River Colne, Hertfordshire
| Colne | |
|---|---|
River Colne as it joins the Thames at Staines-upon-Thames | |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Counties | Hertfordshire, Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Berkshire |
| Towns | Watford, Rickmansworth, Uxbridge, West Drayton, Staines-upon-Thames |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Unnamed brook |
| • location | east of Bell Bar, Brookmans Park |
| • coordinates | 51°43′50″N 0°10′47″W / 51.7306°N 0.1798°W |
| • elevation | 410 feet (120 m) |
| 2nd source | "Water End" brook |
| • location | east side of North Mymms Park (coalesence of two streams, liable-to-flood meadow) |
| Mouth | River Thames |
• location | Staines-upon-Thames town centre |
• coordinates | 51°25′58″N 0°30′55″W / 51.4329°N 0.5152°W |
• elevation | 48 feet (15 m) |
| Length | 58 km (36 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Denham, Buckinghamshire (rate at lower coalescence) |
| • average | 4.05 m3/s (143 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 0.74 m3/s (26 cu ft/s)26 August 1976 |
| • maximum | 18.4 m3/s (650 cu ft/s)14 October 1993 |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Berrygrove, Berry Grove Lane, Watford (rate at mid-to-upper coalescence) |
| • average | 0.79 m3/s (28 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Thames Basin |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Mimmshall Brook, Potters Bar Brook, Tyttenhanger Stream, Tykes Water (The Brook (Radlett)), Hillfield Brook, River Pinn |
| • right | Ellen Brook and river: Ver, Gade, Chess, Misbourne |
| Number of distributaries including namesake: | 6 |
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The Colne is a river and a tributary of the River Thames in England. Just over half its course is in south Hertfordshire. Downstream, it forms the boundary between Buckinghamshire and the London Borough of Hillingdon. The confluence with the River Thames is on the Staines reach (above Penton Hook Lock) at Staines-upon-Thames.
Two of its distributaries, constructed in the 1600 – 1750 period largely for aesthetic reasons for Hampton Court and for Syon Park, have been maintained. Their main purpose was not drinking water but these can be likened to the New River in scale and in date. Crossing its route, many viaducts and a canal, the intersecting Grand Union Canal, have been recognised for pioneering engineering during the Industrial Revolution.
Digging for gravel and clay along its lower course near Rickmansworth has created a belt of flooded pits below the water table, as established lakes, many of which are well-adapted habitats for wildlife, protected as nature reserves. The river, meadows and lakes form the Colne Valley regional park covering 43 square miles (110 km2).