Tas, River

The River Tas rises near Carlton Fen ( two miles east of New Buckenham) and then flows northwards for approximately 20 miles before joining the larger River Yare at Trowse - just south of Norwich.

The Tas is a charming, mini-river which has inspired verse by local poets Edwin Brock and Anthony Thwaite - both of whom lived at Low Tharston.

Over the centuries, the Tas has also been visited by two of England's finest poets. The first was William Wordsworth who came to stay with his sister Dorothy at the Rectory at Forncett St Peter in 1790 and the second was Philip Larkin who visited Anthony Thwaite at the Mill House - Thwaite being his literary editor. In fact, there is a marvellous photograph of Larkin reclining in a punt on the river with Thwaite doing the pole work.

Many centuries ago the Tas was a much larger river and provided a major transport route for the Roman Town at Venta Icenorum - the remains of which can still be seen at Caistor St. Edmunds. There is an old rhyme which states: 'Caistor was a city when Norwich was none, and Norwich was built of Caistor stone.'

The Tas also inspired my own poem River following a visit to Rainthorpe Hall near Tasburgh.
 

River

In summer, columns of light—mottled by leaves.
In winter, the bleak light over farmland, the frosted-grey depth.
Today, in spring, lights dancing in and out of shadow—concealing and revealing.

Read complete poem

Links:

South Norfolk District Council (Tas info)