River Alne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Alne |
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River Alne near Henley-in-Arden
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| Country | England |
| County | Warwickshire, Worcestershire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Wood End |
| River mouth | River Arrow Alcester 52°19′40″N 1°51′53″W / 52.32778°N 1.86472°W |
The River Alne is a small river in England. It is a branch, or tributary, of the River Arrow. The River Alne starts its journey north of Wootton Wawen.
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Where Does the River Alne Flow?
The River Alne begins at Pink Green, which is in Worcestershire. It then flows east into Warwickshire. The river passes close to Tanworth-in-Arden.
It also flows through Henley-in-Arden. Here, the river's path has been changed in the past. This was done to help stop floods. Further south, near Wootton Wawen, the river feeds a pool called Wootton Pool.
The River Alne continues to flow generally south. It eventually joins the River Arrow at Alcester. The River Arrow then flows into the River Avon near Salford Priors.
How Watermills Used the River Alne
For hundreds of years, people used the power of rivers to run machines. These machines were in buildings called watermills. The River Alne had many watermills along its banks. They were used for different tasks, mostly grinding grain into flour.
Early Mills Along the Alne
One of the first watermills was called Tanworth Flour Mill. It was near Danzey Green. There was also a windmill nearby. This windmill was later moved to the Avoncroft Museum. Both of these mills were still around in the 20th century, but they were no longer used.
Another old mill was Botley Mill. It was shown on early maps but stopped being used in the mid-1800s.
Mills in Henley-in-Arden
Henley Corn Mill was at the north end of Henley-in-Arden. It was a well-known mill that operated into the 20th century. Older people in the area remember using its mill pond as a swimming spot in summer! However, it also stopped working around World War II.
About a mile south of Henley was Blackford Corn Mill. This mill also operated into the 20th century. Even in the late 1960s, much of its machinery was still inside.
Wootton Wawen and Other Mills
There was a very large corn mill in Wootton Wawen. It was a big four-story building. This mill was updated with a modern turbine instead of a waterwheel. The owners, the Spencer family, sold high-quality flour to many places. By the mid-1900s, it was no longer a mill. It was used as a warehouse for lawnmowers for many years. More recently, it has been turned into fancy apartments.
Further downstream, there was Pennyford Mill, which made screws and bolts. Close by was Gray Corn Mill. A bit further away was Aston Cantlow Mill, which powered a small bicycle factory. These mills no longer exist, but you can still see traces of the old water channels they used.
Remaining Mills
Great Alne Corn Mill is another mill that still exists today.
Hoo Mill in Haselor is also powered by the River Alne. It is located between Great Alne and Alcester. Hoo Mill is thought to be the most complete traditional watermill in the area. It still has its original internal waterwheel, which can still work! It also has all its old corn milling machinery, including a special system for lifting sacks. This mill was built in 1810. It was also used for making needle points. The last owner even made his own electricity using a turbine.
