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Droitwich Canals Trust

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The Droitwich Canals Trust is an English limited company created in 1973 to work towards the restoration of the Droitwich Canal . From 2001 it worked as part of a larger group, the Droitwich Canals Restoration Partnership, and in 2004, following a successful application for a grant of £4.6 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund surrendered its lease on the canal to British Waterways , who then managed the restoration through to the reopening of the canals in 2011.

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79-642: The Droitwich Canals, consisting of the Barge Canal from Droitwich to the River Severn at Hawford and the Junction Canal from Droitwich to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at Hanbury, were abandoned in 1939. During the early 1960s, the condition of the remains was regularly debated by Droitwich Borough Council, and various plans for its long-term future were suggested. In 1959 Max Sinclair began campaigning to reopen

158-619: A broad beam canal, joins the Severn at Hawford , near to the River Salwarpe , and connects to the Droitwich Canal (narrow beam) in the name town, which then forms a link to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. The two Droitwich canals re-opened in 2010 after major restoration. The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal connects the Severn at Gloucester to the Severn at Sharpness , avoiding a stretch of

237-598: A group was set up for the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and the Droitwich Canals. As progress was made towards the start of actual restoration, a more formal structure was needed, and the Droitwich Canals Trust Ltd was established in 1973, with support from local councils. Work began on the canal soon afterwards. The Trust is a private company limited by guarantee with no share capital, and is registered with Companies House as Company No. 01132669. Progress

316-841: A much larger railway network than it does now with over 100 stations in the county, the vast majority of which were closed during the Beeching cuts . Nowadays, only 15 remain within the county, mostly concentrated on the CrossCountry NE-SW route and around the North Fringe of Bristol . Some stations have been re-opened in recent years; Cam and Dursley railway station opened in 1994, with Ashchurch for Tewkesbury opening three years later in 1997. Local campaign groups are also seeking to reopen several disused stations, including Charfield railway station in South Gloucestershire . There are

395-663: A number of Roman remains scattered across the county, including the Eastgate Viewing Chamber in Gloucester and Chedworth Roman Villa . There are a variety of religious buildings across the county, notably the cathedral of Gloucester , the abbey church of Tewkesbury (which is over 500 years old and has the tallest Norman tower in England), and the church of Cirencester . Of the abbey of Hailes near Winchcombe , founded by Richard, Earl of Cornwall , in 1246, little more than

474-693: A regional centre at the Gloucester Docks , Alexandra Warehouse, specialising in Adult and Mental Health Nursing; and Frenchay Campus in South Gloucestershire . Gloucestershire has one city and 33 towns: The towns in Gloucestershire are: Suburban town of Stroud : Town in Monmouthshire with suburbs in Gloucestershire: The county has two green belt areas, the first covers the southern area in

553-526: A series of stained-glass windows which are said to have been brought from the Netherlands . These are, however, adjudged to be of English workmanship. Other notable buildings include Calcot Barn in Calcot, a relic of Kingswood Abbey . Thornbury Castle is a Tudor country house, the pretensions of which evoked the jealousy of Cardinal Wolsey against its builder, Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham , who

632-503: Is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Gloucestershire at current basic prices published (pp. 240–253) by Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of Pounds Sterling. The following is a chart of Gloucestershire's gross value added total in millions of Pounds Sterling from 1997 to 2009 based upon the Office for National Statistics figures The 2009 estimation of £11,452 million GVA can be compared to

711-655: Is a member of the West of England Combined Authority . Gloucestershire is bisected by the river River Severn , which enters the county near Tewkesbury and forms a wide valley down its centre before broadening into a large tidal estuary . The hills to the east form the majority of the Cotswolds AONB , and the uplands to the west are part of the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley AONB , which stretches into Wales. Gloucestershire

790-903: Is a weekly paid-for newspaper based in Stroud. It is published in a tabloid format by Newsquest . Newsquest also produces the weekly Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard newspaper, which covers the southern and eastern parts of the county as well as the weekly Gloucestershire Gazette , which covers the south of the county and much of South Gloucestershire. Gloucester News Centre is an independent news website with news and information for Gloucestershire. Radio stations in Gloucestershire include BBC Radio Gloucestershire , BBC Radio Bristol (for South Gloucestershire ), Heart West , Sunshine Radio and Greatest Hits Radio Gloucestershire . There are also several community radio stations including Gloucester FM , Radio Winchcombe , Forest of Dean Radio , North Cotswold Community Radio , and Severn FM . Local TV for

