humanities.lit.authors.shakespeare

On Feb 15, 8:37 pm, Lyra wrote:
>
> > > > Here is some background reading -
> > > > this is ongoing research for me,
> > > > as I started within the hour.
>
> > `````````

(quote)


River Avon


Avon means "river" and is a cognate of the Brythonic afon,
(pronounced /=CB=88avon/, or approximately "AH-von") in Welsh.

Afon is the Welsh reflex of Proto-Celtic *abon=C4=81, "river" or Celtic.

Variants of Welsh were spoken all across Britain before the Anglo-
Saxon conquest of the country.

In Wiltshire there are two Avons,

one rising near Long Newton in North Wiltshire and passing Malmesbury,
Chippenham, Melksford, Bradbury, and so to Bath, t

he other rising in Bishops Cannings and flowing through Rushall and
Amesbury to Bemerton.[1]

The logical explanation of the multiple rivers Avon in England is that
non-Celtic arrivals would ask the indigenous people what the local
river was called, and were apparently told, in the local language,
that it was simply "a river".

Similar naming processes have occurred with other cultures' early
contacts; for example the Yarra River in Victoria (Australia) was
named by European settlers who asked local Wurundjeri Aborigines what
the river was called.

"River Avon" in English therefore, literally means "River River".

A similar redundancy gives the "Rio Grande River".

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There are several rivers named "Avon" in the United Kingdom and former
colonies and dominions:

England

* River Avon, Devon, Bigbury on Sea near Salcombe

* River Avon, Warwickshire through Stratford-upon-Avon

* River Avon, Hampshire through Salisbury and Christchurch

* River Avon, Bristol through Bath and Bristol

Wales

* River Afan The name Afan is sometimes anglicised to Avon but
does not carry the meaning of River in Welsh.

Scotland

* River Avon, Falkirk
* River Avon, Strathspey
* Avon Water, tributary of the River Clyde

