For the past 100 years the river Chet has been one of the most important features of Loddon.
According to records the name Loddon means "the muddy river" a Celtic, pre-Roman name showing that the town has been around for a very long time.
| | For the past 100 years the river Chet has been one of the most important features of Loddon. According to records the name Loddon means "the muddy river" a Celtic, pre-Roman name showing that the town has been around for a very long time. |
The river was the source of much of the industry in the town with wherries delivering goods to the various businesses but over the past century it has become more of a leisure attraction for pleasure boats and is a popular stopping point for visitors to the Norfolk Broads.
| The water mill at Loddon is mentioned in the Domesday Book, the earliest recorded building in the town. |  |
But of course the river also brought its disadvantages and in 1912 there was such a serious flood that the bridge was washed away and has had to be rebuilt several times since then. The last major flood was in 1968
 | Today the Chet is one of the focal points for boating tourism within the southern Broads area and is the only such centre within South Norfolk District. |
| There are still a number of boatyards in operation on the Chet although the principal boat repair yard, Mistralcraft, has closed down and been re-developed for luxury housing. |  |
 | Just downriver from the boatyards can be found Pyes Mill, a local picnic site with free 24 hour moorings |
| Further downriver still can be found Hardley Flood, a good spot for bird watching. |  |
 | After some 4½ miles the Chet joins the Yare at Hardley Cross the ancient boundary between the City of Norwich and the Borough of Great Yarmouth. It is possible to take the river walk the full length of the Chet from the Staithe to Hardley Cross |