869-530: Is mixed. There are 42 state secondary schools, not including sixth form colleges , and 12 independent schools, including Cheltenham Ladies' College , Cheltenham College and Dean Close School . All but about two schools in each district have a sixth form, but the Forest of Dean only has two schools with sixth forms. All schools in South Gloucestershire have sixth forms. Gloucestershire has two universities,

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948-640: Is the Western Daily Press , while The Citizen , which covers Gloucester, Stroud and the Forest of Dean, and the Gloucestershire Echo , which covers Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds, were published daily but since October 2017 have been weekly publications. All three, along with free weeklies The Forester , Stroud Life , The Gloucester News and The Cheltenham and Tewkesbury News , are published by Local World . The Stroud News & Journal

1027-624: Is thought to derive from a British word * sabrinā , possibly from an older form * samarosina , meaning "land of summertime fallow". During the Roman occupation the Severn was known by the Romano-British Latin name Sabrina . Milton 's 1634 masque Comus makes Sabrina a nymph who had drowned in the river. In Shrewsbury , there is now a statue of Sabrina in the Dingle Gardens at

1106-408: Is tidal. Several more villages sit beside the tidal stretch. Amongst these are Elmore , Epney and Framilode on the east bank and Minsterworth , Broadoak and Newnham on Severn on the west bank. The Severn is bridged at many places, and many of these bridges are notable in their own right. The Iron Bridge at Ironbridge was the world's first iron arch bridge. Several other bridges crossing

1185-583: The Arkendale H and Wastdale H died in the accident. There have been frequent floods in Shrewsbury , Bewdley and elsewhere. More recently the river flooded during the 2007 United Kingdom floods and the 2019–20 United Kingdom floods . There is a public right of navigation between Pool Quay , near Welshpool , and Stourport. However this stretch of the river has little traffic, other than small boats, canoes and some tour boats in Shrewsbury. Below Stourport, where

1264-610: The Cambrian Mountains in mid Wales , at an altitude of 2,001 feet (610 m), on the Plynlimon massif, which lies close to the Ceredigion / Powys border near Llanidloes . The river then flows through Shropshire , Worcestershire and Gloucestershire . The county towns of Shrewsbury , Worcester and Gloucester lie on its course. The Severn's major tributaries are the Vyrnwy ,

1343-616: The Clent Hills , near St Kenelm's Church at Romsley . It flows north into the adjacent West Midlands at Halesowen . It then flows westwards through Cradley Heath and Stourbridge , where it leaves the Black Country . It is joined by the Smestow Brook at Prestwood before it winds around southwards to Kinver , and then flows back into Worcestershire. It then passes through Wolverley , Kidderminster and Wilden to its confluence with

1422-760: The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal provides a navigable channel south. Between the docks and Lower Parting Llanthony Weir 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 Trustees are the competent harbour authority. The Trustees maintain navigation lights at various points along the river (including on Chapel Rock and Lyde Rock, and leading lights at Slime Road, Sheperdine and Berkeley Pill). There are locks on

1501-534: The Irish Sea through Cheshire causing a large lake to develop across much of Shropshire. It was supposed that this lake, named as Lake Lapworth , overtopped its southern margin and rapidly cut down to form the Ironbridge Gorge providing the Severn with a southerly exit to the sea as remains the case today. An alternative theory which has gained favour in recent years does away with Lake Lapworth, suggesting that

1580-520: The Quarry , as well as a metal sculpture erected in 2013. There is a different deity associated with the Severn Estuary: Nodens , represented as mounted on a seahorse , riding on the crest of the Severn bore . The Welsh form of the name is Afon Hafren ( pronounced [ˈavɔn ˈhavrɛn] ) first recorded in the 12th-century Historia Regum Britanniae . The Old Welsh form of

1659-626: The River Tern , after flowing south from Market Drayton and being joined by the River Meese and the River Roden , meets the Severn at Attingham Park . The River Worfe joins the Severn's left bank just above Bridgnorth , before the Mor, Borle and Dowles brooks join on the opposite bank over the next few miles, the last-named draining Wyre Forest . The River Stour rises in the north of Worcestershire in

