River Gavenny
Encyclopedia
The River Gavenny is a short river
in Monmouthshire
in south Wales
. It rises 1 mile south-west of the village of Llanfihangel Crucorney
from springs in Blaengavenny Wood and flows south for about 4 miles (6km) to its confluence
with the River Usk
at Abergavenny
.
Abergavenny derives its English-language placename from the confluence, 'aber' meaning 'mouth of' in the Welsh language
.
The diminutive Gavenny is now something of a misfit stream
in its broad valley. This is due to the deposition of a spectacular terminal moraine
at Llanfihangel Crucorney which has diverted the former headwaters of the river eastwards into the Wye
catchment. It is believed that the Afon Honddu which rises in the Black Mountains
and possibly also the upper River Monnow
formerly flowed down the valley of the Gavenny to join the Usk.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
in south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It rises 1 mile south-west of the village of Llanfihangel Crucorney
Llanfihangel Crucorney
- Location :The village is located five miles north of Abergavenny and eighteen miles south of Hereford, England on the A465 road.- Amenities :Llanvihangel Crucorney is a small village with a pub, The Skirrid Mountain Inn which claims to be the oldest inn or hostelry in Wales, dating from at least...
from springs in Blaengavenny Wood and flows south for about 4 miles (6km) to its confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
with the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
at Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
.
Abergavenny derives its English-language placename from the confluence, 'aber' meaning 'mouth of' in the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
.
The diminutive Gavenny is now something of a misfit stream
Misfit stream
A misfit stream is a stream that is far too small to have eroded the valley which the stream occupies. The shape of the valley may also be inconsistent with a typical valley that has been eroded by water. Generally it is reasonable to expect a valley to be in proportion with the stream that...
in its broad valley. This is due to the deposition of a spectacular terminal moraine
Terminal moraine
A terminal moraine, also called end moraine, is a moraine that forms at the end of the glacier called the snout.Terminal moraines mark the maximum advance of the glacier. An end moraine is at the present boundary of the glacier....
at Llanfihangel Crucorney which has diverted the former headwaters of the river eastwards into the Wye
Wye
Wye is a historic village in Kent, England, located some from Canterbury, and is also the main village in the civil parish of Wye with Hinxhill...
catchment. It is believed that the Afon Honddu which rises in the Black Mountains
Black Mountains, Wales
The Black Mountains are a group of hills spread across parts of Powys and Monmouthshire in southeast Wales, and extending across the national border into Herefordshire, England. They are the easternmost of the four ranges of hills that comprise the Brecon Beacons National Park, and are frequently...
and possibly also the upper River Monnow
River Monnow
The River Monnow flows through south-west Herefordshire, England and eastern Monmouthshire, Wales.- Border River :For much of its short length it marks the border between England and Wales before it joins the River Wye at Monmouth. The Wye is also half English from Monmouth until it meets the...
formerly flowed down the valley of the Gavenny to join the Usk.