River Ivel

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River in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, England

title: "River Ivel" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-bedfordshire", "rivers-of-hertfordshire", "tributaries-of-the-river-great-ouse"] description: "River in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, England" topic_path: "general/rivers-of-bedfordshire" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Ivel" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary River in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, England ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox UK legislation"]

FieldValue
short_titleRiver Ivel Navigation Act 1757
typeAct
parliamentParliament of Great Britain
long_titleAn Act for making the River Ivel and the Branches there of navigable, from the River Great Ouse at Tempsford in the County of Bedford, to Shotling Mill otherwise called Burnt Mill in the Parish of Hitchin in the County of Hertford, and to Black Horse Mill, in the Parish of Bygrave in the said County of Hertford, and to the South and North Bridges in the Town of Shefford in the said County of Bedford.
year1757
citation30 Geo. 2. c. 62
territorial_extentGreat Britain
royal_assent17 May 1757
commencement2 December 1756
related_legislationIvel Navigation (Abandonment) Act 1876
statusCurrent
original_texthttps://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ja43AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA195
collapsedyes
::

::callout[type=note] the river in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/The_River_Ivel_at_Biggleswade,Beds-geograph.org.uk-_173700.jpg" caption="The river at Biggleswade"] ::

The River Ivel is a north-flowing river in south eastern England, running predominantly through Bedfordshire. It joins the River Great Ouse near Tempsford.

Course

The River Ivel rises at Ivel Springs immediately north of Baldock in northern Hertfordshire and flows generally northwards into Bedfordshire. It passes through the parishes and settlements of Stotfold, Arlesey, Henlow, Langford, Biggleswade, Sandy and Blunham before joining the River Great Ouse near Tempsford. The total length of the river is approximately 16 miles (26 km).

Gauging Stations and Hydrology

Along the River Ivel, there are 2 gauging stations 1 in Biggleswade and 1 in Blunham. Gauge stations record measurements of the river i.e flow/m3, depth of the river, monitor floods and drought risks.

::data[format=table]

StationTypical Depth (m)Minimum Depth (m)Maximum Depth (m)
Biggleswade0.13–0.480.081.14
Blunham0.17–0.55–1.45
::

The table above shows typical river levels at the Biggleswade and Blunham gauging stations along the River Ivel. The values indicate normal seasonal fluctuations, with water levels generally higher in winter and lower in summer. Historical maxima reflect periods of heavy rainfall and flood events. Although the river is relatively shallow under typical conditions, levels can rise quickly, especially downstream at Blunham, highlighting the river’s responsiveness to rainfall and catchment runoff. These gauges are monitored by the Environment Agency and provide important data for flood warning, water management, and ecological monitoring. Water levels tend to peak in winter (December–February) and are generally lowest in late summer (July–September).

Conservation Efforts

The River Ivel is monitored by conservation groups-especially RevIvel the RevIvel association is a local volunteer group established to campaign for the restoration of sustainable flows to the upper reaches of the river. The group undertakes ecological and water-level monitoring, raises public awareness of environmental pressures such as groundwater abstraction and pollution, and engages with regulators and water companies. RevIvel is a member of the Chalk Aquifer Alliance, which promotes the protection of chalk streams across southern England.

Tributaries

Areas at flood risk

The watercourse suddenly develops a low gradient. From the Flit confluence to Blunham lakes near its discharge, including parts of the town of Sandy the adjoining land is designated as a Flood Warning Area. The updated map of which area is, using computer flood-risk models and factors such as latest prevention measures, published by the Environment Agency.

Nature trail

The Kingfisher Way is a nature trail of 21 mile, which mostly follows the valley floor from the source at Ivel Springs in Baldock through to its confluence with the River Great Ouse at Tempsford.