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1738-726: The Second Severn Crossing road bridge, and carries the South Wales Main Line section of the Great Western Main Line under the channel. The original line built before the Severn Tunnel was the South Wales Railway from Gloucester , that followed the estuary alongside present day stations of Lydney , Chepstow , Caldicot and Severn Tunnel Junction to Newport . Cars could also be transported through

1817-782: The Tern , the Teme , the Warwickshire Avon , and the Worcestershire Stour . By convention, the River Severn is usually considered to end, and the Severn Estuary to begin, after the Second Severn Crossing , between Severn Beach in South Gloucestershire and Sudbrook, Monmouthshire . The total area of the Estuary's drainage basin is 4,409 square miles (11,419 km ). That figure excludes

1896-841: The University of Gloucestershire and the Royal Agricultural University , and four higher and further education colleges, Gloucestershire College , Cirencester College , South Gloucestershire and Stroud College and the Royal Forest of Dean College . Each has campuses at multiple locations throughout the county. The University of the West of England also has three locations in Gloucestershire; an associate faculty ( Hartpury College ) specialising in animal behaviour and welfare, agricultural and sports-related courses in Hartpury, Gloucestershire ;

1975-700: The Usk all flow into the estuarine section of the Severn. The main tributaries are described in sequence below. The first tributary of significance is the Afon Dulas , joining from the south immediately upstream of Llanidloes , with the Afon Clywedog joining in the town. The Afon Cerist , bolstered by the Afon Trannon , and the Afon Carno join as left bank tributaries immediately upstream of Caersws. Mochdre Brook enters on

2054-443: The West of England Combined Authority , which is under the directly elected mayor Dan Norris . There are six parliamentary constituencies in Gloucestershire , all of which are Conservative controlled as of the 2019 general election . Due to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies , Gloucestershire will be combined with Wiltshire for parliamentary boundary purposes, allowing cross-county electoral divisions. This

2133-926: The 2020 episode " Fugitive of the Judoon " was set and filmed at Gloucester Cathedral . A fictional Brimpsfield was the village, home of Peter and Abby Grant, in the 1970s BBC TV series Survivors , with a railway connection to London. Witcombe Festival is an annual music festival held in Brockworth . As well as music, the three-day festival has it roots deep in cider . The festival consists of four stages and has been headlined by Dizzee Rascal , Plan B , Sigma , Ella Eyre , Example , Wiley , Heather Small , Lethal Bizzle and Tinchy Stryder . The Romano/Celtic temple ruins in Lydney Park contributed to J.R.R. Tolkien 's description of The Shire in his Middle-earth Legendarium . The famous Gloucestershire Old Spots pig

2212-556: The Conservatives, though the Liberal Democrats have a sizeable presence on the council. The Council Leader is Mark Hawthorne. The County Council shares responsibility with six district councils: Tewkesbury, Forest of Dean, City of Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud and Cotswold. The southernmost part of the county, South Gloucestershire is governed by South Gloucestershire Council , which is a unitary authority council independent of

2291-553: The Droitwich Canals and on 4 November 2013 was honored with the Freedom of the town for his services to Droitwich. A local member of the Inland Waterways Association started a press campaign in 1963, suggesting that restoration was feasible. At the time, Max Sinclair estimated that the work could be completed in less than two years. By 1966, the council were beginning to think of the canal in terms of an amenity, and floated

2370-612: The Harry Potter films and the BBC TV series Butterflies . " A Girl's Best Friend ", the pilot for the proposed Doctor Who spin-off K-9 and Company , was filmed in Gloucestershire. The setting is the fictional town of Moreton Harwood. The fictional town of Leadworth in Doctor Who is in Gloucestershire. It is the home of companions Amy Pond , Rory Williams and River Song in their childhoods and young adulthoods. Additionally,

2449-458: The Hatherley and Horsbere brooks, before it reaches Gloucester. The River Leadon enters the tidal West Channel of the Severn at Over, immediately west of Gloucester. The River Frome is the second significant tributary to enter the tidal stretch of the Severn, doing so at Framilode. Bideford Brook drains the easternmost part of the Forest of Dean , entering the Severn estuary east of Blakeney . On

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2528-536: The SSW-NNE aligned valley either side of Welshpool is there any obvious relationship to geological structure; the valley follows the lines of the Severn Valley Faults. For much of the rest of its course it runs directly across geological structures. It was first proposed in the 1900s that the former northerly course of the upper Severn was disrupted during the course of the ice age by the blocking of its access to

