River Isle
Encyclopedia
The River Isle flows from its source near Combe St Nicholas
, through Somerset
, England and discharges into the River Parrett
south of Langport
near Midelney.
Several small springs merge into the river near Wadeford it then flows north past Donyatt
, Ilminster
, Puckington
, and Isle Abbotts, before joining the Parrett. The first section of the river falls 250 feet (76.2 m) in 6 miles (9.7 km) and then falls less steeply falling 80 feet (24.4 m) during the subsequent 8 miles (12.9 km). As a result several mills were built on the upper reaches of the river. At least one mill was in existence at the time of the Domesday Book
. These mills were an important part of the local economy connecting with the wool trade.
The road bridge over the river at Knowle St Giles
is a Grade II listed building.
A lock was built at the junction with the River Parrett, to maintain water levels, when the Westport Canal
was built in the 1830s. The canal joins the river approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) before the confluence with the Parrett.
Chard Reservoir
was built by damming the river in the 1840s to provide water for the Chard Canal
.
Combe St Nicholas
Combe St Nicholas is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated north west of Chard and from Taunton in the South Somerset district on the edge of the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The parish, which includes Wadeford and Scrapton, has a population of...
, through Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England and discharges into the River Parrett
River Parrett
The River Parrett flows through the counties of Dorset and Somerset in South West England, from its source in the Thorney Mills springs in the hills around Chedington in Dorset...
south of Langport
Langport
Langport is a small town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The town has a population of 1,067. The parish includes the hamlets of Bowdens and Combe...
near Midelney.
Several small springs merge into the river near Wadeford it then flows north past Donyatt
Donyatt
Donyatt is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at the source of the River Isle north of Chard in the South Somerset district...
, Ilminster
Ilminster
Ilminster is a country town and civil parish in the countryside of south west Somerset, England, with a population of 4,781. Bypassed a few years ago, the town now lies just east of the intersection of the A303 and the A358...
, Puckington
Puckington
Puckington is a village and civil parish, situated south-east of Taunton and west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England...
, and Isle Abbotts, before joining the Parrett. The first section of the river falls 250 feet (76.2 m) in 6 miles (9.7 km) and then falls less steeply falling 80 feet (24.4 m) during the subsequent 8 miles (12.9 km). As a result several mills were built on the upper reaches of the river. At least one mill was in existence at the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. These mills were an important part of the local economy connecting with the wool trade.
The road bridge over the river at Knowle St Giles
Knowle St Giles
Knowle St Giles is a village and civil parish in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England, situated on the River Isle south of Ilminster and north east of Chard...
is a Grade II listed building.
A lock was built at the junction with the River Parrett, to maintain water levels, when the Westport Canal
Westport Canal
The Westport Canal was built in the late 1830s to link Westport and Langport in Somerset, England. It was part of a larger scheme involving improvements to the River Parrett above Burrow Bridge. Langport is the point at which the River Yeo joins the River Parrett and the intention was to enable...
was built in the 1830s. The canal joins the river approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) before the confluence with the Parrett.
Chard Reservoir
Chard Reservoir
Chard Reservoir is a reservoir north east of Chard Somerset, England. It is owned and managed by South Somerset District Council and is a recipient of the Green Flag Award.It was built on the river Isle in 1842 to provide water for the Chard Canal....
was built by damming the river in the 1840s to provide water for the Chard Canal
Chard Canal
The Chard Canal was a tub boat canal in Somerset, England, that ran from the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal at Creech St. Michael, over four aqueducts, through three tunnels and four inclined planes to Chard. It was completed in 1842, was never commercially viable, and closed in 1868...
.