Soham Lode is a continuation of the river Snail, the Snail river flowing from Snailwell Village through Fordham to Clipsall Corner, where the river takes a sharp westerly turn about a mile from Soham, its name then changing to Soham Lode, its water then runs along a line curving west , south of the centre of Soham, then northerly, east of Soham Mere, towards Barway Village, then north west from Barway, it falls into the River Ouse. The Lode from Clipsall Corner in Fordham Moor to Soham in the 17th and 18th centuries was known locally as the Clipsall River. The point where the Lode joins the Snail at Clipsall Corner was where another ancient river once joined it. The River Lark from West Row once connected to Soham Lode, the Lark then continued east of Soham, northwards through Stuntney, what is now called Rolls Lode, also flowing into the River Ouse. Soham Lode was known as the Soham River in 1700 to 1730, but usually called Soham Lode from the 1720's. Soham Lode and through the Ouse to Kings Lynn in Norfolk, was still important in the 19th century, when this navigation was used for farm produce and the import of coal. the Dock in Soham was by the Anchor Inn, later the Station Hotel.
The photo on the left shows the Soham Lode, with the Mill in the distance, now demolished, the cottages on the right are on Angle Common, the old Granary buildings can also be seen on the left.

The view on the left shows Navies digging out the Lode by hand, making it more navigable after it had become silted up. On the rights shows a similar view of the one on the left, this photo was taken on the bridge opposite the watermill.



To the left shows a map of soham and its rivers, also marked are extinct rivers, marked with a dashed line, just click on the image to get a larger view.