The
River Severn (
WelshWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic spoken natively in Wales, in England by some along the Welsh border and in the Welsh immigrant colony in the Chubut Valley in Argentine Patagonia....
:
Afon HafrenHafren is the name of a mythical person in Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudo-history Historia Regum Britanniae...
,
LatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Roman conquest, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe...
:
Sabrina) is the longest
riverA river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing toward 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...
in
Great BritainGreat Britain is an island lying to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island. With a population of about 59.6 million people, it is the third most populated island on Earth. Great Britain is surrounded by over 1000 smaller...
, at . It rises at an altitude of on
Plynlimon|}Plynlimon is the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains in Wales. It is a massif that dominates the countryside of northern Ceredigion....
near
LlanidloesLlanidloes is a town in Powys, within the historic county boundaries of Montgomeryshire , Mid Wales.It is the first town on the River Severn . The town's Member of Parliament since 1997 has been the Liberal Democrat, Lembit Opik, for the constituency of Montgomeryshire.- Surroundings :The town is...
,
PowysPowys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire, and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,196 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, in the
Cambrian MountainsThe Cambrian Mountains are a series of mountain ranges in Wales, reaching from, and including, the South Wales mountains of the Brecon Beacons, north Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, to Snowdonia in North Wales....
of
mid WalesMid Wales is the name given to the area of Wales lying between North and South Wales. Like the other regions of Wales, it has no official status as a region and therefore has no precise boundaries. It borders England via the Welsh Marches to the east and the Irish Sea via Cardigan Bay to the west...
. It then flows through
ShropshireShropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...
,
WorcestershireWorcestershire or ; abbreviated Worcs) is a historic and administrative county located in the West Midlands region of central England. In 1974 it was merged with the county of Herefordshire to form the single administrative county of Hereford and Worcester; which was divided in 1998,...
and
GloucestershireGloucestershire 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....
, with the
county townA county town is the 'capital' of a county in Republic of Ireland or the United Kingdom. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
s of
ShrewsburyShrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is home to 70,689 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
,
WorcesterWorcester is a city and county town of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some 30 miles southwest of Birmingham, 29 miles north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people...
, and
GloucesterGloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
on its banks. With an average discharge of 107 m³/s at
ApperleyApperley is a small village in Gloucestershire, England. It is part of the parish of its smaller and more famous neighbour, Deerhurst.The village has a thriving cricket club that reached the final of the National Village Cricket Championship in 1998. The England cricketer Alfred Dipper was born in...
, Gloucestershire, the Severn is England's greatest river in terms of water flow, and is considered one of the ten major rivers of the United Kingdom.
The river is usually considered to become the
Severn EstuaryThe Severn Estuary is the estuary of the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain. Its high tidal range means it has been at the centre of discussions in the UK regarding renewable energy.-Geography:...
after the
Second Severn CrossingThe Second Severn Crossing is a bridge which carries the M4 motorway over the River Severn between England and Wales, inaugurated on 5 June 1996 by Charles, Prince of Wales to augment the traffic capacity of the original Severn Bridge built in 1966...
between
Severn BeachSevern Beach is a village on the mouth of the river Severn in South Gloucestershire, England. A riverside footpath leads beneath the Second Severn Crossing bridge which is part of the Severn Way...
,
South GloucestershireSouth Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...
and
SudbrookSudbrook is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. It is located 4 miles south west of Chepstow and 1 mile east of Caldicot. It lies close to the Second Severn Crossing on the Severn Estuary, and adjoins the village of Portskewett. It was largely built in the late 19th century for workers...
,
MonmouthshireMonmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a larger area.-Historic county:...
. The river then discharges into the
Bristol ChannelThe Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England, and extending from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
which in turn discharges into the
Celtic SeaThe Celtic Sea is the area of the Atlantic Ocean off the south coast of Ireland. It is bounded to the east by Saint George's Channel, the Bristol Channel and the English Channel, as well as adjacent portions of Wales, Cornwall, Devon, and Brittany...
and the wider
Atlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about 106.4 million square kilometres , it covers approximately one-fifth of the Earth's surface and about one-quarter of its water surface area. The first part of its name refers to the Atlas of Greek...
. The Severn's drainage basin area is , excluding the
River WyeThe River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
and
Bristol AvonThe River Avon is a river in the south west of England. Because of a number of other Rivers Avon in England, this river is often also known as the Lower Avon or Bristol Avon...
which flow into the Bristol Channel. The major tributaries to the Severn are the
VyrnwyThe River Vyrnwy is a river which flows through northern Powys, Wales, and Shropshire, England.The river used to be sourced from the many rivers and streams running off the mountains surrounding the Vyrnwy valley. However, since the Lake Vyrnwy dam was built in the 1880s, the river has flowed...
,
TemeThe River Teme is a river in the United Kingdom that rises in Mid Wales, south of Newtown in Powys, and flows through Ludlow in Shropshire, then to the north of Tenbury Wells on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border there, on its way to join the River Severn south of Worcester...
