Tetbury Avon
Encyclopedia
The Tetbury Avon, also known as the Little Avon or the Ingleburn (Anglo-Saxon
- English river), is a tributary of the Bristol Avon. It is also referred to as the River Avon (Tetbury Branch). It rises at Tetbury
in Gloucestershire
in the West Country
of England
, and flows in a generally south easterly direction, joining the Sherston Avon at Malmesbury
in Wiltshire
. The water flow has been reduced by public water extraction form its source aquifer
in the Cotswold Hills
. In the past watermill
s were used for fulling
wool and grinding corn. One working mill survives.
s. It flows first in a southerly direction, joined on the right bank by the Cutwell Brook at the south east of the town. The river now turns in south easterly direction into a steep valley through Estcourt Park, where it is joined on the right by the Wormwell Brook, which has its origin at Westonbirt
. Passing through Shipton Wood the river forms a lake, created as part of the Estcourt Estate in the late 18th century. It then enters Wiltshire near the village of Brokenborough
, flowing to the north of Malmesbury where it joins the Sherston Avon at the eastern edge of the town.
s were established from early times for fulling
wool and grinding corn. Shipton Mill in the wood of the same name still produces organic wheat and rye flours. A mill at this site was recorded in the Domesday Book
in 1086.
in the Tetbury Avon has been eradicated by fungi hosted by the inasive
North America
n signal crayfish
.
has a gauging station at Brokenborough and reports a mean flow of 24.4 cuft/s with a maximum of 141 cuft/s and a minimum of 1 cuft/s. It is believed that abstraction of public water supplies from the Great Oolite
aquifer
of the Cotswolds has reduced flows in the Tetbury Avon, making it difficult to maintain high water quality and having a negative effect on the ecology.
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
- English river), is a tributary of the Bristol Avon. It is also referred to as the River Avon (Tetbury Branch). It rises at Tetbury
Tetbury
Tetbury is a town and civil parish within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It lies on the site of an ancient hill fort, on which an Anglo-Saxon monastery was founded, probably by Ine of Wessex, in 681. The population of the parish was 5,250 in the 2001 census.In the Middle Ages,...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
in the West Country
West of England
The West of England is a loose and locationally unspecific term sometimes given to the area surrounding the city and county of Bristol, England, and also sometimes applied more widely and in other parts of South West England.-Use in the Bristol area:...
of 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...
, and flows in a generally south easterly direction, joining the Sherston Avon at Malmesbury
Malmesbury
Malmesbury is a market town and civil parish located in the southern Cotswolds in the county of Wiltshire, England. Historically Malmesbury was a centre for learning and home to Malmesbury Abbey...
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...
. The water flow has been reduced by public water extraction form its source aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
in the Cotswold Hills
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
. In the past 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 were used for 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...
wool and grinding corn. One working mill survives.
Course
The Tetbury Avon rises at Wor Well to the north east of Tetbury in the Cotswold HillCotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
s. It flows first in a southerly direction, joined on the right bank by the Cutwell Brook at the south east of the town. The river now turns in south easterly direction into a steep valley through Estcourt Park, where it is joined on the right by the Wormwell Brook, which has its origin at Westonbirt
Westonbirt
Things named Westonbirt include:*Westonbirt House, a country house in Gloucestershire, England.*Westonbirt School, which now occupies the house.*Westonbirt Arboretum, which is nearby....
. Passing through Shipton Wood the river forms a lake, created as part of the Estcourt Estate in the late 18th century. It then enters Wiltshire near the village of Brokenborough
Brokenborough
Brokenborough is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 173. The village is situated very close to the county boundary with Gloucestershire , and is two miles north of Malmesbury in Wiltshire, and four miles south of Tetbury in...
, flowing to the north of Malmesbury where it joins the Sherston Avon at the eastern edge of the town.
History
As is common amongst Cotswold streams many watermillWatermill
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 were established from early times for 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...
wool and grinding corn. Shipton Mill in the wood of the same name still produces organic wheat and rye flours. A mill at this site was recorded in 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...
in 1086.
Natural history
A population of white-clawed crayfishAustropotamobius pallipes
Austropotamobius pallipes is an endangered European freshwater crayfish, and the only species of crayfish native to the British Isles. Its common names include white-clawed crayfish and Atlantic stream crayfish.-Distribution and ecology:...
in the Tetbury Avon has been eradicated by fungi hosted by the inasive
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n signal crayfish
Signal crayfish
The signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, is a North American species of crayfish. It was introduced to Europe in the 1960s to supplement the Scandinavian Astacus astacus fisheries, which were being damaged by crayfish plague, but the imports turned out to be a carrier of that disease...
.
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:...
has a gauging station at Brokenborough and reports a mean flow of 24.4 cuft/s with a maximum of 141 cuft/s and a minimum of 1 cuft/s. It is believed that abstraction of public water supplies from the Great Oolite
Great Oolite
The Great Oolite is a geological formation in Europe. It dates back to the Middle Jurassic.-Vertebrate fauna:This Limestone is dominant in many areas of the UK particularly in Birmingham and Anglesy. It is composed of oolites and lithic fragments...
aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
of the Cotswolds has reduced flows in the Tetbury Avon, making it difficult to maintain high water quality and having a negative effect on the ecology.