mill cottages standing.
Passing close to Wells’ Lane south of Harleston it passes the under Shotford Bridge
on its way, winding back and forth across Mendham grazing marshes to Mendham Bridge
Reaching the impressive Mendham Mill which was rebuilt and greatly enlarged in 1820 of weatherboard with a pantiled roof
Wortwell Mill was undergoing some restoration when I visited. Captain Cook Canoes can be hired in the Old Granary.
Homersfield Mill dates back as far as the 1320s and repairs, alterations and rebuilds took place over time. However in 1927 the mill ceased to operate due to breach in the riverbank at the weir upstream. The mill and adjoining house were consequently demolished. Traces of the headrace, wheelrace and tailrace are still extant.
On to Homersfield old bridge which is the oldest concrete bridge in Great Britain, having been built in 1870.
and within a few yards, Homersfield bypass bridge
Continued >>>>>>>>
Great Britain 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster Mapping Extracts © Crown copyright Ordnance Survey. All Rights Reserved. Educational licence 100045616.
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