River Roach

Roach
River
River Roach flowing through Rochford Hundred Golf Course
Country	England
County	Essex
Part of	River Crouch
Source
- location	Rayleigh
- elevation	58 m (190 ft)
- coordinates	51°35′42″N 0°37′25″E / 51.5949°N 0.6235°E / 51.5949; 0.6235
Mouth	River Crouch
- location	east of Wallasea Island
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	51°37′00″N 0°52′18″E / 51.6166°N 0.8718°E / 51.6166; 0.8718Coordinates: 51°37′00″N 0°52′18″E / 51.6166°N 0.8718°E / 51.6166; 0.8718
Length	22 km (14 mi)
Location of the river mouth within Essex

The River Roach is a river that flows entirely through the English county of Essex. It flows through the town of Rochford and joins the River Crouch between Wallasea Island and Foulness Island.

Rochford takes its name from Rochefort, Old English for Ford of the Hunting Dogs. The River Roach was originally called the "Walfleet" or "Walflete" (Creek of the foreigners). It is believed that it was renamed the Roach in what is known as a back formation. This is where it is assumed that Rochford means ford over the River Roach, so they could have renamed the river to fit the theory. Until the 1900s, Oysters from the River Roach and sometimes from the River Crouch were called Walfleet (or Walflete) Oysters.

The River Roach has its source near Bull Wood and Hockley Woods in Hockley. It rises in the hill near The Gattens and Nelson Road, which are either side of Hockley Road, Rayleigh. The Roach then runs south, under Bull Lane, beside then under The Chase where it turns to run east behind Milton Close and Bramfield Road East. It the passes north of the Grove Playing Fields, then past Rayleigh Sewage Works where its flow is augmented by the discharge from the reed-bed purification system. It runs south of Rawreth Hall Wood, north of Grove Woods, past New England Wood. From there, through the Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park, past The Scrubs (wood), under Cherry Orchard Way (B1013), past Southend Airport and on through Rochford Hundred Golf Course into Rochford where it joins the Hawkwell Brook beside the Rochford Lake.

Passing under South Street beside the Horse and Groom public house, the River Roach then continues east, running through flood plain marshes before discharging into the northern arm of the River Roach at Stambridge Mills, 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) downstream from the town. Just after this point, the Roach passes Sutton Wharf with jetties, slipways, a boatyard and moorings. This is where its main tributary, the Prittle Brook from Leigh on Sea and Southend on Sea joins as its southern arm.

From Stambridge Mills eastwards, the River Roach is tidal and becomes a wide river. It passes Great Stambridge Hall, Mucking Hall, Barton Hall and Roper's Farm. Barlinghall Creek joins it at The Violet and from here the Roach is now about 400 metres wide. It passes Paglesham, famous for its native oysters and the location of Charles Darwin's HMS Beagle which lies under the mud 150 metres (490 ft) west of Paglesham's boatyard and slipway.