2607-594: The Severn Estuary from the mid 19th century to the late 1970s by P & A Campbell of Bristol . The vessels, Cardiff Queen , Bristol Queen , Glen Usk , Glen Gower and Britannia all operated on this route in the 1950s and 1960s. 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 Passage , Purton and Arlingham . The last ferry

2686-457: The Severn Tunnel. In the 1950s three trains a day made round trips between Severn Tunnel Junction and Pilning . 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 locomotive tackled

2765-620: The Severn and its valley running between these features. The Daffodil Way in the Leadon Valley, on the border of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire surrounding the village of Dymock , is known for its many spring flowers, orchards, and woodland, which attracts many walkers. In the west, the Wye valley borders Wales. Gloucestershire is a ceremonial county in South West England. Gloucestershire County Council 's 53 seats are majority-controlled by

2844-424: The Severn at Stourport-on-Severn . The Dick Brook , Shrawley Brook and Grimley Brook enter on the right bank before the River Salwarpe , which runs through Droitwich enters on the opposite (east) bank. The River Teme flows eastwards from its source in Mid Wales , straddling the border between Shropshire and Herefordshire ; it is joined by the River Onny , River Corve and River Rea before it finally joins

2923-410: The Severn on the southern edge of Worcester . Bushley Brook joins just upstream of the confluence of the Warwickshire Avon with the Severn at Tewkesbury . One of several Avons, this one flows west through Rugby , Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon . It is then joined by its tributary the River Arrow , before joining the Severn. The rivers Swilgate and Chelt also join the Severn's left bank, as do

3002-447: The Shropshire Plain, these lower Palaeozoic rocks are replaced by Permian and Triassic age strata though largely unseen beneath a thick cover of Quaternary deposits. Certain stretches also run across Carboniferous strata as at Shrewsbury and for much of the distance between Ironbridge and Bewdley. Permo-Triassic bedrock then continues until the Severn moves intermittently onto the Jurassic outcrop from Tewkesbury southwards. Only in

3081-436: The South Gloucestershire district, to protect outlying villages and towns between Thornbury and Chipping Sodbury from the urban sprawl of the Bristol conurbation . The second belt lies around Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Bishop's Cleeve, to afford those areas and villages in between a protection from urban sprawl and further convergence. Both belts intersect with the boundaries of the Cotswolds AONB . Gloucestershire once had

3160-455: The South West regional average of £7,927 million. Gloucestershire has mainly comprehensive schools with seven selective grammar schools ; two are in Stroud, Stroud High School for girls and Marling School for boys, one in Cheltenham, Pate's Grammar , and four in Gloucester, Sir Thomas Rich's for boys (aged 11–18) and girls (aged 16–18, in the sixth form), and Denmark Road High School and Ribston Hall for girls and The Crypt which

3239-421: The area of the River Wye and the Bristol Avon , both of which flow into the Severn Estuary. The Estuary discharges into the Bristol Channel , which opens into the Celtic Sea and from there into the Atlantic Ocean. An etymology has been proposed, which signifies that 'Severn' is an anglicized version of a ancient Celtic phrase signifying 'a gap (in the coastline)', referring to the estuary. The name Severn

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3318-399: The boats The Pride of the Midlands and The Earl Grosvenor . Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( / ˈ ɡ l ɒ s t ər ʃ ər / GLOST -ər-shər , /- ʃ ɪər / -⁠sheer ; abbreviated Glos. ) is a ceremonial county in South West England . It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to

3397-409: The club-rush growing along the banks of the River Severn to make wicker baskets. The name history shows evidence of Scandinavian influence: In the Summer of 893 a coalition of all of the Danish armies in England made a determined attempt to annex western Mercia to Danish Mercia. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (ASC) recorded an account of the Battle of Buttington , and included this description of

3476-408: The county council but the unitary authority is still part of the ceremonial county. Previously, the area of South Gloucestershire was part of the county of Avon. Although Avon was abolished in 1996, some services in South Gloucestershire are still provided in conjunction with other former parts of Avon county, such as the Avon Fire and Rescue Service . Since 2017, South Gloucestershire has been part of