, Warwickshire Avon and
StourThe Stour is a river flowing through the counties of Worcestershire, the West Midlands and Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England. The Stour is a major tributary of the River Severn, and it is about in length...
.
Mythology
According to some sources, the name "Severn" is derived from the name Sabrina (or
HafrenHafren is the name of a mythical person in Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudo-history Historia Regum Britanniae...
), based on the mythical story of a nymph who drowned in the river. Sabrina is also the goddess of the River Severn in Brythonic mythology. The story of Sabrina is featured in
MiltonJohn Milton was an English poet, author, polemicist and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England. He is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost and for his treatise condemning censorship, Areopagitica....
's
ComusComus is a masque in honour of chastity, written by John Milton. It was first presented on Michaelmas, 1634, before John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater at Ludlow Castle in celebration of the Earl's new post as President of Wales.Known colloquially as Comus, the mask's actual full title is A Mask...
. There is a statue of 'Sabrina' in the Dingle Gardens at the
QuarryThe Quarry is the main recreational park in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England. The park was created in 1719 and encompasses 23 acres...
,
ShrewsburyShrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is home to 70,689 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
.
As the Severn becomes tidal the associated deity changes to Noadu (Romanized as
NodensNodens is a Celtic deity associated with healing, the sea, hunting and dogs. He was worshipped in ancient Britain, most notably in a temple complex at Lydney Park in Gloucestershire, and possibly also in Gaul...
), who is represented mounted on a
seahorseSeahorses are any species of fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus, which, in turn, belongs to the family Syngnathidae, which also includes pipefish and leafy sea dragons. There are over 47 species of seahorse, mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate waters throughout the world. They...
, riding on the crest of the Severn
boreA tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave of water that travel up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the current...
.
Tributary rivers
The
River StourThe Stour is a river flowing through the counties of Worcestershire, the West Midlands and Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England. The Stour is a major tributary of the River Severn, and it is about in length...
rises in the north of Worcestershire in the
Clent HillsThe Clent Hills lie 15 km southwest of Birmingham city centre in Worcestershire, England. The closest towns are Stourbridge and Halesowen, both in the West Midlands conurbation. The Clent Hills range consists of, in order from highest to lowest: Walton Hill, Clent Hill, Wychbury Hill, and...
, near St Kenelm's Church at Romsley. It flows north into the adjacent
West MidlandsThe West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a population of 2,591,300. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire...
at
HalesowenHalesowen is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands, England.The population, as measured by the United Kingdom Census 2001, was 55,273...
. It then flows westwards through
Cradley HeathCradley Heath is a town in the Black Country, located in Sandwell metropolitan borough, England. The name is usually pronounced "Crayd-ley", not "Crad-ley"; in the Black Country accent it may even sound like "Craig-ley Aith"...
and
StourbridgeStourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston and Wollescote.The population,...
where it leaves the
Black CountryThe Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham.By the late 19th century, this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
. It is joined by the Smestow Brook at Prestwood before it winds around southwards to
KinverKinver is a large village in South Staffordshire district, Staffordshire, England. It is in the far south-west of the county, at the end of the narrow finger of land surrounded by the counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. The nearest towns are Stourbridge in the West...
, and then flows back into Worcestershire. It then passes through
WolverleyWolverley is a village, and with Cookley together, a civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England. It is located a few miles to the north west of Kidderminster, near the town of Bewdley, and the villages of Kinver and Cookley...
,
KidderminsterKidderminster is a town in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
and Wilden to its
confluenceConfluence may refer to:* Confluence , the point where two or more bodies of water meet and merge* Confluence , the streamline air flow convergence of a fluid air parcel...
with the Severn at
Stourport-on-SevernStourport-on-Severn, often shortened to Stourport, is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of north Worcestershire, England, a few miles to the south of Kidderminster. Stourport lies on the River Severn, and at the time of the 2001 census had a population of 19,713...
.
The
River VyrnwyThe River Vyrnwy is a river which flows through northern Powys, Wales, and Shropshire, England.The river used to be sourced from the many rivers and streams running off the mountains surrounding the Vyrnwy valley. However, since the Lake Vyrnwy dam was built in the 1880s, the river has flowed...
, which begins at
Lake VyrnwyLake Vyrnwy Nature Reserve and Estate is an area of land in Powys, Wales, surrounding the Victorian reservoir of Lake Vyrnwy. Its stone-built dam, built in the 1880s, is the first of its kind in the world. The Nature Reserve and the area around it are jointly managed by the Royal Society for the...
, flows eastwards through
PowysPowys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire, and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,196 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
before forming the border between England and Wales, joining the Severn near
MelverleyMelverley is a village in Shropshire, England, situated on the River Severn and the River Vyrnwy, near the Powys hills and the border with Wales...
,
ShropshireShropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...
. The
Rea BrookThe name Rea Brook can refer to either of two brooks in Shropshire, England.One of the brooks, which eventually becomes the River Rea, is in southern Shropshire. It is to the east of Brown Clee Hill....
flows north from its source in the Shropshire Hills and joins the Severn at
ShrewsburyShrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is home to 70,689 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
. The
River TernThe River Tern is a river in Shropshire, England. It rises north-east of Market Drayton in the north of the county. The source of the Tern is considered to be the lake in the grounds of Maer Hall, Staffordshire...
