The Haven (Boston)
The Haven is the tidal river of the Port of Boston in Lincolnshire. It serves as the outfall into the sea of the River Witham and several major land drains of the northern Fens, which are known collectively as the Witham Navigable Drains. It also provides access to the town and its docks for shipping from the Wash, one of the largest estuaries in the country and also fed by the Rivers Welland, Nene and Great Ouse. Nowadays, the activity has moved below the old centre of the town. The fishing fleet moors below the railway bridge and cargo vessels lie either in tidal berths beside the dock where there are handling facilities or in the dock itself where there are also facilities including the handling of containers. Access to the Haven from the River Welland is through the Grand Sluice, a tidal barrage which holds in the River Welland and releases flood water at low tide and then holds out the incoming high tide. Today, only pleasure craft such as the Boston Belle travel through the Grand Sluice lock into the Haven.