River Wylye
Encyclopedia
The River Wylye is a classic southern England chalk stream
; champagne clear water flowing over gravel. Consequently, it is popular with anglers keen on fly fishing
.
just south of Maiden Bradley
in Wiltshire, and after flowing through the Deverill valley, forms the southern edge of Warminster
. It then heads generally east south east, forming the Wylye Valley, into which the A36 road
and the Wessex Main Line
are also squeezed. The river passes through the parishes of Norton Bavant
, Heytesbury
, Knook
, Upton Lovell
, Boyton
, Codford
, Wylye and Wilton
, near the southern edge of Salisbury Plain
, and is fed by ephemeral, winterbourne
streams so water flow can vary.
The river forms part of the River Avon
catchment
. At Wilton it joins the River Nadder
and eventually drains to the sea at Christchurch
as part of the River Avon
.
villages composed of thatched
cottages and stone-built pubs
.
to confluence
):
Chalk stream
Chalk streams have characteristics which set them apart from watercourses associated with other rock types.Aside from those with an interest in the geological and ecological disciplines, the term chalk stream is most widely used among a small group of fly fishermen ,...
; champagne clear water flowing over gravel. Consequently, it is popular with anglers keen on fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
.
Course
It rises below the White Sheet DownsWhitesheet Hill
Whitesheet Hill is a 136.1 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire, notified in 1965. As one of the most westerly areas of downland in Britain the area is noted for its chalky farmland which contains a rich variety of rare and protected fauna and flora. The hill is also...
just south of Maiden Bradley
Maiden Bradley
Maiden Bradley with Yarnfield is a small Wiltshire civil parish near the Somerset border and the home of the Duke of Somerset. The B3092 road that joins Frome to Mere runs through the middle of the village of Maiden Bradley....
in Wiltshire, and after flowing through the Deverill valley, forms the southern edge of Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
. It then heads generally east south east, forming the Wylye Valley, into which the A36 road
A36 road
The A36 is a trunk road and primary route in England that links the port city of Southampton to the city of Bath. At Bath, the A36 connects with the A4 road to Bristol, thus enabling a road link between the major ports of Southampton and Bristol. Originally, the A36 continued onto Avonmouth, but...
and the Wessex Main Line
Wessex Main Line
The Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. Diverging from this route is the Heart of Wessex Line from Westbury to Weymouth.- Places served :The places served are listed below.*Bristol*Keynsham*Oldfield Park*Bath...
are also squeezed. The river passes through the parishes of Norton Bavant
Norton Bavant
Norton Bavant is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England.-Location:The village is southeast of the market town of Warminster, just off the A36 road to Salisbury, and at the edge of Salisbury Plain...
, Heytesbury
Heytesbury
Heytesbury is a village in Wiltshire, England, in the Wylye Valley, about three miles south of Warminster.-History:...
, Knook
Knook, Wiltshire
Knook is a small village and former civil parish in the County of Wiltshire, in the south west of England. For civil purposes, it now forms part of the united parish of 'Heytesbury, Imber and Knook'.-Location:...
, Upton Lovell
Upton Lovell
Upton Lovell is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is situated on the A36, near Warminster, and by the River Wylye.-History:Upton Lovell is an ancient settlement, with a medieval Church of England parish church dedicated Saint Peter...
, Boyton
Boyton, Wiltshire
Boyton is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 179, including the village of Corton, which forms part of the parish of Boyton.-Location:...
, Codford
Codford
Codford is a village and civil parish south of Salisbury Plain in the Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, England at .-Location:The village is on the A36 road between Salisbury and Warminster...
, Wylye and Wilton
Wilton, Wiltshire
Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...
, near the southern edge of Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
, and is fed by ephemeral, winterbourne
Winterbourne (stream)
A winterbourne is a stream or river that is dry through the summer months. A winterbourne is sometimes simply called a bourne, from the Anglo-Saxon for a stream flowing from a spring, although this term can also be used for all-year water courses....
streams so water flow can vary.
The river forms part of the River Avon
River Avon, Hampshire
The River Avon is a river in the south of England. The river rises in the county of Wiltshire and flows through the city of Salisbury and the county of Hampshire before reaching the English Channel through Christchurch Harbour in the county of Dorset....
catchment
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. At Wilton it joins the River Nadder
River Nadder
The River Nadder is one of the chalk stream rivers of southern England, much sought after by fly fishermen because of its clear waters and abundance of brown trout. It is one of the main tributaries of the River Avon, rising from a number of springs and small streams at Donhead St. Mary in south...
and eventually drains to the sea at Christchurch
Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch is a borough and town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The town adjoins Bournemouth in the west and the New Forest lies to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in...
as part of the River Avon
River Avon, Hampshire
The River Avon is a river in the south of England. The river rises in the county of Wiltshire and flows through the city of Salisbury and the county of Hampshire before reaching the English Channel through Christchurch Harbour in the county of Dorset....