, after flowing south from
Market DraytonMarket Drayton is a small market town in north Shropshire, England. It is on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent, and was formerly known as "Drayton in Hales" and earlier simply as "Drayton" ....
and being joined by the
River RodenThe River Roden is a river in Shropshire, England, which meets the River Tern at Walcot.Villages and towns it flows through or near to include:*Wem*Lee Brockhurst*Shawbury*Roden*Rodington-Wildlife:...
, meets the Severn at
Attingham ParkAttingham Park is a country house in Shropshire, England, which is owned by the National Trust. It is a Grade I listed building.- Location :It is located near to the village of Atcham, on the B4380 Shrewsbury to Wellington road.- History :...
.
The River Worfe joins the Severn, just above
BridgnorthBridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...
. The
River StourThe Stour is a river flowing through the counties of Worcestershire, the West Midlands and Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England. The Stour is a major tributary of the River Severn, and it is about in length...
rising on the
Clent HillsThe Clent Hills lie 15 km southwest of Birmingham city centre in Worcestershire, England. The closest towns are Stourbridge and Halesowen, both in the West Midlands conurbation. The Clent Hills range consists of, in order from highest to lowest: Walton Hill, Clent Hill, Wychbury Hill, and...
and flowing through
HalesowenHalesowen is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands, England.The population, as measured by the United Kingdom Census 2001, was 55,273...
,
StourbridgeStourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston and Wollescote.The population,...
, and
KidderminsterKidderminster is a town in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
, joins the Severn at Stourport. On the opposite bank, the tributaries are only brooks, Borle Brook, Dowles Brook draining the
Wyre ForestWyre Forest is a large, semi-natural woodland and forest which straddles the borders of Worcestershire and Shropshire, England.The Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire takes its name from the forest, despite the fact that much of the woodland does not lie within the district's boundaries, but...
and Dick Brook.
The
River TemeThe River Teme is a river in the United Kingdom that rises in Mid Wales, south of Newtown in Powys, and flows through Ludlow in Shropshire, then to the north of Tenbury Wells on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border there, on its way to join the River Severn south of Worcester...
flows eastwards from its source in
Mid WalesMid Wales is the name given to the area of Wales lying between North and South Wales. Like the other regions of Wales, it has no official status as a region and therefore has no precise boundaries. It borders England via the Welsh Marches to the east and the Irish Sea via Cardigan Bay to the west...
, straddling the border between
ShropshireShropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...
and
HerefordshireHerefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. It also forms a unitary district known as the County of Herefordshire. It borders the English ceremonial counties of Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the southeast, and...
, it is joined by the
River OnnyThe River Onny is a river in Shropshire, England. It is a major tributary of the River Teme.The river has its sources in the Shropshire Hills at White Grit, located in Mid and South-west Shropshire. It has two branches, the East Onny and West Onny, which converge at Eaton, to the east of Lydham...
, River Corve and
River ReaThe River Rea is a small river that flows through south east Shropshire, England and passes just to the east of the small market town of Cleobury Mortimer, before entering the Teme at Newnham Bridge in Worcestershire. Its waters eventually reach the Bristol Channel, via the Severn. The upper...
before it finally joins the Severn slightly downstream of Worcester.
One of the several rivers named Avon, in this case the
Warwickshire AvonThe River Avon or Avon is a river in or adjoining the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in the Midlands of England. It is also known as the Upper Avon, Warwickshire Avon or Shakespeare's Avon. The river has a total length of...
, flows west through
RugbyRugby is a market town in Warwickshire, in the West Midlands of England, on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
,
WarwickWarwick ) is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, 18 km south of Coventry and 4 km west of Leamington Spa , with a population of 25,434 ..-Culture:Warwick hosts annual festivals ranging from the Spoken Word to Classical and...
and
Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of the county town, Warwick. It is the main town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers a...
. It is then joined by its tributary the
River ArrowThe River Arrow rises on Beacon Hill in the Lickey Hills Country Park in the Lickey Hills in the north of Worcestershire, England, and heads generally south eastwards to become a major tributary of the River Avon...
, before finally joining the Severn at
TewkesburyTewkesbury is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook...
,
GloucestershireGloucestershire 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....
.
The port of
BristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London, and east of Cardiff.With an estimated population of 416,400 for the unitary authority in mid-2007, and a surrounding urban area with an estimated 561,500 residents, it is England's sixth, and...
is located on the
Severn EstuaryThe Severn Estuary is the estuary of the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain. Its high tidal range means it has been at the centre of discussions in the UK regarding renewable energy.-Geography:...
, where another
River AvonThe River Avon is a river in the south west of England. Because of a number of other Rivers Avon in England, this river is often also known as the Lower Avon or Bristol Avon...
flows into it through the
Avon GorgeThe Avon Gorge is a 1.5 mile long gorge on the River Avon in Bristol, England. The gorge runs south to north through a limestone ridge west of Bristol city centre, and about 3 miles from the mouth of the river at Avonmouth. The gorge forms the boundary between the unitary authorities...
