River Marden
Encyclopedia
The River Marden is a small tributary
of the River Avon
in England
. It flows from the hills surrounding Calne
and meets the River Avon
about a mile upstream of Chippenham
. The river has a mean flow of 43 cuft/s.
in Wiltshire
. It then flows in a north west direction through Blackstone Park and Quemerford
, where it is joined on the right bank by the Rivers Brook. In Calne, the Abberd Brook joins it on the right and the river turns in a westerly direction and is joined by the overspill from Bowood Lake, part of the Bowood House
estate on the left at Studleybrook Farm. The river is then joined by the combined Fishers and Cowage brooks before turning to the north-west, past the village of Stanley. 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later it joins the Bristol Avon to the north east of Chippenham
.
of England in 1086 records four watermill
s on the Marden at Calne. In the 18th century four fulling
mills are recorded and one of these, Upper Mill, became a paper mill in 1768 and continued in operation until 1860. Hassell's Mill at Studley remained in operation until 1960. The Wilts & Berks Canal, opened in 1810, paralleled the course of the Marden west of Calne, but it was closed in 1914, following the collapse of the Stanley aqueduct in 1901, although traces still survive.
gauging station at Stanley has measured the mean flow of the river as 43 cuft/s, with a maximum recorded flow of 1529 cuft/s on 30 October 2000 and a minimum of 3.9 cuft/s on 21 August 1976.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the River Avon
River Avon, Bristol
The River Avon is an English river in the south west of the country. To distinguish it from a number of other River Avons in Britain, this river is often also known as the Lower Avon or Bristol Avon...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It flows from the hills surrounding Calne
Calne
Calne is a town in Wiltshire, southwestern England. It is situated at the northwestern extremity of the North Wessex Downs hill range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
and meets the River Avon
River Avon, Bristol
The River Avon is an English river in the south west of the country. To distinguish it from a number of other River Avons in Britain, this river is often also known as the Lower Avon or Bristol Avon...
about a mile upstream of Chippenham
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, located east of Bath and west of London. In the 2001 census the population of the town was recorded as 28,065....
. The river has a mean flow of 43 cuft/s.
Course
The Marden rises just north of the valley of Ramsgate Bottom near Calstone WellingtonCalstone Wellington
Calstone Wellington is a small village and former parish in Wiltshire, England, some three miles from Calne and now part of the civil parish of Calne Without....
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. It then flows in a north west direction through Blackstone Park and Quemerford
Quemerford
Quemerford is a suburb of the town of Calne in the county of Wiltshire, South West England, UK.-History of Quemerford:Quemerford is in the parish of Calne, on the edge of Calne in Wiltshire, situated on the A4 road between Bristol and Marlborough, and 28 miles northwest of Salisbury...
, where it is joined on the right bank by the Rivers Brook. In Calne, the Abberd Brook joins it on the right and the river turns in a westerly direction and is joined by the overspill from Bowood Lake, part of the Bowood House
Bowood House
Bowood is a grade I listed Georgian country house with interiors by Robert Adam and a garden designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown. It is adjacent to the village of Derry Hill, halfway between Calne and Chippenham in Wiltshire, England...
estate on the left at Studleybrook Farm. The river is then joined by the combined Fishers and Cowage brooks before turning to the north-west, past the village of Stanley. 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later it joins the Bristol Avon to the north east of Chippenham
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
.
History
The Domesday surveyDomesday 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...
of England in 1086 records four watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
s on the Marden at Calne. In the 18th century four fulling
Fulling
Fulling or tucking or walking is a step in woolen clothmaking which involves the cleansing of cloth to eliminate oils, dirt, and other impurities, and making it thicker. The worker who does the job is a fuller, tucker, or walker...
mills are recorded and one of these, Upper Mill, became a paper mill in 1768 and continued in operation until 1860. Hassell's Mill at Studley remained in operation until 1960. The Wilts & Berks Canal, opened in 1810, paralleled the course of the Marden west of Calne, but it was closed in 1914, following the collapse of the Stanley aqueduct in 1901, although traces still survive.
Hydrology
The Environment AgencyEnvironment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
gauging station at Stanley has measured the mean flow of the river as 43 cuft/s, with a maximum recorded flow of 1529 cuft/s on 30 October 2000 and a minimum of 3.9 cuft/s on 21 August 1976.