River Rea

Not to be confused with River Rea, Shropshire

The River Rea by Belgrave Middleway in Birmingham

The River Rea (pronounced "ray") is a small river, yet one which stretches for 14 miles through two counties, through country and town and which ultimately passes through Birmingham in Warwickshire on its way to join the River Tame. The name of the river derives from a root found in many Indo-European languages and means "to run" or "to flow". It frequently bursts its banks after heavy rain.

Course

The Rea rises in the Waseley Hills (in the Waseley Hill Country Park) in Worcestershire – its source is well signposted from the car park there. The river drops about 230 feet in its first mile, but from then on has a very gentle slope.

The river's tributaries include Callow Brook, the Bourne (which begins as Merritts Brook before joining Griffins Brook) and Bourne Brook. From Rubery, the river flows into Birmingham near the former Rover works at Longbridge, then flows through a tunnel under the A38. In Northfield, south of Birmingham city centre, the Rea is crossed by one its few remaining fords, at The Mill Walk, near Hawkesley Mill Lane.

Below Northfield, the river valley is also used by the railway to Kings Norton.

A floodgate on the river at Vaughton’s Hole drawn in 1831

One of the Gooch Street Bridge arches

Wychall Reservoir, near the river at Kings Norton, was built in the early 19th century by the Worcester Canal Company after mill owners claimed that water was being taken from the river to fill the canal and reducing the working effectiveness of their mills. Following Kings Norton, the river flows through Stirchley. It is now culverted for much of its course through Birmingham. It enters Warwickshire in the suburbs and passes through the Pebble Mill area and Cannon Hill Park then Calthorpe Park.

A pair of decorative arches on the bridge where Gooch Street crosses the river mark the first settlement of Birmingham. In the Middle Ages, Birmingham was a mere hamlet, and was built at a crossing on the Rea in what is now Digbeth. Many of the street names in the area refer to the river or its mills. These include Rea Street, Floodgate Street, River Street and Duddeston Mill Road. There are proposals to include a riverside walk and new bridge over the Rea at Digbeth's Custard Factory media and arts complex (now complete). There are also proposals for the river to be uncovered at the Warwick Bar area of Digbeth.

Near Gravelly Hill Interchange, about 14 miles from its source, the Rea merges with the River Tame, which takes its waters by way of the Trent and the Humber to the North Sea.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about River Rea)

• River Rea Trail
• Photo of the Rea at Fazeley St., Birmingham 5