This is a weird little river, it falls 150 feet in only 3 miles
and spends some of its time underground. This is because the Kentish Ragstone, over and
through which it flows, is a lime stone, and has a lot of faults, so the Loose follows these
faults accordingly.The fact that the river is so 'steep', and also because it is rarely affected by drought, gave rise to the establishment of some 13 mills over its short length. Over the years these mills worked in many industries, sometimes used for corn and oilseeds, sometimes for wool, and most of them were also involved in the paper industry.
I am most familiar with this river from the village of Loose downwards, and it really is an
extraordinary place. The sides of the valley are very steep and the valley itself is like
a well kept secret. The industry is mostly gone (some small industrial units sited at Hayle
Mill), the mill ponds remain and the mills are now exclusive country houses.How different it must have been in earlier times! There would have been a lot of noise, and traffic transporting the materials to and from the wharves in Tovil, and presumably the river itself would have been heavily polluted. Nowadays it is a reserve for wild fowl and a superb place for a Sunday afternoon walk. |
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