River Taw
Encyclopedia
The River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor
. It reaches the Bristol Channel
72 km (44.7 mi) away on the north coast of Devon
at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge
.
and to the late Poet Laureate
Ted Hughes
' adopted home town of North Tawton
. The river picks up headwaters from a number of tributaries, including the Lapford Yeo
, the Little Dart River
and the River Mole
, which rises on Devon's other upland area, Exmoor
. The river increases in size and becomes a recreational trout river before becoming tidal at Newbridge, approximately 19 km (11.8 mi) from the sea. This journey passes through rural Devon, the river being surrounded by pasture and wooded valley sides.
and daily changes of water depth of 6m or more are common near its mouth. This effect can also be seen in changes to the tidal-estuarine basin. Over a length of 8 km, the river's channel widens from approximately 20m at Newbridge to 750m by Fremington
.
At Barnstaple the Taw is joined by the Barnstaple Yeo
, which is tidal for a short distance inland. Seawards of Fremington, the River Caen joins the river on its north bank. This tributary was made navigable as the Braunton Canal
in the early 19th century.
The Taw also gives its name to Bishop's Tawton
just before passing through the only town on its route, Barnstaple
. The Long Bridge here, originally medieval, is the second-lowest bridging point of the Taw. Work has now finished on the long-awaited 'downstream bridge', part of the Barnstaple Western Bypass
and now the Taw's lowest crossing point; it was opened in May 2007. Seawards of Barnstaple, the river's journey is blocked by the large dune
complex of Braunton Burrows
, hence its late diversion south-westward and shared estuary mouth with the River Torridge
across Zulu Bar sandbanks and out into Barnstaple (or Bideford) Bay.
The second lowest port on the Taw is Fremington. Between the mid-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries its tidal quay was the busiest port (tonnage) between Bristol and Lands End, mainly as it was a handy landing point for Welsh coal shipped across the Bristol Channel which could be distributed around the south-west peninsula by train (track finally closed 1987). The lowest port (or at least jetty) can be found at Yelland
. The site of a coal-fired power station (closed 1984; demolished 1989), it still is used as a tanker-distribution centre for commercial and domestic petrol and diesel deliveries. The oils storage tanks here are filled from coastal lighters.
and road routes follow the river from Barnstaple through the centre of the county.
The Southern Railway
built a series of 4-6-2 steam locomotives named after various places within the West Country
. The locomotive that honours the Taw Valley is preserved in its rebuilt form on the Severn Valley Railway
carrying its post-nationalisation number 34027.
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
. It reaches the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
72 km (44.7 mi) away on the north coast of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge
River Torridge
The River Torridge is a river in Devon in England. It was the home of Tarka the Otter in Henry Williamson's book. The Torridge local government district is named after the river....
.
Watercourse
As it heads north, the stream gives its name to the village of South TawtonSouth Tawton
South Tawton, a village on the North edge of Dartmoor, Devon, England is an ancient demesne , going back at least to the time of the Saxons, if not to the Romans, who named the river Taw, the Tavus.-History:...
and to the late Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
Ted Hughes
Ted Hughes
Edward James Hughes OM , more commonly known as Ted Hughes, was an English poet and children's writer. Critics routinely rank him as one of the best poets of his generation. Hughes was British Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death.Hughes was married to American poet Sylvia Plath, from 1956 until...
' adopted home town of North Tawton
North Tawton
North Tawton is a small town in Devon, England, situated on the river Taw.-History:The Romans crossed the River Taw at what is now Newland Mill, a little outside the present town, and established a succession of military camps there over the years...
. The river picks up headwaters from a number of tributaries, including the Lapford Yeo
River Yeo (Lapford)
The River Yeo is a tributary of the River Taw in Devon, England, sometimes known as the Lapford Yeo from the village of Lapford. It is one of several rivers of the same name in Devon, including another tributary of the Taw, the Barnstaple Yeo...
