River Stort

The River Stort is a chalk river in Hertfordshire and Essex. It flows for 39 kilometres from near Langley to the River Lea at Hoddesdon. The river’s name comes from Bishop’s Stortford, once called Stortford because of a nearby ford. Early cartographers Christopher Saxton and William Camden named it the Stort in the 16th century. Originally it was called the Stour. The river rises north of Langley and passes through several villages and towns. The Stort Navigation is the canalised section of the river, running 22 kilometres from Bishop’s Stortford to the Lee Navigation. It has fifteen locks along its length. The river changes direction near Harlow and Roydon before reaching its end at Feildes Weir. High rainfall north of Maunden brings the river to life in that stretch. The navigation allows boats to travel smoothly between Bishop’s Stortford and the Lea. Visitors find a gentle waterway winding through Hertfordshire’s countryside. The villages of Clavering and Manuden lie along its banks. Sawbridgeworth and Harlow also border the river. The Stort Navigation offers calm waters for walking or boating. At Hoddesdon the river meets the Lea, creating a wider scene. The route provides quiet spots to watch wildlife and enjoy the landscape.