3555-405: The county is provided by BBC West and ITV West Country from Bristol, although in the northern extremes of Gloucestershire, BBC Midlands and ITV Central (West) from Birmingham covers this area. Some eastern parts of the county (Cirencester and parts of the Cotswolds) receive BBC South and ITV Meridian from Oxford. There are two well-known accounts of childhood in rural Gloucestershire in

3634-429: The county of Powys . The first town it encounters downstream of its source is Llanidloes where it is joined by the Dulas and the Clywedog. It flows past the villages of Llandinam and Caersws before reaching Newtown . It then runs by Abermule and Cilcewydd before flowing beside Welshpool , the last town on its course in Wales. Entering Shropshire and England, a few villages such as Shrawardine sit back from

3713-463: The county, including Long Marston and Welford-on-Avon , were transferred to Warwickshire in 1931. Upon the abolition of Avon in 1996, the region north of Bristol became a unitary authority area of South Gloucestershire and is now part of the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire. In July 2007, Gloucestershire was subject to some of the worst flooding in recorded British history, with tens of thousands of residents affected. The RAF conducted

3792-400: The creation of the Heritage Lottery Fund , grants were available for projects which sought to preserve the country's heritage, and in late 2004, a grant of £4.6 million was secured to complete the restoration. Further matched funding came from local councils and from Advantage West Midlands , the regional development agency covering the locality. In order to create a better structure for

3871-454: The early 20th century, Laurie Lee 's Cider With Rosie and Winifred Foley 's A Child in the Forest . Part of Mrs. Craik's novel John Halifax, Gentleman is set in Enderley, a thinly disguised Amberley , where she lived at the time of writing. Most of the book is set in Nortonbury, easily recognisable as Tewkesbury . The county has also been the setting for a number of high-profile movies and TV series, including Die Another Day ,

3950-458: The foundations are left, but these have been excavated and fragments have been brought to light. Most of the old market towns have parish churches . At Deerhurst near Tewkesbury and Bishop's Cleeve near Cheltenham , there are churches of special interest on account of the pre-Norman work they retain. There is also a Perpendicular church in Lechlade , and that at Fairford was built ( c.  1500 ), according to tradition, to contain

4029-422: The idea of its restoration to the general public through an illustrated article, which appeared in the Worcester Evening News on 14 June 1966. In 1969, the Inland Waterways Association published a strategy document entitled Safeguarding Britain's Waterways , in which each of its eight branches were asked to work with local restoration groups. Where there was no such group, interest was created in forming one, and

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4108-429: The largest distinct settlements are Cheltenham (115,940), Stroud (26,080), and Yate (28,350). In the south of the county, the areas around Filton and Kingswood are densely populated and part of Bristol built-up area . For local government purposes Gloucestershire comprises a non-metropolitan county , with six districts, and the unitary authority area of South Gloucestershire . South Gloucestershire Council

4187-408: The largest peacetime domestic operation in its history to rescue over 120 residents from flood-affected areas. The damage was estimated at over £2 billion. Gloucestershire has three main landscape areas, a large part of the Cotswolds, the Royal Forest of Dean and the Severn Vale. The Cotswolds take up a large portion of the east and south of the county, The Forest of Dean taking up the west, with

4266-452: The late 11th century. Gloucestershire originally included Bristol, then a small town. Members of local rural communities moved to the port city (as Bristol was to become), and Bristol's population growth accelerated during the industrial revolution. Bristol became a county in its own right, separate from Gloucestershire and Somerset, in 1373. It later became part of the administrative County of Avon from 1974 to 1996. Some northern parts of

4345-421: The lower Severn to enable seagoing boats to reach as far as Stourport. The most northerly lock is at Lincomb, about 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream from Stourport. The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal , the Worcester and Birmingham Canal , (both narrow beam) and the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal join the Severn at Stourport, Worcester and Gloucester respectively. The Droitwich Barge Canal ,

4424-562: The management of such a large capital project, the Trust surrendered their lease of the canal to British Waterways, who would then lead the project. River Severn The River Severn ( Welsh : Afon Hafren , pronounced [ˈavɔn ˈhavrɛn] ), at 220 miles (354 km) long, is the longest river in Great Britain . It is also the river with the most voluminous flow of water by far in all of England and Wales , with an average flow rate of 107 m /s (3,800 cu ft/s) at Apperley , Gloucestershire. It rises in

