River Wissey

River Wissey
River
The river at Hilgay
Country	England
County	Norfolk
Source
- location	Shipdham
- elevation	70 m (230 ft)
- coordinates	52°38′17″N 0°53′24″E / 52.6381°N 0.8900°E / 52.6381; 0.8900
Mouth	River Great Ouse
- location	Fordham
- elevation	4 m (13 ft)
- coordinates	52°33′58″N 0°20′37″E / 52.5661°N 0.3436°E / 52.5661; 0.3436Coordinates: 52°33′58″N 0°20′37″E / 52.5661°N 0.3436°E / 52.5661; 0.3436
Length	31 mi (50 km)

The River Wissey is a river in Norfolk, eastern England. It rises near Bradenham, and flows for nearly 31 miles (50 km) to join the River Great Ouse at Fordham. The lower 11.2 miles (18.0 km) are navigable. The upper reaches are notable for a number of buildings of historic interest, which are close to the banks. The river passes through the parkland of the Arts and Crafts Pickenham Hall, and further downstream, flows through the Army's Stanford Training Area, which was created in 1942 by evacuating six villages. The water provided power for at least two mills, at Hilborough and Northwold. At Whittington, the river becomes navigable, and is surrounded by fenland. A number of pumping stations pump water from drainage ditches into the higher river channel.

Although navigation is known to have taken place since at least the time of the Domesday Book, there is less documentary evidence than for other neighbouring rivers, as there was no centre of population at the head of the navigation. A sugar-beet factory was built on the banks in 1925 at Wissington, which could only be accessed by river or railway, and started a period of relative prosperity, which ended in 1943, when the first road to reach the factory was built. All use of the river is now by pleasure craft.

The river is a tributary of the Great Ouse, rising at Shipdham, near East Bradenham in Norfolk, and flowing for nearly 31 miles (50 km) through Necton, North Pickenham, South Pickenham, Great Cressingham, Ickburgh, Northwold and Stoke Ferry before joining the Great Ouse south of Downham Market, specifically in the small parish of Fordham. Its course has altered, as it originally flowed to Wisbech, which derives its name from the river, and historically, it has also been known as the River Stoke or Stoke River. The source, to the north of Shipdham, is close to the 260-foot (79 m) contour, and is close to the source of the River Yare, which flows in the opposite direction.