.
The
River WyeThe River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
, from its source in
Plynlimon|}Plynlimon is the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains in Wales. It is a massif that dominates the countryside of northern Ceredigion....
,
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
, flows generally south east through the Welsh towns of
RhayaderRhayader , is a busy and historic market town in Powys, Mid Wales. It is the first town on the banks of the River Wye, some 20 miles from its source on the Plynlimon range of the Cambrian Mountains....
and
Builth WellsBuilth Wells is a town in the county of Powys, within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire, mid Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Wye and the River Irfon, in the Welsh of the Wye Valley.-History and geography:...
. It enters
HerefordshireHerefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. It also forms a unitary district known as the County of Herefordshire. It borders the English ceremonial counties of Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the southeast, and...
, flows through
HerefordHereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
, and is shortly afterwards joined by the
River LuggThe River Lugg , rises near Llangynllo, Powys. It flows through the border town of Presteigne, Wales then through Herefordshire, England, including the town of Leominster, south of which it is met by a tributary, the River Arrow, then to a confluence with the River Wye, which it joins at Mordiford,...
, before flowing through
Ross-on-WyeRoss-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean...
and
MonmouthMonmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire...
, and then southwards where it forms the boundary between England (
Forest of DeanThe Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
) and
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
. It flows into the Severn near the town of
ChepstowChepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, slightly upstream of the Bristol Avon on the opposite bank.
The
River UskThe River Usk rises in the Carmarthen Fans mountains or Fan Brycheiniog of mid-Wales, in the westernmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park then flows south-east through Brecon , Crickhowell, Abergavenny and the eponymous town of Usk past the Roman legionary fortress of Caerleon, through...
flows into the Severn Estuary just south of
NewportNewport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff, and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
.
Major settlements
Below is a list of major
townA town is a type of settlement ranging from a few hundred to several thousand inhabitants, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas; the precise meaning varies between countries and is not always a matter of legal definition...
s and cities that the Severn flows through (in order running downstream):
Through
PowysPowys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire, and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,196 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
:
- Newtown
- Welshpool
Welshpool is a town in Powys, Wales, from the Wales-England border. The town is low-lying on the River Severn; the Welsh language name Y Trallwng literally meaning 'the marshy or sinking land'....
Through
ShropshireShropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...
:
- Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is home to 70,689 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
(county town)
- Ironbridge
Ironbridge is a settlement on the River Severn, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge in Telford, Shropshire, England. It lies in the parish of The Gorge, in the borough of Telford and Wrekin...
- Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...
Through
WorcestershireWorcestershire or ; abbreviated Worcs) is a historic and administrative county located in the West Midlands region of central England. In 1974 it was merged with the county of Herefordshire to form the single administrative county of Hereford and Worcester; which was divided in 1998,...
:
- Bewdley
Bewdley is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England, along the Severn Valley a few miles to the west of Kidderminster. It lies on the River Severn, and at the time of the 2001 census had a population of 9,178...
and surrounding Villages
- Stourport
- Worcester
Worcester is a city and county town of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some 30 miles southwest of Birmingham, 29 miles north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people...
(county town)
- Upton
Upton-upon-Severn is a small town in Malvern Hills district, Worcestershire, England, on the River Severn, often incorrectly called Upton-on-Severn....
Through
GloucestershireGloucestershire 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....
:
- Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook...
- Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
(county town)
Bridges
The Severn is bridged at many places, and many of these bridges are notable in their own right, with several designed and built by the engineer
Thomas TelfordThomas Telford was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
. There also is the famous
Iron BridgeIron Bridge may refer to:*The Iron Bridge, a pioneering Industrial Revolution structure in England**Ironbridge, a settlement at that bridge**Ironbridge Gorge, the gorge formed by the River Severn that is spanned by the bridge....
at
IronbridgeIronbridge is a settlement on the River Severn, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge in Telford, Shropshire, England. It lies in the parish of The Gorge, in the borough of Telford and Wrekin...
, which was the world's first iron arch bridge.
The two bridges of the
Severn crossingSevern crossing is a term used to refer to the two motorway crossings over the River Severn estuary between England and Wales. The two crossings are:*The Severn Bridge *The Second Severn Crossing...
carrying roads link Wales with the southern counties of England and are among the most important in Britain.
- Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
— opened in 1966 carrying the M48The M48 is a motorway in Great Britain joining Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire over the original Severn Bridge. The M48 is anomalously numbered, as it is entirely to the west of the M5 motorway and its number should really therefore begin with 5.-Route:...
- Second Severn Crossing
The Second Severn Crossing is a bridge which carries the M4 motorway over the River Severn between England and Wales, inaugurated on 5 June 1996 by Charles, Prince of Wales to augment the traffic capacity of the original Severn Bridge built in 1966...
— opened in 1996 carrying the M4The M4 motorway is a motorway in Great Britain linking London with West Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea....
motorwayThe OECD has defined a motorway as:Motorways are identical to freeways as a road type, and comparable to the United States's Interstate Highways as a classification....