4503-533: The name Habren was recorded c.800. Documented history of the Welsh name: The toponym for Habren might be: The English form of the name (" Severn ") is derived from Old English Sæfern . However the name is also influenced by English dialect seave (" sedge, rush ") hence the origin of the name Seaverne recorded in the 16th–17th century. Common club-rush ( Schoenoplectus lacustris ) prefers to grow in shallow water such as that found in ponds, streams and river margins. The Hwicce people used

4582-400: The name of the Dalvík – Grímsey ferry in Iceland . The River Severn's current form is the result of a multi-million year history and complex underlying geology but is in part the result of glaciation during the last ice age in the Pleistocene epoch of the Quaternary period. Within Wales, the river runs through a landscape formed in Ordovician and Silurian rocks. As it enters

4661-399: The north-east, Oxfordshire to the east, Wiltshire to the south, Bristol and Somerset to the south-west, and the Welsh county of Monmouthshire to the west. The city of Gloucester is the largest settlement and the county town . The county is predominantly rural, with an area of 3,150 square kilometres (1,220 sq mi) and a population of 916,212. After Gloucester (118,555)

4740-485: The opposite (southeast) bank the flow of the River Cam is usurped by the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal before reaching the estuary. The Lyd enters the west bank of the estuary at Lydney Harbour , opposite the place where Berkeley Pill carries the waters of the Little Avon River into it. The final tributary before the Severn Bridge is the collection of streams which enter via Oldbury Pill. The River Wye, from its source in Plynlimon in Wales (2 miles (3 km) from

4819-478: The river as it meanders eastwards towards the county town of Shrewsbury . More villages, notably Atcham , Wroxeter and Cressage sit beside the river as it turns southeast and heads for the gorge at Ironbridge before turning south for Bridgnorth . The Shropshire villages of Quatford and Hampton Loade and the Worcestershire village of Upper Arley follow, before the Severn runs through Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn in quick succession. The river then passes

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4898-439: The river is more navigable for larger craft, users must obtain permits from the Canal & River Trust , who are the navigation authority . During spring freshet the river can be closed to navigation. At Upper Parting above Gloucester, the river divides into two, and flows either side of Alney Island to Lower Parting. The West Channel is no longer navigable. The East Channel is navigable as far as Gloucester Docks, from where

4977-432: The river were designed and built by the engineer Thomas Telford . The two major road bridges of the Severn crossing link south eastern Wales with the southern counties of England. Prior to the construction of the first bridge in 1966, the channel was crossed by the Aust Ferry . Other notable bridges include: The Severn Tunnel , completed in 1886 by John Hawkshaw on behalf of the Great Western Railway , lies near

5056-446: The route taken by the Danes : "... Foron þa up be Temese oþþæt hie gedydon æt Sæferne , þa up be Sæferne . The Seafarer (poem) ..."þæt he a his sæfore sorge næbbe, to hwon hine Dryhten gedon wille." ..."that he never in his seafaring has a worry, as to what his Lord will do to him." — A passage in Old English poem The name Sæfern might be related to: The Old Norse name Sæfari ("Seafarer") lives on as

5135-536: The ruins of Witcombe Roman Villa at Great Witcombe are also notable heritage features. There are several royal residences in Gloucestershire, including Highgrove House , Gatcombe Park , and (formerly) Nether Lypiatt Manor . An annual " cheese-rolling " event takes place at Cooper's Hill, near Brockworth and the Cotswold Games occurred within the county. Places of interest in Gloucestershire include: Areas of countryside in Gloucestershire include: Scenic Railway Line: Gloucestershire's only daily newspaper

5214-501: The slope leading to the tunnel exit. A railway coach was provided for passengers and drivers. Reservations could be made and the fee for the car was about thirty shillings (£1.50) in the early 1950s. There have been many disasters on the Severn , which have claimed perhaps 300 lives, depending on sources, especially during the 20th century. The Severn Railway Bridge was badly damaged by the collision of two river barges in 1960, which led to its demolition in 1970. Five crew members of both

5293-420: The source of the Severn), flows generally south east through the Welsh towns of Rhayader and Builth Wells . It enters Herefordshire , flows through Hereford , and is shortly afterwards joined by the River Lugg , before flowing through Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth , and then southwards where it forms part of the border between England ( Forest of Dean ) and Wales . The Wye flows into the Severn estuary south of

