Ledwyche Brook facts for kids
Ledwyche Brook is a small river in the southern part of Shropshire, England. People sometimes call it the River Ledwyche. You might also see its name spelled as "Ledwich" or "Ledwych." This brook is a tributary, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one. Ledwyche Brook eventually joins the River Teme.
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Where Does Ledwyche Brook Start?
The Ledwyche Brook begins its journey just south of Brown Clee Hill. This area is close to a village called Stoke St. Milborough. From there, the brook flows towards the southwest.
The Brook's Journey
First, it travels to a place called Middleton. After Middleton, the brook turns and flows south. It passes under the A4117 road near Henley. Here, it flows right by Henley Hall. A road called the B4364 follows the Ledwyche valley for some distance.
The brook then flows around the eastern side of the town of Ludlow. This creates a narrow strip of land, about one mile wide, between the Ledwyche Brook and the River Teme. This area is known as the Sheet. After this, Ledwyche Brook flows southeast. It goes through the village of Caynham and then passes to the west of Greete.
Where Does Ledwyche Brook End?
Ledwyche Brook finally flows into the River Teme at Burford. Just before it joins the Teme, the A456 road crosses over the brook on a bridge.
A Natural Border
For about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of its length, between Caynham and Burford, the Ledwyche Brook acts as a natural border. It separates the county of Shropshire from Herefordshire. A special point called a tripoint is located just upstream from where the brook meets the Teme. This tripoint is where the borders of Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire all meet.
Places Named After the Brook
There are two small settlements that get their names from the Ledwyche Brook. These are Upper Ledwyche and Lower Ledwyche. They are located some distance apart. The name "Ledwyche" comes from an old personal name, Leoda, combined with "wīc," which means "dwelling place" or "settlement."
The Elan Aqueduct
The Elan aqueduct also crosses the Ledwyche Brook. An aqueduct is like a bridge that carries water. This particular aqueduct carries drinking water all the way from Wales to the city of Birmingham. It crosses the Ledwyche Brook just downstream from the Sheet.
