The River Rea (pronounced “ray”) is a small river which passes through Birmingham, England. It is the river on which Birmingham was founded by the Beorma tribe in the 7th century.
River Rea.
| Rea | |
|---|---|
| The River Rea at Belgrave Middleway (Birmingham) | |
| Etymology | “to flow” (Old English) |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
What are the three rivers in Birmingham?
Birmingham has three named water courses flowing through it: the River Cole, River Tame and River Rea.
How many rivers are there in Birmingham UK?
Distinctively, Birmingham only has small rivers flowing through it, mainly the River Tame and its tributaries River Rea and River Cole – one of the closest main rivers is the Severn, approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of the city centre.
What is the name of the river that Birmingham was originally built on?
Geography played a major role in the transformation of Birmingham from a hamlet worth 20 shillings in 1086 into Britain’s centre of manufacturing in the 20th Century. It was a dry site with a good supply of water, routes converging at Deritend Ford across the River Rea.
What rivers run through the Black Country?
Much of the course of the river has been modified over the centuries, and the urban sections now run mainly through culverts or canalised channels. Both arms of the Tame flow through the Black Country to their confluence at Bescot, on the edge of Walsall.
What is the main river in Birmingham?
The River Tame is the main river of the West Midlands and the most important tributary of the Trent. From its source at Oldbury, near Dudley, the river flows east through the city before swinging north at Hams Hall towards Tamworth, which takes its’ name from the river.
What river goes from Birmingham to London?
The Grand Union Canal links London to Birmingham, passing through rolling countryside, industrial towns and peaceful villages.
What is the nickname for Birmingham UK?
Brum
Brum. Brum, a short-form version of Brummagem, is the city’s most popular nickname.
What is Birmingham UK famous for?
Birmingham is said to be the home of heavy metal with the likes of Black Sabbath (led by Ozzy Osbourne), Judas Priest and lead singer of Led Zeppelin originating from the city. The Streets, UB40, Wizzard, Laura Mvula and Duran Duran also originate from Birmingham. We host over 50 festivals across the city each year.
Is there a river under Birmingham?
It is no secret there are underground bodies of water in Birmingham and across Alabama. Alabama has more miles of underground rivers than any other state. Those rivers, known as groundwater, are responsible for most sinkholes.
Why is it called Five Ways Birmingham?
History. The name of Five Ways dates back to 1565, when roads leading to Harborne and Halesowen were recorded as being located there. Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck, who lived at Five Ways until 1785, describes the origins of its name as a result of the location being the junction of five roadways.
Why is Birmingham called Birmingham?
The name “Birmingham” comes from the Old English Beormingahām, meaning the home or settlement of the Beormingas – a tribe or clan whose name literally means “Beorma’s people” and which may have formed an early unit of Anglo-Saxon administration.
Was Birmingham the capital of England?
Unfortunately, Birmingham has never been the capital of England. There was a recent spate of online searches for this, but only Winchester and Colchester have ever been regarded as UK capitals, according to history.
Why is Black River called black?
The Black River is named for its black water, darkly stained and resembling a tea or coffee color, which results from the tannins leached from plant material in the surrounding swamps.
Why is the Black Country in the UK called the Black Country?
The name has been in use since the mid-19th century and is thought to refer to the colour of the coal seam or the air pollution from the many thousands of foundries and factories around at the time; in 1862, Elihu Burritt famously described the area as being ‘black by day and red by night’.
Why is the Black River so black?
Black-water rivers derive entirely from soils of lowland forests, rich in leaves and other decaying organic matter. Water in these rivers has the color of weak tea, which appears black in images from space.
Where does water come from in Birmingham?
Wonderful water for Birmingham. Your water is supplied from Wales and transported to Birmingham through the Elan Valley Aqueduct. As the Aqueduct is over 100 years old it needs regular maintenance, which means from time to time we need to take it out of action so we can get inside and carry out repairs.
What is the national dish of Birmingham?
Balti. Perhaps the most famous Birmingham dish, the balti is a type of curry cooked and served in a two-handled steel bowl, almost always with an accompaniment of naan bread to scoop up the spicy contents.
Can you swim in Birmingham canals?
On a hot day, it might seem like a great idea to cool down in open water. However, swimming is prohibited in our canals and rivers. There are too many risks that you can’t see hidden below the surface, and lots of other ways you can cool down with two feet on the towpath.
Can you go from Birmingham to London by boat?
If you cruised the entire 137 miles by canal from Birmingham to London without stopping, this would take around 74 hours. However, you’re likely to stop for breaks in between – so if you were averaging at 8 hours of cruising a day, this would take you 9 days.
Does the Thames go through Birmingham?
The Grand Union Canal leaves the River Thames at Brentford and climbs over fifty locks up into the Chiltern hills. It descends then climbs again to a new summit in Birmingham, 137 miles and 166 locks.