5372-536: The tidal river which is dangerous to navigate. The Stroudwater Navigation used to join the tidal Severn at Framilode , but since the 1920s has connected to the Severn only via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. The Lydney Canal is a short canal which connects Lydney to the river. The section of the river between Tewkesbury and Worcester forms part of the Avon Ring , a 109-mile (175 km) circular cruising route which includes 129 locks and covers parts of three other waterways. Paddle steamers were operated in

5451-406: The town of Chepstow . The Mounton Brook and Nedern Brooks enter on the Monmouthshire side between the two motorway crossings. The Port of Bristol is on the Severn Estuary , where another River Avon flows into it through the Avon Gorge . The River Usk and the Ebbw River flow into the Severn Estuary at Uskmouth just south of Newport . The river's course within Wales lies wholly within

5530-420: The upper Severn flowed beneath the icesheet in a bedrock hollow known as the Severn Trench eastwards from Melverley to the Ironbridge Gorge. It is possible that the trench and gorge were cut over successive ice ages. Over its length, there are a large number of tributaries, but the three largest feeding the non-tidal river are the Vyrnwy , the Teme and the Warwickshire Avon . The Wye , the Bristol Avon and

5609-405: The villages of Astley Burf and Holt Fleet before entry into the city of Worcester . Several villages sit back from the river before it runs by Upton-upon-Severn and then enters Gloucestershire as it joins with the Warwickshire Avon outside of Tewkesbury . A few more villages intervene, notable amongst which is Maisemore before the river enters the city of Gloucester from which point it

5688-602: The waters of the Banwy , Cain and Tanat , before forming part of the border between England and Wales, and joining the Severn near Melverley , Shropshire. The River Perry joins on the left bank above Shrewsbury , while both the Rad Brook and the Rea Brook , which flows northeast from its source at Marton Pool near the Welsh border, join the Severn within the town. The left bank tributary,

5767-758: The western edge of Newtown, followed by the Bechan Brook just northeast of the town. The Mule enters at Abermule , and the River Rhiw east of Berriew , followed shortly by the Camlad which rises above Churchstoke and by the Luggy Brook. The left bank Sylfaen Brook enters at Welshpool , and the Bele Brook via the New Cut east of Arddlin . The River Vyrnwy, which begins at Lake Vyrnwy , flows eastwards through Powys , gathering

5846-535: Was beheaded in 1521. Near Cheltenham is the 15th-century mansion of Southam de la Bere , of timber and stone. Memorials of the de la Bere family appear in the church at Cleeve. The mansion contains a tiled floor from Hailes Abbey . At Great Badminton is the mansion and vast domain of the Beauforts (formerly of the Botelers and others), on the south-eastern boundary of the county. Berkeley Castle at over 800 years old and

5925-591: Was dependent on the availability of financial resources. The Trust indicated that it had neither the manpower nor the resources to complete the restoration as quickly as some people desired. From July 2001, the Trust worked as part of the Droitwich Canals Restoration Partnership. This consisted of representatives from the Trust and from British Waterways , The Waterways Trust , Worcestershire County Council and Wychavon District Council. Following

6004-431: Was likely established in the tenth century, and expanded to approximately its current borders in the eleventh. The county was relatively settled during the late Middle Ages, and contained several wealthy monasteries such as Tewkesbury , Gloucester , Hailes , and Cirencester ; the Forest of Dean was also a major iron-producing region in this period. The city of Bristol became an independent county in 1373, by which point it

6083-500: Was slow, but the first section near Vines Park was reopened in October 1986. In 1994, a feasibility study on full restoration was presented to a packed public meeting at Worcester Town Hall. It identified two major problems, that of an adequate water supply and the crossing of the A449 road just above the junction with the River Severn. While the local authorities were committed to restoration, it

6162-676: Was the Aust Ferry , which closed in 1966 when the Severn Bridge opened. One of the Aust ferries, Severn Princess , is still in Chepstow although largely derelict. Currently the only passenger boat operating between Shrewsbury & Gloucester is the 'River King' vessel that operates in Stourport. Worcester River Cruises used to run boat trips up and down the river between Tewkesbury and Stourport, operating

6241-638: Was the third-largest city in England. Gloucestershire was not heavily industrialised during the Industrial Revolution , but the Port of Gloucester was expanded with new docks and the small Forest of Dean coalfield was exploited. Gloucestershire is a historic county mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 10th century, though the areas of Winchcombe and the Forest of Dean were not added until

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