Previous to the construction of the first bridge in 1966, the channel was crossed by the
Aust FerryThe Aust Ferry was a ferry service that operated across the River Severn in Gloucestershire, England, between the villages of Aust and Beachley...
.
Rail
The
Severn TunnelThe Severn Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn....
, completed in 1886 by
John HawkshawSir John Hawkshaw , English engineer, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire and was educated at Leeds Grammar School.Before he was 21 he had been engaged for six or seven years in railway engineering and the construction of roads in his native county, and in the year of his majority he obtained an...
on behalf of the
Great Western RailwayThe Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835, and ran its first trains three years later...
, lies near the
Second Severn CrossingThe Second Severn Crossing is a bridge which carries the M4 motorway over the River Severn between England and Wales, inaugurated on 5 June 1996 by Charles, Prince of Wales to augment the traffic capacity of the original Severn Bridge built in 1966...
road bridge, and carries the
Great Western Main LineThe Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads station in Bristol...
under the channel.
Cars could also be transported through the Severn Tunnel. In the 1950s three trains a day made round trips between
Severn Tunnel JunctionSevern Tunnel Junction railway station is a small railway station on the western side of the Severn Tunnel at Rogiet in Monmouthshire, Wales. It lies at the junction of the South Wales Main Line from London and the Gloucester to Newport Line.The next station to the west is Newport...
and
PilningPilning railway station is a small railway station at Pilning, South Gloucestershire, England. It is the last station on the English side before the Severn Tunnel through to Wales....
. The vehicles were loaded onto open flat bed carriages and pulled by a small pannier tank locomotive although sometimes they were joined to a scheduled passenger train. The prudent owner paid to cover the vehicle with a sheet as sparks often flew when the
steam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a locomotive powered by steam. The term usually refers to its use on railways, but can also refer to a "road locomotive" such as a traction engine or steamroller....
tackled the grade leading to the tunnel exit. A rail coach was provided for passengers and drivers. Reservations could be made and the fee for the car was about thirty shillings in the early 1950s.
Disasters
There have been many
disasters on the SevernDisasters are common on the River Severn, as it is one of the most dangerous rivers in the United Kingdom, especially the Severn Estuary.Many lives have been lost as man endeavours to work and live alongside the longest river in Britain...
, making it Britain's most dangerous river. It has claimed many lives (figures vary depending on how it is recorded, circa 300 people), especially during the 20th century.
Navigation
There is a public right of navigation between Pool Quay, near
WelshpoolWelshpool is a town in Powys, Wales, from the Wales-England border. The town is low-lying on the River Severn; the Welsh language name Y Trallwng literally meaning 'the marshy or sinking land'....
, and
StourportStourport-on-Severn, often shortened to Stourport, is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of north Worcestershire, England, a few miles to the south of Kidderminster. Stourport lies on the River Severn, and at the time of the 2001 census had a population of 19,713...
. However this stretch of the river has little traffic, other than small pleasure boats, canoes and some tour boats in Shrewsbury. Below Stourport, where the river is more navigable for larger craft, users must obtain permits from
British WaterwaysBritish Waterways is a statutory corporation wholly owned by government. It is the navigation authority in England, Scotland and Wales for the vast majority of the canals, and also some rivers and docks...
, who are the
navigation authorityA navigation authority is a company or statutory body which is concerned with the management of a navigable canal or river.-Rights of a navigation authority:...
.
At Upper Parting above Gloucester, the river divides into two, and flows either side of
Alney IslandAlney Island is an island in the River Severn near Gloucester. The Severn splits into two channels at Upper Parting , and merges together again at Lower Parting to the south...
to Lower Parting. The West Channel is no longer navigable. The East Channel is navigable as far as Gloucester Docks, from where the
Gloucester and Sharpness CanalThe Gloucester and Sharpness Canal or Gloucester and Berkeley Canal is a canal in the west of England, between Gloucester and Sharpness; for much of its length it runs close to the tidal River Severn, but cuts off a significant loop in the river, at a once-dangerous bend near Arlingham...
provides a navigable channel south. Between the docks and Lower Parting
Llanthony WeirLlanthony Secunda Priory is a ruined former Augustinian priory in Hempsted, Gloucester, England, UK.-History:In 1135, after persistent attacks from the local population, the monks of Llanthony Priory in the Black Mountains, Wales retreated to Gloucester where they founded a daughter cell, Llanthony...
marks the Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) of the East Channel of the river.
In the tidal section of the river below Gloucester, the
Gloucester Harbour TrusteesThe Gloucester Harbour Trustees are the Competent Harbour Authority for the tidal part of the River Severn from the Gloucester wiers down to just below the Second Severn Crossing and on the River Wye up to its tidal limit .The Trustees have responsibilities for navigational safety in that part of...
are the competent harbour authority.
Locks
There are locks on the lower Severn to enable sea going boats to reach as far as Stourport. The most northerly lock is at Lincombe, about a mile downstream from Stourport.