.
SSSI
In parts the river flows through various SSSI:- Steeple Langford DownSteeple Langford DownSteeple Langford Down is a 21.75 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest at Steeple Langford in Wiltshire, notified in 1971.-Source:* -External links:*...
- Wylye and Church Dean DownsWylye and Church Dean DownsWylye and Church Dean Downs is a 80.9 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire, notified in 1951.-Source:* -External links:*...
Wylye Valley
The Wylye valley is a picturesque valley dotted with small chocolate boxChocolate box art
Chocolate box art originally referred literally to decorations on chocolate boxes. Over the years the terminology has developed and is now applied broadly as a descriptive, but often pejorative, term to describe paintings and designs that are warm, idealistic and sentimental.Using his own paintings...
villages composed of thatched
Thatching
Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge , rushes, or heather, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical and temperate climates...
cottages and stone-built pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
.
Miscellaneous
- A vineyardVineyardA vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
is located near the river's source. - Both Wilton and Wiltshire (Wilton - shire) are named after the river. There is also a village of Wylye.
- It forms one of the five rivers referred to in the novel Sarum
Villages
The villages located on the River Wylye include (sourceSource (river or stream)
The source or headwaters of a river or stream is the place from which the water in the river or stream originates.-Definition:There is no universally agreed upon definition for determining a stream's source...
to confluence
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
):
- Kingston DeverillKingston DeverillKingston Deverill is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. Its nearest towns are Mere, about away, and Warminster about to the north east.The Church of England parish church is called St Mary's.-External links:* at genuki.org.uk...
- Monkton DeverillMonkton DeverillMonkton Deverill is a village and former civil parish in Wiltshire, England, about five miles south of Warminster and four miles north-east of Mere. It stands on the River Wylye and forms part of a group of villages known as the Upper Deverills.-History:Two Roman roads intersect close to the village...
- Brixton DeverillBrixton DeverillBrixton Deverill is a village and civil parish on the River Wylye about south of Warminster in Wiltshire, England....
- Longbridge DeverillLongbridge DeverillLongbridge Deverill is a village and civil parish about south of Warminster in Wiltshire, England. The village is one of the Lower Deverills....
- Crockerton
- Norton BavantNorton BavantNorton Bavant is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England.-Location:The village is southeast of the market town of Warminster, just off the A36 road to Salisbury, and at the edge of Salisbury Plain...
- HeytesburyHeytesburyHeytesbury is a village in Wiltshire, England, in the Wylye Valley, about three miles south of Warminster.-History:...
- Sutton VenySutton VenySutton Veny is a small village situated in the Wylye Valley, about 2 miles south east of the town of Warminster in Wiltshire, England. 'Sutton' means south farmstead in relation to Norton Bavant, one mile to the north...
. - Upton LovellUpton LovellUpton Lovell is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is situated on the A36, near Warminster, and by the River Wylye.-History:Upton Lovell is an ancient settlement, with a medieval Church of England parish church dedicated Saint Peter...
- BoytonBoyton, WiltshireBoyton is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 179, including the village of Corton, which forms part of the parish of Boyton.-Location:...
- Ashton GiffordAshton Gifford HouseAshton Gifford House is a Grade II listed building in the hamlet of Ashton Gifford, part of the civil parish of Codford in the English county of Wiltshire. The house was built during the early 19th century, following the precepts of Georgian architecture, and its estate eventually included all of...
(a Tything) - CodfordCodfordCodford is a village and civil parish south of Salisbury Plain in the Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, England at .-Location:The village is on the A36 road between Salisbury and Warminster...
- StocktonStockton, WiltshireStockton is a small village in the Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, England .-Location and extent:The village is close to Codford, south of the A36 road, between the town of Warminster and the city of Salisbury....
- BaptonBaptonBapton is a hamlet in Wiltshire, England, part of the civil parish of Stockton, previously forming part of Fisherton Delamere.Bapton, consisting of 1,174 acres, almost all owned as a single estate, was part of Fisherton Delamere from the earliest times until that parish was extinguished in 1934,...
- Wylye
- Hanging Langford
- SherringtonSherringtonSherrington is a village and civil parish on the River Wylye in Wiltshire, England.-Location:Sherrington is near Codford and Salisbury Plain...
- Great WishfordGreat WishfordGreat Wishford is a village in the Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, 3 miles north of Wilton, Wiltshire and approximately 5 miles northwest of Salisbury. It is situated at a curve in the Wylye river, and has a triangular street layout comprising South Street, West Street and Station Road.-History:The...
- WiltonWilton, WiltshireWilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...