Ford (crossing)
A
ford is a place in a watercourse (most commonly a stream or
river) that is shallow enough to be crossed by wading, on
horseback, or in a wheeled
vehicle. The names of many towns and villages are derived from such places, e.g.
Oxford (a ford where
oxen crossed the river: see the
Oxford coat of arms), or
Stratford (a ford on a
Roman road).
A ford is, clearly, a much cheaper form of river-crossing than a
bridge though normally only suitable today for very minor roads. Most modern fords are shallow enough to be crossed by
car, but they may become impassable after heavy rain.
At localities where the water is shallow enough, but the material on the riverbed will not support heavy vehicles, fords are sometimes improved by the provision of a submerged
concrete floor. In such cases a
curb is placed on the downstream side to prevent vehicles slipping off, as growth of
algae will often make the slab very slippery.
The
German word
furt (as in
Frankfurt) and the
Dutch voorde, (as in
Coevorden or
Amersfoort) are cognate and have the same meaning. Compare
Bedforde in the map.
Watersplash
A road running below the water level of a stream or river is often known as a
watersplash. It is a common name for a ford or stretch of wet road in some areas, and sometimes also used to describe tidal crossings. They have become a common feature in
rallying courses. There are enthusiasts who seek out and drive through these water features recording details such as wave created, position and access on dedicated
websites.
There are many old fords used as watersplashes in the
United Kingdom, examples are at
Brockenhurst in
Hampshire, Wookey in
Somerset and Swinbrook in
Oxfordshire. Some of these are being replaced by bridges as these are considered to be a more reliable form of crossing in adverse weather conditions.
Not just a British phenomenon, some very spectacular versions of the watersplash feature can be found in diverse locations.
Australia has the
Gulf Savannah, and others may be found in
Canada,
Italy,
South Africa and
Finland. They are also found on some Tennessee backroads, where they are referred to as "underwater bridges."
*
List of British fords