* See also: Rivers of the United Kingdom

`````````

Canada

* Avon River, Ontario
* Avon River, Nova Scotia

New Zealand

* Avon River, New Zealand
* See also List of rivers of New Zealand

Australia

* Avon River (Western Australia)
* Avon River (Western Victoria)
* Avon River (Gippsland, Victoria)
* Avon River (New South Wales)

Notes

1. ^ Noted by Rev. W.H. Jones, in The Gentleman's Magazine August
1862, p 170.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Avon

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>
> (quote)
>
> River Avon, Bristol
>
> Coordinates: 51=C2=B030=E2=80=B222=E2=80=B3N 2=C2=B043=E2=80=B206=E2=80=B3=
W=EF=BB=BF / =EF=BB=BF51.50611, -2.71833
>
> `````````
>
> River Avon (Lower Avon)
> Bristol Avon
> River
>
> The Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge
> Country Flag of England England
> Counties Gloucestershire, Wiltshire
>
> Tributaries
>
> - left River Frome, Somerset, Kennet and Avon Canal, River Chew
> - right River Frome, Bristol
>
> Cities Chippenham, Melksham, Bradford on Avon, Bath, Bristol
>
> Source Old Sodbury
> - coordinates 51=C2=B031=E2=80=B216=E2=80=B3N 2=C2=B021=E2=80=B209=E2=80=
=B3W=EF=BB=BF / =EF=BB=BF51.52111, -2.3525
>
> Mouth Avonmouth
> - coordinates 51=C2=B030=E2=80=B222=E2=80=B3N 2=C2=B043=E2=80=B206=E2=80=
=B3W=EF=BB=BF / =EF=BB=BF51.50611, -2.71833
>
> Length 120 km (75 mi)
> Basin 2,308 km=C2=B2 (891 sq mi)
>
> ``````````
>
> The River Avon is a river in the south west of England.
>
> Because of a number of other River Avons in England,
>
> this river is often also known as the Lower Avon or Bristol Avon.
>
> The Avon rises near Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire, dividing into
> two before merging again and flowing through Wiltshire. In its lower
> reaches from Bath to the River Severn at Avonmouth near Bristol the
> river is navigable and known as the Avon Navigation.
>
> Contents
>
> * 1 Course
> * 2 Navigation
> * 3 Biodiversity
> * 4 Etymology
> * 5 References
> * 6 See also
> * 7 External links
>
> Course
>
> The Avon rises near Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire, between the
> villages of Old Sodbury and Acton Turville. Running a somewhat
> circular path, the river drains east and then south through Wiltshire.
>
> Its first main settlement is the village of Luckington, two miles
> inside the Wiltshire border, and then on to Sherston.
>
> At Malmesbury it joins up with its first major tributary,
>
> the Tetbury Avon, which rises just north of Tetbury in
> Gloucestershire.
>
> This tributary is known locally as the Ingleburn, which in Old English
> means 'English river'.
>
> Here, the two rivers almost meet but their path is blocked by a rocky
> outcrop of the Cotswolds, almost creating an island for the ancient
> hilltop town of Malmesbury to sit on.
>
> After the two rivers merge, the Avon then turns south east away from
> the Cotswolds and then quickly south into the clay Dauntsey Vale until
> it reaches the biggest town so far, Chippenham. The wide vale is now
> known as the Avon Vale, and the river flows on to Melksham, via
> Lacock, then turns north-west through Bradford on Avon, Bath, Keynsham
> and Bristol and joins the Severn estuary at Avonmouth near Bristol.
> For much of its course after leaving Wiltshire, it marks the
> traditional boundary between Somerset and Gloucestershire.
>
> Palladian Pulteney Bridge and the weir at Bath
> Palladian Pulteney Bridge and the weir at Bath
>
> In central Bristol, where the river is tidal, it is diverted from its
> original course onto the "New Cut", a channel dug between 1804 and
> 1809 at a cost of =C2=A3600,000. The original course is held at a constant=

> level by lock gates (designed by Brunel) and is known as the Floating
> Harbour. This gave the port an advantage by enabling shipping to stay
> afloat rather than grounding when the tide went down. Downstream of
> central Bristol the river passes through the deep Avon Gorge, spanned
> by Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge.
>
> Navigation
>
> The Avon is continuously navigable from its mouth at Avonmouth as far
> as Pulteney weir in the centre of the city of Bath. The Kennet and
> Avon Canal connects with the Avon just below this weir and Bath Locks.
> Together with the Kennet Navigation and the River Thames it provides a
> through route for canal boats from Bristol to London. This navigable
> stretch can be split into three sections.
>
> From Avonmouth to Bristol through the Avon Gorge, the river is tidal
> and is navigable by sea going vessels at high tide but drying to a
> steep sided muddy channel at low tide. It was largely the challenge of
> navigating this section that sealed the fate of the Floating Harbour
> as commercial docks, and saw them replaced by docks at Avonmouth.
>
> Bristol Bridge and Floating Harbour
> Bristol Bridge and Floating Harbour
>
> The second stage of the navigation is through Brunel's locks and the
> Floating Harbour itself. This unusual dock has a tentacled plan
> resulting from its origins as the natural river course of the Avon and
> its tributary, the River Frome (see 'Course' above), and is intimately
> entwined with Bristol's city centre as few docks are. As a result of
> this, the Floating Harbour is one of the more successful pieces of
> dockland regeneration, with much of the dockside now occupied by
> residential, office and cultural premises, and the water area heavily
> used by leisure craft.
>
> Weir at Swineford Lock.
> Weir at Swineford Lock.
>
> Kelston Brass Mill overlooking Saltford Lock.
> Kelston Brass Mill overlooking Saltford Lock.
>
> Upstream of the Floating Harbour via Netham Lock is the Avon
