- River Rom
The River Rom (also known as the River Beam) is a tributary of the
River Thames in England that flows through the East London suburbs.The river rises to the north of
Romford and flows through it underground in a man-made channel. To the south of the town centre it flows under Roneo Corner. AtEastbrookend Country Park it is joined by a tributary, known locally as the Ravensbourne, which rises inArdleigh Green and flows throughEmerson Park andHarrow Lodge Park . [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42815 Victoria County History W.R.Powell (editor) A History of the County of Essex: Volume 7 1978] ]The Rom then continues under the name of the River Beam and forms the boundary between the
London Borough of Havering and theLondon Borough of Barking and Dagenham before reaching theRiver Thames near theFord Motor Company Works.The Beam Valley comprises 182 acres of land running north along the River Beam from the near the Ford Motor Works. The Beam Valley is a mixture of woodlands, acid grassland, ponds and marsh areas and is a haven for many types of wildlife. There are plans to develop the area to improve the conservation interest and to create new opportunities for recreation and education. The valley also includes various historical features including tank traps, pillboxes and a section of the old Romford Canal. [ [http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/8-leisure-envir/park-country/parks-c-beam-v.html Barking and Dagenham Country Parks and Nature Reserves - The Beam Valley] ] The River Beam is home to the rare
water vole , while the grassland in the valley contains some uncommon plants. [ [http://www.london.gov.uk/wildweb/PublicSiteView.do?siteid=6760 London Wildweb] ]The name 'River Rom' is believed to be a 'back-formation' from the name of the town Romford, which was sited on a crossing of the river. The name 'Romford' is first recorded in 1177 as "Romfort", which is formed from 'rūm' and 'ford' and means "the wide or spacious ford". [Mills, D., "Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names," (2000)] Some historians believe that the stream was originally named the 'Murkeyditche' and that the name was altered later for the sake of appearances.Fact|date=May 2007
ee also
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List of rivers in England References
River item line|upstream=
River Roding (north)
downstream=River Ingrebourne (north)
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