River Glaven
In Norfolk
Geography
Origin:	Lower Bodham/Baconsthorpe
Grid reference:	TG 13 39
Mouth:	behind the spit, Blakeney Point
Grid reference:	TF 99 45
Length:	17 km long (10.5 miles)
Fall:	50 metres from source to tidal limit
Catchment Area:	115 square metres
Tributaries:	2
Water Mills:	6

The River Glaven is just 10½ miles long but its course flows through some of the most picturesque countryside in North Norfolk. Rising from a tiny headwater in Bodham the river starts just 2 1/2 miles before Selbrigg Pond where three streams combine at the outfall.

The river has a catchment area of approximately 115 km² and from its source falls 50 metres to the present tidal limit at Cley sluice. The Sub-surface geology is predominantly chalk and in parts of the lower valley the river runs over chalk beds. The land adjoining the river consists of a mixture of arable farm land and in the upper reaches near Edgefield, coniferous plantations. In the middle reaches there are grazing meadows and low-lying washlands especially below Glandford Mill. There are two major tributaries to the Glaven. Stody beck joins just above Hunworth Mill (Map Ref TG 066 356), and the Thornage Beck which joins close to the unbridged ford on the Thornage to Hunworth road (Map Ref TG 062 363).

There are three ‘on-stream’ lakes associated with the main channel, these being Hawksmere (Hempstead mill pond), Edgefield Hall Lake and Bayfield Hall Lake. The long, thin lake at Bayfield Hall in many ways epitomises the beauty of the lower Glaven valley. It was dug in the late eighteenth century for ornamental purposes. In the late nineteenth century an ‘extravaganza’ tunnel was built into the valley side so that the Glaven could be partly diverted around the lake. This tunnel remains operational today. Together the mills and on-stream lakes give the river a ‘stepped’ profile with, slower flowing ‘ponded’ sections upstream of these structures. Lower down the river at Glandford the river also pools just above the mill, a very popular spot for the public, at the ford, families, in the summer months can be seen enjoying the river, paddling and feeding the ducks. The scenic value of the Glaven valley is hugely important to the tourist industry on which North Norfolk is currently thriving, and as such its wider economic value is being, and will be increasingly recognised.

At the time of the Domesday book the River Glaven had 16 watermills throughout its length. Today the Glaven has six watermills. They are, in order of river descent: Hempstead, Hunworth, Thornage, Letheringsett, Letheringsett Brewery mill and Glandford. One of them, Letheringsett, is still in use and is the only working mill in Norfolk. Here they grind corn to make flour which is on sale at their shop. The water mill has solar panels on its roof, however its current state is a derelict building.

Water voles are present in the Glaven, in good numbers. Otters are difficult to see, but they make good use of the river. This could be one reason why the dreaded mink are absent as otters are thought not to tolerate them. Both red deer and roe deer are regularly seen.

The bird population reflects the range of habitats available, and the total number of species present can be put at 126, of which 68 have bred (these figures do not include birds of the coastal wetlands north of the coast road (A 149) at Cley).

Birds which attract particular attention include kingfisher,barn owl, common buzzard and osprey. The latter uses the Glaven Valley as a flyway on its spring and autumn migration and it also sometimes stays to do a spot of fishing. Common buzzard breed in small but increasing numbers and can be seen wheeling overhead. Kingfisher never fail to thrill all who see them, although usually one gets no more than a fleeting glimpse of that wonderful electric blue. Barn owls are rather more co-operative. They frequently hunt during daylight hours and as they quarter back and forth they offer the chance of sustained views. As winter approaches flocks of pink footed geese and brent geese will provide another splendid sight as they fly from the coast to feeding grounds on the farms inland.

Fish you will find in the river include Three spined stickleback, Bull head ,Stone loach, Brown trout, Sea trout, Brook lamprey, Roach, Rudd, Perch, Eel, Pike, Gudgeon, Carp and Tench.

Some insects and dragonfly you will see are Banded Demoiselle, Emerald Damselfly, Scarce Emerald Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly , Common Blue Damselfly , Blue-tailed Damselfly , Migrant Hawker , Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker , Emperor Dragonfly , Four-spotted Chaser , Broad-bodied Chaser , Black-tailed Skimmer , Keeled Skimmer , Common Darter , Ruddy Darter , Common Hawker, Norfolk Hawker , Hairy Dragonfly, Red-veined Darter , Yellow-winged Darter , Black Darter and the Variable Damselfly

Small mammals you may come across include Hedgehog, Mole, Common Shrew, Pygmy Shrew, Water Shrew, Noctule Bat, Pipistrelle Bat, Natterer’s Bat, Daubenton’s Bat, Rabbits, Brown Hares, Grey Squirrel, Bank Vole, Short-tailed Field Vole, Water Vole, Wood Mouse, House Mouse and the Brown Rat

Red Deer, Roe Deer, Muntjac, Red Fox, Badger, Otter, Stoat, Weasel and surprisingly Feral cats

The River Glaven is influenced by man in a lot of areas for example it has been diverted round Selbrigg pond and at Hempstead mill a lot of building rubble has been dumped off the bridge and been put into the river which inteferes with the bedload size and shape, it also disturbs the depth of the river.

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  The River Glaven close to its source in lower Bodham
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  Selbrigg pond, part of the watercourse of the Glaven.
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  Two steams converge with the Glaven at the outlet from Selbrigg pond.
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  Hempstead Watermill on the River Glaven.
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  The Rear Elevation of Hempstead watermill.
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  A weir on the River Glaven at Letheringsett
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  The Glaven River at the A148 road bridge in Letheringsett.
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  Watermedows at Glandford
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  The millpond at Glandford

• Letheringsett watermill 1
• Letheringsett watermill 2