River Cong (Norfolk)

For the river in Connacht, Ireland, see River Cong (Ireland).

River Cong
River Cong
River Cong (Norfolk) is located in Norfolk
River Cong (Norfolk)
Location of the river mouth within Norfolk
Location
CountryEngland
StateNorfolk
RegionEast of England
DistrictKing's Lynn and West Norfolk
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationManor Farm, Congham
 • coordinates52°47′11″N 0°33′00″E / 52.7865°N 0.5499°E / 52.7865; 0.5499
 • elevation19 m (62 ft)
MouthRiver Babingley
 • location
west of Hillington
 • coordinates
52°48′02″N 0°31′52″E / 52.8006°N 0.5311°E / 52.8006; 0.5311
 • elevation
13 m (43 ft)
Length1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Basin features
River systemRiver Babingley

The River Cong is a stream in the west of the county of Norfolk, only 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length.[1] It is a tributary of the River Babingley. The spring rises in a meadow pool on the Hillington side of Manor Farm, Congham. From there, it flows through the wood and over a small waterfall, where in the past it powered all the machinery within the Congham Oil Mill (grid reference TF71342475), which is now known as Congham Lodge.[2]

The River Cong close to the point where it flows under the A148 road
Congham Oil Watermill

The name of the stream does not appear on current Ordnance Survey maps, and few sources name it. One appearance of the name is in the neighbouring village of Congham, whose name is listed by one source as meaning "dwelling by the River Cong",[3] though more recent sources suggest a possible direct meaning of dwelling "at the hill".[4]

  1. ^ "The River Babingley" (PDF). Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service. May 2014.
  2. ^ Ordnance Survey (2002). OS Explorer Map 250 – Norfolk Coast West. ISBN 0-319-21886-4.
  3. ^ J Chambers (1829). A general history of the county of Norfolk, intended to convey all the information of a Norfolk tour. p. 394.
  4. ^ A. D. Mills. A Dictionary of British Place Names. Oxford University Press.