Woodbridge Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woodbridge Brook |
|
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Region | West of England |
| District | Wiltshire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Midgehall Copse Lydiard Millicent, Wiltshire, England 374 ft (114 m) 51°33′38″N 1°54′41″W / 51.5605°N 1.9115°W |
| River mouth | Bristol Avon Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England 213 ft (65 m) 51°34′42″N 2°04′50″W / 51.5783°N 2.0805°W |
| Length | 9 mi (14 km), westerly |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Bristol Avon |
The Woodbridge Brook is a small river that flows into the Bristol Avon. It starts near a place called Lydiard Millicent in Wiltshire, which is in the west of England. The brook generally flows towards the west. It joins the Avon river just below the town of Malmesbury. On average, the Woodbridge Brook carries about 20.5 cubic feet per second (0.58 m3/s) of water. Long ago, people used the power of its water to run watermills.
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Where Does the Woodbridge Brook Flow?
The Woodbridge Brook begins its journey at a spot called Midgehall Copse. This is just north of the M4 motorway, in the area of Lydiard Millicent.
The Brook's Path Westward
First, the brook flows north for a bit. Then, it turns west and goes through Webbs Wood. It passes north of a village called Brinkworth. The brook keeps flowing west through Garsdon Wood. Here, it starts to curve towards the south. Two smaller streams join it from the right side. These streams start at Braydon Wood and Charlton.
Joining the Avon River
After these streams join, the Woodbridge Brook flows almost directly south to Crab Mill Farm. Then, it turns west again. Finally, it joins the Bristol Avon near Cowbridge, just east of Malmesbury.
How Was the Woodbridge Brook Used in the Past?
The Woodbridge Brook has been important to local communities for a long time. Its flowing water was a valuable source of power.
Watermills Along the Brook
Records from the Domesday Book in 1086 show that there was a watermill at Lydiard Millicent. This means people were using the brook's power almost a thousand years ago! Other old mill buildings, like Crab Mill and Garsdon Mill, are still standing today. However, they are no longer used to grind grain or do other work.
How Much Water Does the Brook Carry?
Scientists measure how much water flows in rivers. This helps them understand the river's health and how it changes over time.
Water Flow Measurements
The Environment Agency has a special station at Crabb Mill that measures the flow of the Woodbridge Brook. The average amount of water flowing in the brook is 20.5 cubic feet per second (0.58 m3/s). While there isn't a record for the highest flow, the lowest flow ever recorded was zero. This happened on September 20, 1976, during a very hot and dry period known as the 1976 heatwave.