Associated canals
The
Staffordshire and Worcestershire CanalThe Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is a narrow navigable canal in the English Midlands, passing through the counties of Staffordshire and Worcestershire....
, the
Worcester and Birmingham CanalThe Worcester and Birmingham Canal is a canal linking Birmingham and Worcester in England. It starts in Worcester, as an 'offshoot' of the River Severn and ends in Gas Street Basin in Birmingham. It is long....
, and the
Herefordshire and Gloucestershire CanalThe Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal is a canal in the west of England, which ran from Hereford, the county town of Herefordshire to Gloucester the county town of Gloucestershire, where it linked to the River Severn...
all join the Severn at
StourportStourport-on-Severn, often shortened to Stourport, is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of north Worcestershire, England, a few miles to the south of Kidderminster. Stourport lies on the River Severn, and at the time of the 2001 census had a population of 19,713...
,
WorcesterWorcester is a city and county town of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some 30 miles southwest of Birmingham, 29 miles north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people...
and
GloucesterGloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
respectively. The
Droitwich Barge CanalThe Droitwich Canal is a synthesis of two canals in Worcestershire, England; the Droitwich Barge Canal and the Droitwich Junction Canal. The barge canal is a broad canal which opened in 1771 linking Droitwich Spa to the River Severn at Hawford Mill, Claines...
used to join the Severn at
HawfordHawford is a hamlet in Worcestershire, England. It falls within two parishes; Claines and Ombersley in the outer suburbs of Worcester about 3 miles from the city centre. It is bisected by the River Salwarpe, the Droitwich - Worcester Canal and is also bounded by the River...
, near to the
River SalwarpeThe River Salwarpe is a river in Worcestershire, England. Rising near Bromsgrove, it passes Stoke Prior, Upton Warren, Wychbold, Droitwich . After Droitwich, it meets the River Severn, at Hawford, . Andrew Yarranton attempted unsuccessfully to make it navigable in the 1660s....
.
The
Gloucester and Sharpness CanalThe Gloucester and Sharpness Canal or Gloucester and Berkeley Canal is a canal in the west of England, between Gloucester and Sharpness; for much of its length it runs close to the tidal River Severn, but cuts off a significant loop in the river, at a once-dangerous bend near Arlingham...
connects the Severn at Gloucester to the Severn at
SharpnessSharpness is an English port in Gloucestershire, one of the most inland in Britain, and eighth largest in the South West. It is on the River Severn at , at a point where the tidal range, though less than at Avonmouth downstream , is still large .The village of Sharpness is pronounced with the...
, avoiding a stretch of the tidal river which is dangerous to navigate. The
Stroudwater NavigationThe Stroudwater Navigation is a canal linking Stroud to the Severn Estuary in England and Wales. At Wallbridge near Stroud it connected to the Thames and Severn Canal to form a link between the River Thames and River Severn...
used to join the tidal Severn at
FramilodeFramilode is a village on the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, England. It consists of two settlements, Lower Framilode and Upper Framilode...
, but since the 1920s has connected to the Severn only via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.
The
Lydney Canal|}This one-mile canal in Gloucestershire runs inland from the River Severn to Lydney. It was opened in 1813 to trans-ship iron and coal from the Forest of Dean. It was once connected by a horse drawn tramroad to the Pidcock's Canal which brought materials down to the wharves by tub-boat.In the...
is a short canal which connects
LydneyLydney is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is located on the west bank of the River Severn, close to the Forest of Dean. The town lies on the A48 road, next to the Lydney Park gardens with its Roman temple in honour of Nodens.-Transport:The Severn Railway...
to the river.
The tidal river
Paddle steamerA paddle steamer is a ship or boat driven by a steam engine that uses one or more paddle wheels to develop thrust for propulsion. It is also a type of steamboat. Boats with paddle wheels on the sides are termed sidewheelers, while those with a single wheel on the stern are known as sternwheelers....
s were operated in the Severn Estuary from the mid 19th century to the late 1970s by
P and A CampbellP & A Campbell Ltd of Bristol with its White Funnel Fleet became the dominant excursion-steamer operator in the Bristol Channel by the 1890s; and along the South Coast of England in the first half of the twentieth century.-The White Funnel fleet:...
of
BristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London, and east of Cardiff.With an estimated population of 416,400 for the unitary authority in mid-2007, and a surrounding urban area with an estimated 561,500 residents, it is England's sixth, and...
. Since 1986 Waverley Excursions has operated occasional sailings to Sharpness and Lydney by the
MV Balmoral.
A number of ferries were also operated on the tidal river, for example at
New PassageNew Passage is a small hamlet in South Gloucestershire, located on the banks of the Severn estuary near the village of Pilning. It derives its name from the ferry service which operated between there and South Wales before the late 19th century, when it lost out in competition with the Aust Ferry...
,
PurtonPurton is a village on the east bank of the River Severn, 3 miles north of Berkeley, in Gloucestershire, England. The village is in the civil parish of Hinton. It lies opposite the hamlet of Purton on the west bank of the river....
and
ArlinghamArlingham is a village and civil parish in the Stroud District of Gloucestershire, England. The parish had a population of 410 at the 2001 census. The parish occupies a peninsula caused by a sharp bend in the River Severn - the next village to the east is Fretherne.In Passage road there is a fish...
