River Roach

Not to be confused with River Roch.

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 at Wallasea Island.

River Roach flowing through Rochford Hundred Golf Course

Rochford takes its name from Rochefort, Old English for Ford of the Hunting Dogs. The River Roach was originally called the Walfleet (Creek of the foreigners). 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 renamed the river to fit the theory.

It has its source near Bull Wood in Hockley. It runs south-west and passes south of the Grove Playing Field in Rayleigh and the Rayleigh Sewage Works, where it's flow is augmented by the discharge from the reed-bed purification system. From here through the Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park, under the B1013 and on into Rochford via the Golf Course before discharging into the northern arm of the estuary of the River Roach some 1.5 km upstream of the Horse and Groom public house. The River Roach joins the River Crouch at Wallasea Ness, The combined estuaries then discharge into the North Sea at Holiwell Point

Navigation aid

Aircraft on final for runway 24

Light aircraft based at Southend Airport use the Roach as a navigation aid to guide them back to the runway.

When flying visually the visibility is not always good enough to see long distances, so pilots use geographic features to confirm their position with what is shown on their charts. The Roach flows past Purdeys Industrial Estate, Rochford, which is very close to the threshold of Runway 24. Pilots returning from a flight north east of the airport would use the Roach to help align themselves with the runway.

The Roach can be seen in the centre left of the photo. The runway can just be seen to the left of the Compass. The photo was taken 2.25 miles (3.62 km) or 1.96 nautical miles (3.63 km) from the runway threshold.

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  River Roach at Stambridge Mills looking West

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  River Roach at Stambridge Mills looking East

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  Bridges over the River Roach at Stambridge Mills