8/7/2019 The River Avon

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Pnksti Zsolt

10th March, 2011 9th A

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The River Avon

The River Avon is a tributary of the River Severn, situated in the south

west of the country. It is also known as the Lower Avon or Bristol Avon in order

so that it can be distinguished from a number of other River Avons in Britain.

Its source is near Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire, that divides into two

parts and after merging again it flows through Wiltshire.

The name Avon is a cognate of the Welsh word afon that means

river. Both avon and afon are being derived from abona, a word from

British language and it also means river. So literally River Avon means River

River; much more English and Scottish rivers share this name. There even was a

county in the Avon Valley, covering it including Bristol and Bath, the County of

Avon, which was named after this important river.

Avon rises between the villages of Old Sodbury and Acton T urville. Itdrains east then south through Wiltshire, in somewhat of a circular pattern. The

first main settlement along the Lower Avon is Luckington village and then it

flows on towards Sherston. The first major tributary that it joins up with is the

Tetbury Avon. Their confluence can be found at Malmesbury. If a rocky outcrop

of the Cotswolds didnt block their path, they would meet. But due to this

obstacle they can only merge a bit further from here. After the merge it turns

south east, away from the Cotswolds and then it reaches another confluence in

the clay Dauntsey Vale where it is joined by the River Marden then it continues

its way till Chippenham. The wide vale is known as the Avon Vale. The next

station is Bradford on Avon. After it passes under the Avoncliff and Dundas

Aqueducts, the River Frome joins it at Freshford. It then flows past Claverton

Pumping Station, which pumped water from the Avon into the canal, using the

power of the river flow. It then continues its way through Bathford and passes

under Cleveland and Poultney Bridges, as well. It then connects with the Kennet

and Avon Canal. From this point downstream it is known as the Avon Navigation.

The River Avon then flows through Keynsham towards Bristol and after leaving

Wiltshire, it marks the traditional boundary between Somerset and

Gloucestershire. The tidal New Cut diverts the Avon along the Feeder Canal to

the harbour. The original course is known as the Floating Harbour. It then

passes through the deep Avon Gorge and further away it joins the Severn

Estuary.

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