River Purwell
The River Purwell is a chalk stream in Hertfordshire, England. It is a continuation of the Ippollitts Brook where its source is found at St Ippollitts and the Purwell's source is between on the border of Great Wymondley and Hitchin, where it joins the Hiz at its confluence downstream at Walsworth. The river powered a watermill until the 1920s.
| River Purwell Ippollitts Brook | |
|---|---|
 River Purwell at is confluence with the River Hiz | |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Counties | Hertfordshire |
| Unitary Authority | North Hertfordshire District Council |
| Settlements | Hitchin, St Ippolyts |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | St Ippolyts |
| • location | St Ippolyts, Hertfordshire,England. |
| Mouth | River Hiz |
| Length | 5.766 km (3.583 mi) |
Course
The River Purwell is a continuation of Ippollitts Brook. Ippollitts Brook's source is found at St Ippollitts flowing through the A602 and Oakfield Farm, where its course flows predominantly south of Hitchin, where the tributary of Ash Brook joins the Ippollitts Brook. By the time it reaches the border between Great Wymondley and Hitchin, Ippollitts Brook becomes the River Purwell.[1] The actual point of the changes in the name are unclear; maps show it could be shortly before the stream crosses before from the south of Hitchin to the east of Hitchin,[2] or on the border between Great Wymondley and Hitchin.[1][3]
The River Purwell flows through Purwell Mill and traverses through the A505 before joining the River Hiz downstream at Walsworth.[1][4]
The river and associated wetlands are protected by nature reserves at Ninesprings and Purwell Meadows. [5]
History
At Purwell Meadows the river powered a watermill until the 1920s. The existing building is a couple of hundred years old,[6] but a mill at this site is mentioned in the Domesday Book. This document from 1086 recorded a mill worth 20s in the part of Great Wymondley belonging to King William. Because part of the mill extended over the river to the opposite bank, in Hitchin manor, the Manor of Great Wymondley had to pay an annual fee of 6d.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 OS Explorer 193 | Luton & Stevenage | Hitchin & Ampthill | 1:25000 scale (Map). 1:25000. Ordnance Survey. July 2014. ISBN 978-0319243862.
- ↑ "Detailed Maps & Routes to Explore Across the UK | OS Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ Ordnance Survey (1948). "Hertfordshire Sheet XII.NW". National Library of Scotland.
- ↑ "A river runs through it". Hertfordshire Life. 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ "Purwell Meadows" (PDF).
- ↑ Historic England. "Purwell Mill (1347596)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ↑ Fitzpatrick-Matthews, Keith (2020). "The Archaeology of the Wymondleys".