Frays River
Encyclopedia
Frays River is a river in England that branches off the River Colne
at Uxbridge Moor and rejoins it at West Drayton
.
The Frays River leaves the River Colne between Uxbridge
and Denham, Buckinghamshire
at Denham Weir. It passes Cowley
and Yiewsley
where it is joined by the River Pinn
. It is also crossed by the Slough branch of the Grand Union Canal
which is carried on an aqueduct. It rejoins the River Colne at West Drayton
. Little Britain
is a lake situated between the Frays River and the River Colne.
The Frays River is believed to be a man-made diversion of waters from the River Colne to feed watermills around Uxbridge. The name is originates from John Fray who owned Cowley Hall beside the river in the fifteenth century. Other names for the river are the Uxbridge and Cowley Mill Stream, the Cowley Stream or the Colham Mill Stream. In the 17th century the river powered five mills. Drayton Mill at West Drayton was mentioned in Domesday Book
and was used for flour milling, paper-making and the manufacture of millboard. It ceased operation in about 1923.
The Frays River is a natural habitat for plants and wildlife and Frays Island between the Frays and the River Colne is a Site of Metropolitan Importance managed by the London Wildlife Trust
. The river goes through two Sites of Special Scientific Interest managed by London Wildlife Trust, Frays Farm Meadows
and Denham Lock Wood
.
A literary connection is that George Orwell
once taught at Frays College, which was on the banks of the Frays River and was named after it.
River Colne, Hertfordshire
The Colne is a river in England which is a tributary of the River Thames. It flows mainly through Hertfordshire and forms the boundary between the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire and the London Borough of Hillingdon...
at Uxbridge Moor and rejoins it at West Drayton
West Drayton
West Drayton is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon in the far west of London, England. Formerly part of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District of Middlesex, the district became part of Greater London in 1965....
.
The Frays River leaves the River Colne between Uxbridge
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
and Denham, Buckinghamshire
Denham, Buckinghamshire
Denham is a village and civil parish in the South Buckinghamshire district of Buckinghamshire, England. It is north west of Uxbridge and north of junction 1 of the M40 motorway. Denham contains the Buckinghamshire Golf Club.-Origin:...
at Denham Weir. It passes Cowley
Cowley, London
Cowley is a place in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It is a suburban development situated 15.4 miles west of Charing Cross. Cowley is home to , which was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book....
and Yiewsley
Yiewsley
Yiewsley is a place in the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon Wifeleslēah: "Wifel's woodland clearing".The nearest places to Yiewsley are Hayes, Harlington, Cowley, Harmondsworth, Sipson, and West Drayton....
where it is joined by the River Pinn
River Pinn
The River Pinn is a river in West London which originates around Pinner and flows into the Frays River, which is a branch of the River Colne.-Route:...
. It is also crossed by the Slough branch of the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
which is carried on an aqueduct. It rejoins the River Colne at West Drayton
West Drayton
West Drayton is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon in the far west of London, England. Formerly part of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District of Middlesex, the district became part of Greater London in 1965....
. Little Britain
Little Britain, Buckinghamshire
Little Britain is the name given to the lake that lies between Cowley, Greater London, and Iver, in the county of Buckinghamshire, in England. It is part of the Colne Valley Regional Park, which covers the Colne Valley area...
is a lake situated between the Frays River and the River Colne.
The Frays River is believed to be a man-made diversion of waters from the River Colne to feed watermills around Uxbridge. The name is originates from John Fray who owned Cowley Hall beside the river in the fifteenth century. Other names for the river are the Uxbridge and Cowley Mill Stream, the Cowley Stream or the Colham Mill Stream. In the 17th century the river powered five mills. Drayton Mill at West Drayton was mentioned in Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
and was used for flour milling, paper-making and the manufacture of millboard. It ceased operation in about 1923.
The Frays River is a natural habitat for plants and wildlife and Frays Island between the Frays and the River Colne is a Site of Metropolitan Importance managed by the London Wildlife Trust
London Wildlife Trust
London Wildlife Trust was founded in 1981. It is one of 47 members of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts , each of which is a local nature conservation charity for its area....
. The river goes through two Sites of Special Scientific Interest managed by London Wildlife Trust, Frays Farm Meadows
Frays Farm Meadows
Frays Farm Meadows is a 28.2 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Denham in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It was notified as an SSSI in 1981, and has been managed by the London Wildlife Trust on behalf of Hillingdon Council since 1999...
and Denham Lock Wood
Denham Lock Wood
Denham Lock Wood is a 6.3 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest next to the Grand Union Canal, and near Denham in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It was notified in 1986 and is managed by the London Wildlife Trust on behalf of Hillingdon Council...
.
A literary connection is that George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
once taught at Frays College, which was on the banks of the Frays River and was named after it.