River Brant

Summary

The River Brant is a 14 mi-long (23 km) tributary of the River Witham that flows entirely in the county of Lincolnshire, in the east of England.

River Brant
River Brant at Blackmoor bridge
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Country within the UKEngland
CountiesLincolnshire
DistrictNorth Kesteven, South Kesteven
VillagesGelston, Brandon, Stragglethorpe, Brant Broughton
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationGelston, Lincolnshire
 • coordinates52°59′41″N 0°38′38″W / 52.9948°N 0.6438°W / 52.9948; -0.6438
 • elevation60 m (200 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
River Witham near South Hykeham, Lincolnshire
 • coordinates
53°09′44″N 0°34′38″W / 53.1623°N 0.5772°W / 53.1623; -0.5772
 • elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Length23 km (14 mi)[1]
Basin size138 km2 (53 sq mi)[1]
Discharge 
 • locationBrant Broughton[2]
 • average0.24 m3/s (8.5 cu ft/s)[2]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftSand Beck, West Brant Syke
 • rightThe Beck
Progression : Brant — WithamThe HavenNorth Sea

In 1855 the River was described as follows;[3]

"Brant, a tributary of the Witham in the western part of the county of Lincoln. This small stream has its rise in several fine springs in the parish of Hough-on-the-Hill, and pursues its humble course in a northern direction, westward of a range of high land."

Name edit

The origin of the name is from the Old English; brant (meaning "steep", "deep"). Steep being a steeply sloping incline.[4]

Course edit

The Brant rises on the flank of Summerfields Hill to the south-west of Gelston near Hough-on-the-Hill and curves round such that it flows almost directly north, parallel to the Limestone Lincolnshire Edge. The river flows past Brandon to which it gives its name, then reaches Stragglethorpe where it is joined by The Beck, which drains Fulbeck. At Brant Broughton it meets with its largest tributary the Sand Beck, and then continues north passing the Low Fields of Navenby, Boothby Graffoe and Coleby where it flows to the west of the deserted medieval village of Skinnand and the remains of Somerton Castle. Further north it then reaches its confluence with the River Witham between the villages of Aubourn and South Hykeham.[5][6]

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Map showing Lincoln, and the course of the Brant and locations along its length in Lincolnshire

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Water Framework Directive Surface Water Classification Status and Objectives 2012 csv files". Environment-agency.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b "30033 - Brant at Brant Broughton". The National River Flow Archive. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  3. ^ The Book of English Rivers: An Account of the Rivers of England and Wales, Particularizing Their Respective Courses, Their Most Striking Scenery, and the Chief Places of Interest on Their Banks, Samuel Lewis, p46,Original 1855, ISBN 9781108025492, accessed 5 May 2013
  4. ^ "Brandon History". loveden.org.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Environment Agency What's in your Backyard". Environment Agency. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  6. ^ Ordnance Survey (2009). Lincoln & Newark-on-Trent. OS Landranger Map Series. Ordnance Survey. ISBN 9780319227213.