Swin (Thames)


The Swin is a passage in the Thames estuary between Maplin Sands, Foulness Sand and Gunfleet Sand to the north and the Barrow and Sunk sand ridges to the south. The Swin was used by barges and leisure craft from the Essex rivers, and coasters and colliers from the north east.
In 1874 R.M. Ballantyne wrote:
The channel is formed of a series of deep water passages through sandbanks. Approaching from the northeast craft enter the East Swin between NE Gunfleet and Sunk Head Tower buoys. This part is also known as the King's Channel centred on. From here there is a choice of the Middle Deep or continuing with the East Swin centred on. Craft may also pass down the parallel Wallet channel and cross into the East Swin at the Spitway. Halfway along this part, at the Maplin Approach buoy, deeper draught vessels need to pass through to the Middle Deep centred on. Shallower draught craft, such as the traditional Thames sailing barges, may continue on down the East Swin and cross the Middle Sands directly into the West Swin at Maplin Edge. Both the Middle Deep and the East Swin lead to the West Swin centred on. The southeastern end of the West Swin joins the main Thames channels.

Etymology

The swin derives from the Old English "swin": a creek a channel. It was published as the Swyn in 1365, the same word 'zwin' occurs in Dutch.

Citations and further reading