Ivel Navigation

| short_title = River Ivel Navigation Act 1757 | type = Act | parliament = Parliament of Great Britain | long_title = An Act for making the River Ivel and the Branches there of navigable, from the River Great Ouse at Tempsford in the County of Bedford, to Shotling Mill otherwise called Burnt Mill in the Parish of Hitchin in the County of Hertford, and to Black Horse Mill, in the Parish of Bygrave in the said County of Hertford, and to the South and North Bridges in the Town of Shefford in the said County of Bedford. | year = 1757 | citation = 30 Geo. 2. c. 62 | territorial_extent = Great Britain | royal_assent = 17 May 1757 | commencement = 2 December 1756 | repeal_date = | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = Ivel Navigation (Abandonment) Act 1876 | status = Current | original_text = https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ja43AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA195 | collapsed = yes Plans for a canal for the River Ivel were first announced in 1756. Locks were built in 1758 at Tempsford, Blunham, South Mills and Sandy. Tolls were initially lower than advertised leaving construction capital creditors including members of its maintenance committee in debt. Trade increased rapidly and such loans were redeemed in 1780. The canal was extended to Shefford, with locks at Biggleswade, Holme, Stanford and Clifton; reaching Shefford in 1823.

| short_title = Ivel Navigation (Abandonment) Act 1876 | type = Act | parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom | long_title = An Act to provide for the closing of the Ivel Navigation; the extinction of the Commission; and for other purposes. | year = 1876 | citation = 39 & 40 Vict. c. cxiv | territorial_extent = United Kingdom | royal_assent = 13 July 1876 | commencement = | repeal_date = | amends = | replaces = | amendments = | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = River Ivel Navigation Act 1757 | status = | original_text = | collapsed = yes The canal was abandoned in 1876 when a dam was built across it at Sandy, the relevant local act of Parliament, the Ivel Navigation (Abandonment) Act 1876 (39 & 40 Vict. c. cxiv), being passed in the same year. The river used for navigation also declined in use; railways were introduced during the 19th century they were more reliable than boats and trains can carry more resources which reduced labor and time.

History and industrial heritage structures

A wall of the former wharf at Shefford is beside a bridge over the Flit (tributary).

A maintained towpath adjoins the canalised river. After crossing the footbridge over the River Hit, the path continues straight ahead for some way until the river returns. The canal, made from the river, used to run immediately to the left of the path, but was filled in after World War II as it was considered dangerous. The present course of the river there was originally the millstream for Shefford Mill, close to the remains of the tower mill still visible.

Further on, to the east of the village of Stanford a wooden footbridge crosses the river at the site of Stanford Lock, one of the best preserved on the old canal.

At Radwell, Hertfordshire, an old manor house and mill are situated on the river Ivel, which date back to Edward the Confessor. The Mill was documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, and declared as worth 6s. 8d. (the equivalent to 48 days' pay of a skilled tradesman).

Canoeing and punting

The Ivel is no longer navigable to barges and is too narrow in many places along its length for single sculling. It can be canoed with care or punted in good conditions for 11 km between Biggleswade upriver to the junction with the Ouse which can equally be canoed, at Tempsford.

Angling

Its fishing rights are owned by a mixture of:

  • the default owners, the adjoining landowners who own the river to its mid-point by riparian law (unless expressly varied between them or their predecessors)
  • by time-limited ownership (lease) or by freehold profit a prendre "in gross" (not tied to any land) in perpetuity by local angling clubs and informal groups of anglers

The Ivel has good condition and large fish when in suitable waters for maturity including barbel (10-17+ lbs), perch to (4 lbs+), chub (7 lbs+), roach to 3lb, carp and pike to 20 lb, and bream to 10lb.

Notes

References

References

  1. "About the River Ivel".
  2. "River Ivel".
  3. "The River Ivel & Langford Bridge". Langford & District History Society.
  4. https://www.riverapp.net/station/54aaf0b4e4b01337250b3756
  5. https://riverlevels.uk/river-ivel-biggleswade
  6. https://www.revivel.org/about-us
  7. https://langfordhistorysociety.org.uk/the-river-ivel
  8. [http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?x=518819.0&y=245406.0&scale=3&layerGroups=default&location=SG18%200AA&ep=map&lang=_e&textonly=off&topic=floodmap Environment Agency website Ivel flood warning area map and details]
  9. [http://www.ivelvalley.co.uk/walk01.html Kingfisher Way walk / Walk 1 - Ivel Valley] The Ivel and Ouse Countryside Project, supported by [[Bedfordshire County Council]]
  10. https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/bedfordshire/ivel-navigation.htm
  11. "Shefford Canal". Shefford Town Council.
  12. "About the River Ivel". ipafishing.co.uk.
  13. "Canoe England - where to paddle". canoe-england.org.uk.
  14. "Angling on the River Ivel". ipafishing.co.uk.

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