river Deben

Both the river-name and the name of the village of Debenham are of uncertain origin and relationship,{{cite book|title=A dictionary of Suffolk place-names|author=Keith Briggs and Kelly Kilpatrick|publisher=English Place-Name Society}} but one theory (of several on offer) is that the river's name was originally Dēope meaning 'the deep one'.{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|author=A. D. Mills|publisher=Oxford University Press}} The river-name, however, is not recorded in the form Deben before 1735, when it appears thus in Kirby's Suffolk Traveller. The river, though still little more than a stream, is forded twice in the village, with that which runs along Stoney Lane being claimed to be among the longest in England.{{cite web|url=http://www.wetroads.co.uk/suffolk.htm|title=Fords in Suffolk |publisher=Wet Roads |accessdate=9 December 2013}}

{{Main|Deben Estuary}}

Tide mills at Woodbridge have operated off the tide from the river Deben since at least 1170. The present mill, built in 1793, is producing stone ground wholemeal flour in the traditional way.{{cite web|url=http://woodbridgetidemill.org.uk/history/|title=History|publisher=Woodbridge Tide Mill}} It marks the point from which the River Deben flows into the Deben Estuary. In 2009, the Deben Estuary Partnership was developed to enable the local communities to have an input into complex and increasingly important issues that will be crucial for the River Deben and the surrounding estuary area. In 2015, the Deben Estuary Plan was drawn up following feedback.{{cite book |last1=Allam |first1=Simon |last2=Astley-Read |first2=Trazar |last3=Block |first3=Christine |last4=Henderson |first4=Graham |last5=Judge |first5=Adrian Whittle, Peter |last6=Read |first6=Simon |last7=Thomas |first7=Karen |last8=Thomas |first8=Michael |last9=Whittle |first9=Robin |last10=Youngs |first10=Peter |title=The Deben Estuary Plan April 2015 |date=2015 |publisher=Deben Estuary Partnership |location=Woodbridge |url=https://debenestuarypartnership.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/dep-april-2015-v1-4b-a4-not-for-print-low-resolution.pdf}}

The Deben Estuary is a Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site and within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its significance arises from its over-wintering population of avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta). The estuary features shifting sandbanks. Plant life is dominated by the common reed (Phragmites australis). The salt marsh and intertidal mud-flats that occupy most of the area have the widest range of salt marsh flora in Suffolk.

Water resource management has evolved in relation to the River Deben. Since 2023 the East Suffolk Water Management Board has been responsible for this. It traces its origin to the internal drainage boards established in 1933. The "River Deben (upper) Internal Drainage Board" and the "River Deben (lower) Internal Drainage Board' were established at this time, and were responsible for water management until amalgamation in 2005.{{cite web |title=Post Consultation Draft, April 2019 |url=https://www.wlma.org.uk/uploads/agendas/0734_WMA-Planning_&_Byelaw_Strategy-April2019-v20.pdf |website=Water Management Alliance |access-date=1 April 2024}}

File:cmglee_Felixstowe_Ferry_promontory.jpg and the mouth of River Deben at Felixstowe Ferry in June 2019]]

There are several yacht and dinghy clubs on the river Deben. These include the Deben Rowing Club, Deben Yacht Club, the Waldringfield Sailing Club, Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club and the Woodbridge Cruising Club. There are two yacht harbours, the Tidemill Yacht Harbour, close to the Tide Mill; and the Granary Yacht Harbour, further upstream at Melton.

The river Deben is a popular location for many other water sports including canoeing, wakeboarding, paddle boarding and windsurfing. The area where the river Deben enters the North Sea at Felixstowe Ferry is also a popular location for the sport of kitesurfing. Kitesurfers can usually be seen around low tide when the wind conditions are favourable, ranging from NE round to SW and depending on the direction of the tide.

The Deben Peninsula is a region of Suffolk,{{Cite web |date=2019-09-21 |title=Shingle and Saxons: a car-free trip to the Suffolk coast |url=http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/sep/21/suffolk-coast-beaches-by-public-transport-ferry-bus-train-car-free |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} made up of the area of the Coast and Heaths AONB between the River Deben to the south and the Alde and Ore Estuary in the north.{{Cite web |title=Guide to the Deben Peninsula on The Suffolk Coast |url=https://www.thesuffolkcoast.co.uk/suffolk-coast-towns-and-villages/deben-peninsula |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=The Suffolk Coast |language=en}} The area is relatively remote,{{Cite news |last=Farrell |first=Aimee |date=2018-09-18 |title=How Margaret Howell, Master of British Fashion, Became a Beachcomber |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/t-magazine/margaret-howell-fashion-beach-treasures.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |issn=0362-4331}} and noted for its stunning coastline.{{Cite news |last=Pickup |first=Mike |date=2022-03-26 |title=Britain's 10 quirkiest places to stay this spring – from houseboats to horse boxes |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/britains-10-quirkiest-places-stay-spring-houseboats-horse/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |issn=0307-1235}}

• Bawdsey Ferry
• River Alde
• Suffolk Coast and Heaths

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|River Deben}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312132712/http://www.eastcoastrivers.com/ River Deben Navigation Information]}}
• [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2023 SPA designation]
• [http://www.debenyachtclub.co.uk Deben Yacht Club]
• {{oscoor gbx|TM327383}}

{{Rivers and Watercourses of Suffolk}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Deben, River}}

Category:Rivers of Suffolk

Category:Ramsar sites in England

Category:Special Protection Areas in England

Category:Suffolk East Management Catchment