River Windrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Windrush |
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The Windrush at Bourton-on-the-Water
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| Country | England |
| Counties | Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire |
| Towns | Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford, Witney |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Gloucestershire, Cotswold Hills 51°58′54.51″N 1°51′59.64″W / 51.9818083°N 1.8665667°W |
| River mouth | River Thames Newbridge 51°42′36.03″N 1°25′7.19″W / 51.7100083°N 1.4186639°W |
| Length | 65 km (40 mi) |
| Discharge (location 2) |
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| Discharge (location 3) |
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The River Windrush is a beautiful river in central England. It's a branch, or "tributary," of the famous River Thames. The Windrush starts its journey in Gloucestershire and flows southeast for about 65 kilometers (40 miles). It passes through charming towns like Burford and Witney before joining the Thames near Newbridge in Oxfordshire. The river even gives its name to a village called Windrush!
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The River Windrush's Journey
The River Windrush begins in the lovely Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire. It starts northeast of a place called Taddington. From there, it flows for about 56 kilometers (35 miles).
Where Does It Flow?
The river winds its way through several well-known places. It flows through Bourton-on-the-Water, which is famous for its bridges. It also passes by the village of Windrush in Gloucestershire. Then, it enters Oxfordshire. Here, it goes through the towns of Burford and Witney. Finally, it reaches Ducklington and Standlake. The Windrush then meets the mighty River Thames at Newbridge. This meeting point is just upstream from Northmoor Lock.
What's in a Name?
The name Windrush is very old. It was first written down in a document from the year 779. Back then, it was spelled Uuenrisc. Later, in the 900s, it appeared as Wenris and Wænric. The name means 'white fen'. This comes from two older words: the Welsh word gwyn, meaning 'white', and an Old Celtic word reisko, meaning 'fen' or 'marsh'.
Life in the River
The River Windrush is home to many different kinds of fish. You might find trout, grayling, perch, chub, roach, and dace swimming in its waters. The river also used to have many native crayfish. These are like small freshwater lobsters. Sadly, their numbers have gone down since the 1980s. Sometimes, after dry weather, you might see algae growing in the river.
A Bit of History
For hundreds of years, the river's water was very important to local industries. From the mid-1600s, the water was used in Witney to make cloth and woollen blankets. These were very famous products.
In 2007, the Windrush, like many rivers in the area, experienced big floods. The water rose so high that the only bridge across the river in Witney was completely covered.
The Ship Named Windrush
You might have heard of the ship called HMT Empire Windrush. This ship is very famous in British history. It brought many people from the West Indies to the UK after World War II. The ship was named after this very river!
