Ewenny River
Encyclopedia
The Ewenny River is a small river in south Wales
with a length of ten miles or sixteen kilometres. For most of its length it forms the border between the counties of the Vale of Glamorgan
and Bridgend
. It is a major tributary of the River Ogmore
, which it joins over a mile upstream from the sea at Ogmore Castle
. It is a popular river amongst anglers.
town, in South Wales
, where two minor rivers known as Ewenny Fach (Little Ewenny) and Ewenny Fawr (Big Ewenny) join. Ewenny Fach is considered a tributary of the Ewenny Fawr, which in turn is formed when three streams, Nant Canna, Nant Ciwc and Nant Crymlyn join. This branch of the river flows southeast, past the village of Pencoed
and under the M4 Motorway
until it is joined by the Ewenny Fach south of Junction 35 of the road . From here, the river turns southward and flows through the Ewenni Moor, past the village of Waterton
. Waterton is the site of a large industrial estate, and a few miles of meandering river were straightened and diverted to prevent flooding, which rather dameges the water quality. The river flows through the villages of Ewenny
and Ogmore
, before entering the River Ogmore
estuary
just below Ogmore Castle
. One of its main tributaries is the Afon Alun
, which flows west for a few miles, and converges with the Ewenny north of Ogmore.
, no mining-related industrialisation and pollution affected the river. However, in the 20th century, despite being away from urban areas, industrial plants sprung up along the river. During the early 1970s a long stretch of meandering river through lowland meadows was canalised and lined with vertical steel piles in order to protect the developing site of the Ford
engine plant from flooding. Unfortunately, these diversion projects degraded the river slightly. On October 22, 2010, 20,000 litres of diesel escaped into the river. After a cleanup effort, the Environment Agency
found the source of the leak.
has some roots near Ewenny. A ghostly white lady would appear in the fields on the riverbank, and point towards Ewenny village, towards hidden treasure which she herself could never find. If the person who met her was distracted, or looked away, she would vanish for many a year.
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
with a length of ten miles or sixteen kilometres. For most of its length it forms the border between the counties of the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
and Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
. It is a major tributary of the River Ogmore
River Ogmore
The River Ogmore is a river in South Wales popular with anglers. It runs generally from north to south from the Ogmore Vale and Pentre, past Bridgend and Ogmore...
, which it joins over a mile upstream from the sea at Ogmore Castle
Ogmore Castle
Ogmore Castle is located near the village of Ogmore-by-Sea, south of the town of Bridgend in Glamorgan, South Wales. It is situated on the south bank of the River Ewenny and the east bank of the River Ogmore. Cowbridge is nearby. Its construction might have begun in 1106...
. It is a popular river amongst anglers.
Course
The river rises to the north east of BridgendBridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
town, in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, where two minor rivers known as Ewenny Fach (Little Ewenny) and Ewenny Fawr (Big Ewenny) join. Ewenny Fach is considered a tributary of the Ewenny Fawr, which in turn is formed when three streams, Nant Canna, Nant Ciwc and Nant Crymlyn join. This branch of the river flows southeast, past the village of Pencoed
Pencoed
Pencoed , is a town in the county borough of Bridgend, Wales, United Kingdom, mid-way between Wales's two largest cities of Cardiff and Swansea.Lying on the Ewenny River it has a population of around 11,000...
and under the M4 Motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
until it is joined by the Ewenny Fach south of Junction 35 of the road . From here, the river turns southward and flows through the Ewenni Moor, past the village of Waterton
Waterton
Waterton may refer to:In geography:* Waterton Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park, or Waterton Village, in Alberta, Canada* Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in Canada and the USA...
. Waterton is the site of a large industrial estate, and a few miles of meandering river were straightened and diverted to prevent flooding, which rather dameges the water quality. The river flows through the villages of Ewenny
Ewenny
Ewenny is a village on the River Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.Over the years the village has grown into the neighbouring village of Corntown to such an extent that there is no longer a clear boundary between the two. The nearest town of significant size is Bridgend, away.-Ewenny...
and Ogmore
Ogmore
Ogmore may refer to several places in south and southwest Wales:*Ogmore-by-Sea, a village in southwest Wales*River Ogmore, a river in south Wales*Ogmore Castle, a castle in south Wales*Ogmore , south Wales...
, before entering the River Ogmore
River Ogmore
The River Ogmore is a river in South Wales popular with anglers. It runs generally from north to south from the Ogmore Vale and Pentre, past Bridgend and Ogmore...
estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
just below Ogmore Castle
Ogmore Castle
Ogmore Castle is located near the village of Ogmore-by-Sea, south of the town of Bridgend in Glamorgan, South Wales. It is situated on the south bank of the River Ewenny and the east bank of the River Ogmore. Cowbridge is nearby. Its construction might have begun in 1106...
. One of its main tributaries is the Afon Alun
Afon Alun (Vale of Glamorgan)
The Afon Alun is a river in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. It is a small river, with a length of just 4.5 miles, or 7 kilometres. Its source is just north of Llandow village, where two streams known as the Stembridge Brook and Llandow Brook converge...
, which flows west for a few miles, and converges with the Ewenny north of Ogmore.
Pollution
Historically, the river meandered among moors and wetlands, frequently flooding, but with wide biodiversity. Being south of the South Wales coalfieldSouth Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield is a large region of south Wales that is rich with coal deposits, especially the South Wales Valleys.-The coalfield area:...
, no mining-related industrialisation and pollution affected the river. However, in the 20th century, despite being away from urban areas, industrial plants sprung up along the river. During the early 1970s a long stretch of meandering river through lowland meadows was canalised and lined with vertical steel piles in order to protect the developing site of the Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
engine plant from flooding. Unfortunately, these diversion projects degraded the river slightly. On October 22, 2010, 20,000 litres of diesel escaped into the river. After a cleanup effort, the Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
found the source of the leak.
Folklore
An old Celtic legend, that of Y Ladi WenY Ladi Wen
Y Ladi Wen is a Celtic mythology apparition, dressed in white, and is most commonly seen at Hollantide. Known in Welsh oral tradition, she is evoked to warn children about bad behaviour...
has some roots near Ewenny. A ghostly white lady would appear in the fields on the riverbank, and point towards Ewenny village, towards hidden treasure which she herself could never find. If the person who met her was distracted, or looked away, she would vanish for many a year.
Mouth
The river joins the Ogmore near Ogmore Castle, which is south of the river. At the confluence, a series of stepping stones cross the river. However, these only cross the Ewenny river, and not the Ogmore. It must be noted that this is very frustrating for those trying to cross the rivers from the northern bank, because there is no sufficient way to cross; a bridge to the Penybont works is inaccessible, and the next bridge is many miles upstream. Dangerous currents make the river difficult to wade over. The lower portions of the Ewenny and Ogmore are tidal; the stepping stones are submerged at most tides. The tides and rivers are extremely fast flowing and deep in places; undercurrents are documented, as is a rip currentRip current
A rip current, commonly referred to by the misnomer rip tide, is a strong channel of water flowing seaward from near the shore, typically through the surf line. Typical flow is at 0.5 metres per second , and can be as fast as 2.5 metres per second...
.