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 related 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.

External links

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• List of British fords

Water streams | Rally racing

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