. The last ferry was the
Aust FerryThe Aust Ferry was a ferry service that operated across the River Severn in Gloucestershire, England, between the villages of Aust and Beachley...
, which closed in 1966 when the Severn Bridge opened. The Aust Ferry was operated by three ferries, the
Severn King,
Severn Queen and
Severn Princess. The
Severn Princess was restored at
ChepstowChepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
after being found in Ireland full of fertiliser, and is to form part of a maritime exhibition. The
Severn King and
Severn Queen were scrapped not long after their decommission.
The upper river
In Worcester, the
Worcester River CruisesWorcester River Cruises is a river cruise company that provides leisure cruises on the River Severn in Worcester, England. The company owns three boats The Pride of the Midlands, The Severn Traveller and The Earl Grosvenor. The Pride of the Midlands is primarily used for leisure cruises that last...
have boat trips up and down the river between
TewkesburyTewkesbury is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook...
and Stourport, operating the boats
The Pride of the Midlands and
The Earl Grosvenor.
In Shropshire the
Hampton Loade FerryHampton Loade Ferry is a pedestrian cable ferry linking the villages of Hampton Loade and Hampton across the River Severn in the English county of Shropshire and providing a link to Hampton Loade village from Hampton Loade station on the heritage Severn Valley Railway, in Hampton village.The...
operates across the river.
In Shrewsbury, boat trips around the loop of the town centre are at present provided by the
Sabrina and depart from Victoria Quay near the
Welsh BridgeThe Welsh Bridge is a masonry arch viaduct in the town of Shrewsbury, England which crosses the River Severn. It connects Frankwell with the town centre. It is a Listed Building, Grade II*....
during the summer.
Severn Estuary
The river becomes tidal at
MaisemoreMaisemore is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It lies on the A417 road 2.5 miles northwest of Gloucester, on the west bank of the River Severn. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 488....
, on the West Channel just north of Gloucester, and at Llanthony Weir on the East Channel. The tidal river downstream from Gloucester is sometimes referred to as the Severn Estuary, but the river is usually considered to become the Severn Estuary after the
Second Severn CrossingThe Second Severn Crossing is a bridge which carries the M4 motorway over the River Severn between England and Wales, inaugurated on 5 June 1996 by Charles, Prince of Wales to augment the traffic capacity of the original Severn Bridge built in 1966...
near
Severn BeachSevern Beach is a village on the mouth of the river Severn in South Gloucestershire, England. A riverside footpath leads beneath the Second Severn Crossing bridge which is part of the Severn Way...
,
South GloucestershireSouth Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...
(the point to which the jurisdiction of the
Gloucester Harbour TrusteesThe Gloucester Harbour Trustees are the Competent Harbour Authority for the tidal part of the River Severn from the Gloucester wiers down to just below the Second Severn Crossing and on the River Wye up to its tidal limit .The Trustees have responsibilities for navigational safety in that part of...
extends), or at
AustAust is a small village in South Gloucestershire, England. It is near the eastern end of the Severn Bridge, which was built in 1966 to carry the M4 motorway over the route of the old Aust Ferry. It lies at ....
, the site of the
Severn BridgeThe Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
.
The Severn Estuary extends to a line from Lavernock Point (south of
CardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for many national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. According to recent estimates, the...
) to
Sand PointSand Point in Somerset is the peninsula stretching out from Middle Hope, which lies to the north of the village of Kewstoke, and the stretch of coastline called Sand Bay. It is owned by the National Trust and is a popular place for walking...
near
Weston-super-MareWeston-super-Mare is a seaside resort town and civil parish in North Somerset, part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. It includes...
. West of this line is the
Bristol ChannelThe Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England, and extending from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
. In the Severn Estuary (or the
Bristol ChannelThe Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England, and extending from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
in the last two cases, depending where the boundary is drawn) are the rocky islands called
Denny IslandDenny Island is a small rocky island of , with scrub vegetation, in the mouth of the River Severn. Its rocky southern foreshore marks the boundary between England and Wales. Above high water mark, the island is reckoned administratively to Monmouthshire, South Wales...
,
Steep HolmSteep Holm is an English island lying in the Bristol Channel. The island covers 48.87 acre at high tide, expanding to 63.26 acres at mean low water. At its highest point it is 78 metres above mean sea level. It lies within the historic boundaries of Somerset and administratively, it...
and
Flat HolmFlat Holm is a limestone island lying in the Bristol Channel approximately from Lavernock Point in the Vale of Glamorgan, but in the City and County of Cardiff. It includes the most southerly point of Wales....
.
The estuary is about wide at Aust, and about wide between Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare.
Severn bore
A curious phenomenon associated with the lower reaches of the Severn is the
tidal boreA tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave of water that travel up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the current...
