IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Tortoiseshell Close, IPSWICH, IP8 3QZ

This is the flow gauging weir at Belstead Brook, 40 metres upstream of Belstead Bridge. It is a Compound Crump weir, that is, it is triangular in cross section with a precise triangular profile often used for discharge monitoring (after E S Crump, who defined the characteristics of this shape of weir). Normally a Crump weir will have a slope of 1:5 downstream and 1:2 upstream. This is a compound weir because it has a pair of flumes in the centre of the weir. When used to measure the flow of water in open channels such as here at Belstead Brook, a flume is defined as a specially shaped, fixed hydraulic structure that under free-flow conditions forces flow to accelerate in such a manner that the flow rate through the flume can be characterized by a level-to-flow relationship as applied to a single head (level) measurement within the flume.The flow is measured by a float with a counterweight. This method requires a float to be installed in a well on the stream bank connected to the weir by a pipe. The well provides a stable environment undisturbed by wind or water movement for a small float attached to a moving line and a counter weight so the movement in stream level can be measured by rotation of a wheel. Typically the wheel rotation is measured very accurately by light or laser encoder, in the instrument. A few metres away from the brook at this point is a cabinet of electrical equipment whereby the flow details are transmitted to the river authority monitoring centre.

At the junction with Ellenbrook Road

Looking towards Belstead Bridge at the junction with Bobbits Lane

At the junction with Bobbits Lane.

Off Ellenbrook Road at the junction with Bobbits Lane

Off Ellenbrook Road at the junction with Bobbits Lane (Close up)

This old concrete bridge whose parapet was cracking badly is now disused for motor traffic and has been replaced by a more modern bridge along side. See Image and Image