River Leadon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Leadon |
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The Leadon from Wedderburn Bridge
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 Discharge location within Gloucestershire
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| Country | England |
| Counties | Gloucestershire, Herefordshire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Acton Beauchamp 155 m (509 ft) 52°08′20″N 2°27′52″W / 52.1390°N 2.4645°W |
| River mouth | River Severn 51°52′40″N 2°16′03″W / 51.8778°N 2.2675°W |
| Length | 51.4 km (31.9 mi) |
The River Leadon is a river in England. It flows through the counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. The Leadon is a "tributary" of the River Severn, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one.
The river starts near a village called Acton Beauchamp. It then flows south past Bosbury and through the town of Ledbury. Ledbury actually got its name from the river! After that, it continues south and east past places like Dymock, Upleadon, and Highleadon. Finally, it joins the River Severn at a spot called Over, which is just west of Gloucester. The River Leadon is about 51.4 km (31.9 mi) long.
What's in a Name?
The name "Leadon" comes from an old language called Celtic. In Celtic, "Leadon" means "broad stream." This name perfectly describes the river as it flows through the countryside.
How the River Changed Over Time
For many years, the River Leadon used to split into two different paths near its end. This happened for about the last two miles of its journey. The main path was called the New Leadon. It flowed south of Over and joined the River Severn there.
However, the river often caused floods, which could be a big problem for the nearby areas. To help stop these floods, people changed the river's path in 1867. They redirected the water to flow along the path that was once known as the Old Leadon. Now, this is the only way the river flows, and it joins the River Severn north of Over. This change helped to control the flooding.
Canals and Railways
In 1795, a waterway called the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal was built. It followed the valley of the River Leadon. Canals are like man-made rivers that help boats move goods. Later, in the 1880s, this canal was changed into a railway line called the Ledbury and Gloucester Railway. This shows how people used the river's path for transportation over many years, first with boats and then with trains.