, which forms somewhat upstream of the port of
SharpnessSharpness is an English port in Gloucestershire, one of the most inland in Britain, and eighth largest in the South West. It is on the River Severn at , at a point where the tidal range, though less than at Avonmouth downstream , is still large .The village of Sharpness is pronounced with the...
.
The river's
estuaryAn estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are thus subject to both marine influences, such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water; and riverine influences, such as flows of...
, which empties into the
Bristol ChannelThe Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England, and extending from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
, has the second largest
tidal rangeThe tidal range is the vertical difference between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide. In other words, it is the difference in height between high and low tides. The most extreme tidal range will occur around the time of the full or new moons, when gravity of both the Sun and Moon are...
in the world — about ,
exceeded only by the
Bay of FundyThe Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
; and during the highest tides, the rising water is funnelled up the estuary into a wave that travels rapidly upstream against the river current. The largest bores occur in spring, but smaller ones can be seen throughout the year. The bore is accompanied by a rapid rise in water level which continues for about one and a half hours after the bore has passed.
Industry
A 6 mile (10 km) stretch in
ShropshireShropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...
, known as
Ironbridge Gorgethumb|right|The Ironbridge Gorge looking east towards the Iron BridgeThe Ironbridge Gorge is a deep gorge formed by the River Severn in Shropshire, England....
, was designated a
World Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site that is on the list that is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 state parties which are elected by their General Assembly for a four-year term.A World Heritage Site is a...
by
UNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on 16 November 1945...
in 1986. Its historic importance is due to its role as the centre of the
ironIron is a metallic chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. Iron is a group 8 and period 4 element and is therefore classified as a transition metal. Iron and iron alloys are by far the most common metals and the most common ferromagnetic materials in everyday use...
industry in the early stages of the
Industrial RevolutionThe Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in the United Kingdom. The changes subsequently spread throughout Europe, North...
. Ironbridge gets its name from the bridge across the Severn, built in 1779, which was the first cast-iron arch bridge ever constructed.
Wildlife
The sides of the estuary are also important feeding grounds for
waderWaders, called shorebirds in North America , are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. The latter are the skuas , gulls , terns , skimmers , and auks...
s, notably at the
Bridgwater BayBridgwater Bay is on the Bristol Channel, north of Bridgwater in Somerset, England at the mouth of the River Parrett and the end of the River Parrett Trail. It consists of large areas of mud flats, saltmarsh, sandflats and shingle ridges, some of which are vegetated...
National Nature ReserveNational Nature Reserves in England are managed by Natural England and are key places for wildlife and natural features in England. They were established to protect the most important areas of habitat and of geological formations...
and the
Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust]]WWT Slimbridge is a wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, England. Slimbridge is halfway between Bristol and Gloucester on the estuary of the river Severn. The reserve was the first WWT centre to be opened, on 10 November 1946, thanks to the...
.
Literary allusions
The River Severn is named several times in A.E. Housman's
A Shropshire LadA Shropshire Lad is a cycle of sixty-three poems by the English poet Alfred Edward Housman.-Reception:A Shropshire Lad was first published in 1896 at Housman's own expense after several publishers had turned it down, much to the surprise of his colleagues and students...
(1896): “It dawns in Asia, tombstones show/And Shropshire names are read;/And the Nile spills his overflow/Beside the Severn’s dead” (“1887”); “Severn stream” (“The Welsh Marches”); and “Severn shore” (“Westward from the high-hilled plain…”).
See also
- Rivers of the United Kingdom
- The Severn Way
The Severn Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath in the United Kingdom following the course of the River Severn in the West Country of England and Mid Wales.- Distance :...
long-distance footpath
- The Severn Area Rescue Association
The Severn Area Rescue Association aka SARA or Severn Rescue is an Inshore Rescue boat and Land Search organisation covering the Severn Estuary and upper reaches of the River Severn. SARA is the largest independent lifeboat service in the UK, second only to the RNLI, with 12 operational boats and...
organises rescue lifeboats from Wyre Forest to Beachley
- Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue
Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue , also known as Mercia Rescue, is a water rescue team operating from the marina in Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England....
are based at Upton-upon-SevernUpton-upon-Severn is a small town in Malvern Hills district, Worcestershire, England, on the River Severn, often incorrectly called Upton-on-Severn....
- The Severn Valley
The Severn Valley is a rural area of mid-western England, through which the River Severn runs and the Severn Valley Railway steam heritage line operates, starting at its northernmost point in Bridgnorth, Shropshire and running south for 16 miles to Bewdley, Worcestershire in the Wyre...
, an area straddling Shropshire and Worcestershire
- Severnside
The geographical term Severnside refers to an area adjoining or straddling the River Severn or its estuary in the United Kingdom.The term is used by different organisations, in different contexts, to refer to quite different areas. The Severn passes through both England and Wales, in some places...
, a term with various different uses
- Seven Natural Wonders
Seven Natural Wonders was a television series that aired on BBC Two from 3 May to 20 June 2005. The programme took an area of England each week and, from votes by the people living in that area, showed the 'seven natural wonders' of that area in a programme.The programmes were:The series covered...
- 2005 TV programme where the River was described as one of the wonders of the West CountryThe West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
.
External links