TO THE EAST OF THE PRECINCT OF BARLINGS ABBEY, THE BARLING EAU FLOWS SOUTH TO A CONFLUENCE WITH THE RIVER WITHAM ABOUT 2 KM AWAY, ITS OLD COURSE FOLLOWED BY THE PARISH BOUNDARIES. THE PRESENT COURSE, RELATIVELY STRAIGHT AND TIGHT AGAINST THE EAST FLANK OF OXNEY ISLAND, CUTS OFF A LOOP OF LOW-LYING FEN AND MAY IN ORIGIN BE A MONASTIC CUT OR CANAL. NO DIRECT DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN NOTED. {1}