// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did River Hiz say to its friend? "You're a current friend.
| River Hiz | |
|---|---|
 The river in Arlesey | |
  Location within the United Kingdom | |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Counties | Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | South of Charlton at Wellhead |
| Mouth | River Ivel |
• location | Near Henlow |
| Length | 8.1 miles (13.0 km) |
The River Hiz /hɪtʃ/ is a chalk river with a length of 13 km (8.1 mi).[1] Its headwaters rises south of the village of Charlton, the river winds its way through the county of Hertfordshire, moving its way into and through a northeastern direction into Hitchin, to its confluence with the River Purwell, then flows north through its confluence with the River Oughton at Ickleford. The Hiz joins at its confluence of the River Ivel near the village of Henlow.[2]
Course
[edit]Its headwaters rises south of the village of Wellhead, Charlton,[3] the river flows through Hertfordshire, meandering through a northeastern direction into Hitchin. The Hiz is a tributary of the Ivel,[4] meaning it joins at its confluence near the village of Henlow.[2] It has a total length of 13 km (8.1 mi).[1]
Tributaries
[edit]Two notable tributaries of the Hiz include:
- River Oughton - it joins the Hiz at its confluence at Ickleford.[2]
Hydrology
[edit]| Station | Depth range | Deepest depth (m) | Date of highest level recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlesey | 0.13m-0.26m | 1.40 m | 27 September 2024 |
There is one gauging station along the River Hiz, located at Arlesey. This station is regulated by Environment Agency.[5][6]
Hydromorphology
[edit]Its hydromorphological designation is 'heavily modified' which means it fails to achieve good ecological status due to its physical alterations caused by human use.[7][8][9]
Ecology
[edit]| Species | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Marsh Orchid | Dactylorhiza |
| Cowslip | Primula veris |
| Yellow Flag Iris | Iris pseudacorus |
| Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis |
| Water Vole | Arvicola amphibius |
| Trout | Salmo trutta |
The table below lists the species of the River Hiz.[3]
Toponymy
[edit]The z in Hiz is a Domesday-Book abbreviation for ts (or tch),[10] and Hiz is properly pronounced "Hitch". This fact seems to be little known, and Hiz is now normally said as it is spelled. It may take its name from the Hicce tribe, who inhabited the area and gave their name to Hitchin. Eilert Ekwall says that Hiz/Hitch is a probable back-formation from Hitchin, which in turn is the dative plural of Hicce.[11]
John Norden says the name is derived from a wood called Hitch,[12] but Ekwall believes this is a conflation with Wychwood, for which the Old English is Hwiccawudu.[11]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "River Hiz| 13 km, United Kingdom". Waterway Map.
- 1 2 3 4 "North Hertfordshire District Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment" (PDF). North Hertfordshire District Council. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- 1 2 Wendy Turner (2025). A-Z of Hitchin. Amberley Publishing.
- ↑ Frederic Seebohm (1896). "The" English Village Community. Longmans. p. 429.
- ↑ "River Hiz level at Arlesey". Environment Agency. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "The River Hiz at the Arlesey station". FloodMapper. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ "Glossary | Catchment Data Explorer | Catchment Data Explorer". Environment Agency. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Hiz (DS Hitchin) | Catchment Data Explorer | Catchment Data Explorer". Environment Agency. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "Hiz (through Hitchin) | Catchment Data Explorer | Catchment Data Explorer". Environment Agency. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ Johnston, James B., The Place-Names of England and Wales, London, 1915, p. 305
- 1 2 Eilert Ekwall (1928). English River Names. OUP. pp. 197–198.
- ↑ J. Norden (1598). Description of Hertfordshire.
External links
[edit]
Media related to River Hiz at Wikimedia Commons
52°00′43″N 0°16′16″W / 52.01188°N 0.27106°W
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