> Navigation proper, which continues upstream for 12 miles as far as
> Bath.
>
> The stretch is made navigable by the use of locks and weirs at Hanham,
> Keynsham, Swineford, Saltford, Kelston and Weston.[1]
>
> The river Avon had been navigable from Bristol to Bath during the
> early years of the 13th century but construction of mills on the river
> forced its closure.[2]
>
> For most of this distance the navigation makes use of the natural
> river bed, with six locks overcoming a rise of 30 feet (9 m). The
> navigation was constructed between 1724 and 1727, following
> legislation passed by Queen Anne,[3] by a company of proprietors and
> the engineer John Hore of Newbury. The first cargo of 'Deal boards,
> Pig-Lead and Meal' arrived in Bath in December 1727.[4] It is now
> administered by British Waterways.
>
> Biodiversity
>
> The river is important for its dragonfly communities, with a strong
> population of Scarce Chaser (found in only six other areas in
> England), together with a strong population of White-legged Damselfly.
> Red-eyed Damselfly is also found.
>
> The river is also important for aquatic plants, including Loddon
> Pondweed.
>
> The Avon Gorge has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific
> Interest, as have; Bickley Wood, Cleeve Wood, Hanham, Stidham Farm
> near Keynsham, and Newton Saint Loe (for geological reasons as it
> represents the only remaining known exposure of fossiliferous
> Pleistocene gravels along the River Avon.
>
> Etymology
>
> The name Avon is a cognate of the Welsh word afon meaning "river" (f
> is pronounced as v in Welsh). "River Avon", therefore, literally means
> "River River". This explains the several English rivers with the name
> Avon.
>
> The County of Avon that existed from 1974 to 1996 covering the Avon
> valley, including Bristol and Bath, was named after the river.
>
> References
>
> 1. ^ Pearson, Michael (2003). Kennet & Avon Middle Thames:Pearson's
> Canal Companion. Rugby: Central Waterways Supplies. ISBN 0-907864-97-
> X.
> 2. ^ The Kennet and Avon Museum, Devizes. Kennet and Avon Canal
> Trust. Retrieved on 2006-08-20.
> 3. ^ Navigation of the river Avon. Bristol History.com. Retrieved
> on 2006-09-22.
> 4. ^ Allsop, Niall (1987). The Kennet & Avon Canal. Bath:
> Millstream Book. ISBN 0-948975-15-6.
>
> See also
>
> * Other River Avons
> * Photograph of the Clifton Suspension Bridge from Brunel Way
> * Photograph of the estuary at Avonmouth
> * Rivers of the United Kingdom
>
> External links
> Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
> River Avon, Bristol
>
> * Photos of the River Avon from Bath through Bristol, the New Cut,
> the Avon Gorge and the estuary at Avonmouth
> * The Bristol Avon Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy
> * Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat
>
> v =E2=80=A2 d =E2=80=A2 e
> River Severn, UK
> Counties Powys (Montgomeryshire) =C2=B7 Shropshire =C2=B7 Worcester=
shire =C2=B7
> Gloucestershire =C2=B7 Monmouthshire =C2=B7 Bristol =C2=B7 Somerset =C2=B7=
Newport =C2=B7
> Cardiff
> Flows into Severn Estuary =C2=B7 Bristol Channel
> Settlements Llanidloes =C2=B7 Newtown =C2=B7 Welshpool =C2=B7 Shrewsbu=
ry =C2=B7
> Ironbridge =C2=B7 Bridgnorth =C2=B7 Bewdley =C2=B7 Stourport =C2=B7 Worces=
ter =C2=B7 Tewkesbury
> =C2=B7 Gloucester =C2=B7 Berkeley =C2=B7 Chepstow =C2=B7 Avonmouth
> Major tributaries River Vyrnwy =C2=B7 River Tern =C2=B7 River Stour =
=C2=B7 River
> Teme =C2=B7 Warwickshire Avon =C2=B7 River Wye =C2=B7 Bristol Avon =C2=B7 =
River Usk
> Linked canals Staffordshire and Worcestershire =C2=B7 Worcester and
> Birmingham =C2=B7 Droitwich =C2=B7 Herefordshire and Gloucestershire =C2=
=B7 Thames
> and Severn =C2=B7 Coalport =C2=B7 Gloucester and Sharpness =C2=B7 Stroudwa=
ter
> Navigation =C2=B7 Coombe Hill
> Major crossings Welsh Bridge =C2=B7 English Bridge =C2=B7 The Iron=
Bridge =C2=B7
> Severn Bridge =C2=B7 Over Bridge =C2=B7 Severn Tunnel =C2=B7 Second Severn=
Crossing =C2=B7
> Aust Severn Powerline Crossing (all)
> Longest UK rivers: 1. Severn 2. Thames 3. Trent 4. Great Ouse 5. Wye
> 6. Tay 7. Spey 8. Nene 9. Clyde 10. Tweed 11. Eden 12. Dee
> v =E2=80=A2 d =E2=80=A2 e
> Ceremonial county of Somerset
> Somerset Portal
> Boroughs or districts Mendip, Sedgemoor, Bath and North East
> Somerset, North Somerset, South Somerset, Taunton Deane, West Somerset
> Cities and towns Axbridge, Bath, Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard,=

> Clevedon, Crewkerne, Frome, Glastonbury, Highbridge, Ilminster,
> Keynsham, Minehead, Nailsea, North Petherton, Norton Radstock,
> Portishead, Shepton Mallet, South Petherton, Street, Taunton, Watchet,
> Wellington, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Wincanton, Wiveliscombe, Yeovil
> See also: List of civil parishes in Somerset
> Rivers Aller, Avon, Axe, Barle, Brue, Cam Brook, Cary, Chew,
> Congresbury Yeo, East Lyn, Exe, Frome, Haddeo, Hoar Oak Water,
> Holford, Horner, Huntspill, Isle, Midford Brook, Parret, Severn
> Estuary, Sheppey, Somer, Tone, Washford, Wellow Brook, West Lyn
> Topics Culture of Somerset, Economy of Somerset, Geology of Somerset,
> History of Somerset
> Geographic areas: Blackdown Hills, Brendon Hills, Chew Valley, Exmoor,
> Mendip Hills, Polden Hills, Quantock Hills, Somerset Levels
> Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Avon%2C_Bristol"
>
> Categories: Bath and North East Somerset | Bristol | Kennet and Avon
> Canal | Tributaries of the River Severn | Rivers of Gloucestershire |
> Rivers of Somerset | Rivers of Wiltshire | River navigations in
> England
>
> * Special pages
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Avon,_Bristol
>
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