humanities.lit.authors.shakespeare

On Feb 15, 8:30 pm, Lyra wrote:

>
> > > Here is some background reading -
> > > this is ongoing research for me,
> > > as I started within the hour.
>
> `````````

(quote)


River Avon, Bristol

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

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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)

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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.

=46rom 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 Worcestershire =
=C2=B7
Gloucestershire =C2=B7 Monmouthshire =C2=B7 Bristol =C2=B7 Somerset =C2=B7 N=
ewport =C2=B7
Cardiff
Flows into Severn Estuary =C2=B7 Bristol Channel
Settlements Llanidloes =C2=B7 Newtown =C2=B7 Welshpool =C2=B7 Shrewsbury =
=C2=B7
Ironbridge =C2=B7 Bridgnorth =C2=B7 Bewdley =C2=B7 Stourport =C2=B7 Worceste=
r =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 Ri=
ver 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 Stroudwate=
r
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 C=
rossing =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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>
> Tetbury, on the Tetbury Avon, is 18 miles from Cheltenham.
>
> ``````````
>
> (quote, excerpts)
>
> Tetbury
>
> Tetbury (Gloucestershire)
>
> `````````
>
> Tetbury shown within Gloucestershire
> Population 5,250 (2001 Census)
> OS grid reference ST890930
> District Cotswold
> Shire county Gloucestershire
> Region South West
>
> ``````````
>
> Coordinates: 51=C2=B038=E2=80=B209=E2=80=B3N 2=C2=B009=E2=80=B230=E2=80=B3=
W=EF=BB=BF / =EF=BB=BF51.635683, -2.158238
>
> 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, Tetbury became an important market for Cotswold
> wool and yarn. At this time the Tetbury Woolsack Races, in which
> competitors must carry a 60 pound sack of wool up a steep hill, were
> founded and are still contested annually.
>
> Notable buildings in the town include the Market House, built in 1655
> and the late-eighteenth century Gothic revival parish church of St
> Mary the Virgin and much of the rest of the town centre, dating from
> the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Market House is a fine
> example of a Cotswold pillared market house and is still in use as a
> meeting place and market. Other attractions include the Police Bygones
> Museum. Chavenage House, Highgrove House and Westonbirt Arboretum lie
> just outside the town.
>
> Events include Woolsack Day, famous for the races and for the fair. A
> Flower Show is held at the Recreation Ground, with classes ranging
> from children's "Make your own paper plate gardens" to adults "Best
> Flower" and "Best Knitting".
>
> Geography
> A map of Tetbury from 1946
> A map of Tetbury from 1946
>
> Tetbury is situated in a landscape of gently rolling hills primarily
> used for farmland, including grazing of sheep and grain production.
> Its location is associated with proximity to a major east-west trade
> or drovers trail, which would account for its early importance as a
> wool trade center. Nearby to the west are Owlpen Manor, Beverston
> Castle and Calcot Manor, which early structures were constructed from
> a similar bluish limestone.[1]
>
> Nearby places
>
> * Avening - three miles north
> * Nailsworth - five miles northwest
> * Kemble - six miles northeast
> * Aston Down - six miles north
> * Malmesbury - five miles southeast
> * Stroud - eight miles northwest
>
> * Cirencester - 10 miles north-east
>
> * Chippenham - 13 miles south
> * Gloucester - 15 miles north
> * Swindon - 17 miles southeast
>
> * Cheltenham - 18 miles north
>
> * Bristol - 20 miles southwest
> * Birmingham - 60 miles north
> * London - 90 miles east
>
> Governance
>
> Most of Tetbury falls in the Tetbury parish, although some of the
> northern parts of the town are officially in Tetbury Upton.
>
> Tetbury is in the Cotswold district, and amentities are run by
> Cotswold District Council. Gloucestershire County Council is also
> responsible for parts of the town.
>
> The centre of Tetbury
>
> Tetbury is renowned for its antique shops, mostly found on and near
> Long Street, making it a stop-off for coach tours through the
> Cotswolds.
>
> The town has pubs and hotels, including The Royal Oak Inn, which was
> featured in the film Dulcimer with John Mills, The Priory Inn, The
> Crown Inn,The Close Hotel, The Greyhound Inn, The Ormond at Tetbury,
> and The Snooty Fox. The award-winning Trouble House is immediately
> outside the town. Between 1959 and 1964, the latter was served by
> Trouble House Halt, the only railway station in England built
> specifically to serve a pub.
>
> Education
>
> The town has two schools, St Mary's Primary School and Sir William
> Romney's School, a secondary school which specialises in creative
> arts. Sir William Romney's recently announced that it would be closing
> its Sixth Form centre, meaning students wishing to sit A-Levels now
> travel to Cirencester or Stroud or even Filton College in Bristol.
>
> Some Tetbury children travel further afield, with students at the two
> grammar schools, Marling School for boys and Stroud High School for
> girls, both in Stroud, and some at the comprehensive Deer Park School
> in Cirencester.
>
> Tetbury Market House
>
> Tetbury has bus services which serve local towns. The nearest train
> station is at Kemble, while the nearest major airport is at Bristol.
> General aviation uses Kemble Airfield at Kemble. The former airfield
> at Long Newnton (one mile southeast of Tetbury) was originally the
> home of the Cotswold Gliding Club, which has since moved some six
> miles to the north to Aston Down.
>
> Notable people
>
> Present
>
> * HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, lives at Highgrove,
> Doughton, near Tetbury
> * Anne Hooper, journalist, author and counsellor
> * Jake Meyer, youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest
> * Jet Black, drummer and founder member of rock band The
> Stranglers.
>
> Past
>
> * Brian Trubshaw, first British test-pilot of Concorde, died 2001
> * Laurens van der Post, owned a nearby farm in the 1930s, died
> 1996
> * Cecil "Sam" Cook, Gloucestershire cricketer and umpire, died
> 1996
> * Robert Crowley, stationer, poet and Protestant clergyman in the
> 16th century
>
> References
>
> 1. ^ C. Michael Hogan and Amy Gregory, History and Architecture of
> Calcot Manor, Lumina Technologies Inc., prepared for Calcot Manor,
> July 5, 2006
>
> * Tetbury Online
> * Tetbury Guide
> * Town Council
> * A Tetbury Community Youth Project
> * Woolsack Races
> * Images of the church
> * Tetbury Upton
>
> Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetbury"
>
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