The River Banwell is a small river in
Somerset
Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...
, England.
It begins life as a series of springs near the
Church of St Andrew St. Andrew's Church, Church of St Andrew, or variants thereof, may refer to:
Albania
* St. Andrew's Church, Himarë
Australia Australian Capital Territory
* St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Canberra, founded by John Walker (Presbyterian minis ...
in
Banwell
Banwell is a village and civil parish on the River Banwell in the North Somerset district of Somerset, England. Its population was 3,251 according to the 2021 census.
Toponymy
Banwell's name is first securely attested around the year 900 i ...
where they once filled a large pool below the church. It then flows north east of
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary district, in the county of Somerset, England. It lies by the Bristol Channel south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. Its population ...
and on to Woodspring Bay where it enters the
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel (, literal translation: "Severn Sea") is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales (from Pembrokeshire to the Vale of Glamorgan) and South West England (from Devon to North Somerset). It extends ...
, at St Thomas's Head, which forms the eastern boundary of
Sand Point and Middle Hope, a short distance from
Woodspring Priory
Woodspring Priory (originally Worsprynge or Worspring) is a former Augustinians, Augustinian priory. It is near the scenic limestone promontory of Sand Point and Middle Hope, owned by the National Trust, beside the River Severn, Severn Estuary ...
.
Through an Act of Parliament, and despite local protests, the Banwell springs were capped in 1915 and the pool slowly dried up. The water became part of the Weston Water Company's supply. Thereafter the old pool was filled in and became the village bowling green.
Flooding has occurred on Banwell Moor, despite previous canalisation, and feasibility studies have been carried out to see if this could be managed to reduce the risk of floods in the
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary district, in the county of Somerset, England. It lies by the Bristol Channel south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. Its population ...
area.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banwell, River
Rivers of Somerset