, the Little Dart River
Little Dart River
The Little Dart River is a tributary of the River Taw in Devon, England. It joins the Taw a mile west of Chulmleigh.The Little Dart rises near Rackenford...
and the River Mole
River Mole, Devon
The River Mole a tributary of the River Taw in Devon which rises on the southwestern border of Exmoor. The river takes its name from the market towns of North and South Molton. The river was previously known as the Nymet....
, which rises on Devon's other upland area, Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
. The river increases in size and becomes a recreational trout river before becoming tidal at Newbridge, approximately 19 km (11.8 mi) from the sea. This journey passes through rural Devon, the river being surrounded by pasture and wooded valley sides.
Tidal section
The river shares the large tidal ranges of the Bristol ChannelBristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
and daily changes of water depth of 6m or more are common near its mouth. This effect can also be seen in changes to the tidal-estuarine basin. Over a length of 8 km, the river's channel widens from approximately 20m at Newbridge to 750m by Fremington
Fremington, Devon
Fremington is a village and civil parish in North Devon three miles west of Barnstaple. It was formerly a borough that sent members to Parliament in the reign of Edward III. The parish includes the neighbouring villages of Bickington and Yelland, the latter only asserting its identity as separate...
.
At Barnstaple the Taw is joined by the Barnstaple Yeo
River Yeo (Barnstaple)
The River Yeo is a tributary of the River Taw in Devon, England, sometimes known as the Barnstaple Yeo, which enters the Taw at Barnstaple. It is one of several rivers of the same name in Devon, including another tributary of the Taw, the Lapford Yeo....
, which is tidal for a short distance inland. Seawards of Fremington, the River Caen joins the river on its north bank. This tributary was made navigable as the Braunton Canal
Braunton Canal
The Braunton Canal is a cut made to straighten the course of the upper section of the River Caen, known as Braunton Pill, and to provide a new quay for the village of Braunton in North Devon, England...
in the early 19th century.
River legacy
Bishop's Tawton
Bishop's Tawton is a village and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. It is in the valley of the River Taw, about three miles south of Barnstaple. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,176....
just before passing through the only town on its route, Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
. The Long Bridge here, originally medieval, is the second-lowest bridging point of the Taw. Work has now finished on the long-awaited 'downstream bridge', part of the Barnstaple Western Bypass
Barnstaple Western Bypass
The Barnstaple Western Bypass is a congestion-relief scheme designed to take road traffic away from the town centre of Barnstaple, a market town in Devon, South West England...
and now the Taw's lowest crossing point; it was opened in May 2007. Seawards of Barnstaple, the river's journey is blocked by the large dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
complex of Braunton Burrows
Braunton Burrows
Braunton Burrows is a sand dune system on the North Devon coast. Braunton Burrows is a prime British sand dune site, the largest sand dune system in England. It is particularly important ecologically because it includes the complete successional range of dune plant communities, with over 400...
, hence its late diversion south-westward and shared estuary mouth with the River Torridge
River Torridge
The River Torridge is a river in Devon in England. It was the home of Tarka the Otter in Henry Williamson's book. The Torridge local government district is named after the river....
across Zulu Bar sandbanks and out into Barnstaple (or Bideford) Bay.
The second lowest port on the Taw is Fremington. Between the mid-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries its tidal quay was the busiest port (tonnage) between Bristol and Lands End, mainly as it was a handy landing point for Welsh coal shipped across the Bristol Channel which could be distributed around the south-west peninsula by train (track finally closed 1987). The lowest port (or at least jetty) can be found at Yelland
Yelland
Yelland is a small village in North Devon between Instow and Fremington in the English county of Devon. Yelland is included within the parish of Fremington.-Character:...
. The site of a coal-fired power station (closed 1984; demolished 1989), it still is used as a tanker-distribution centre for commercial and domestic petrol and diesel deliveries. The oils storage tanks here are filled from coastal lighters.
Flooding
The flooding of the Taw in August 1983 and the destruction of the sand dune causeway to Crow Island at the southern tip of Braunton Burrows was the inspiration for Ted Hughes' poem to commemorate the christening of Prince William, son of Prince Charles.Rail links
Local railTarka Line
The Tarka Line is a railway line from Exeter to Barnstaple in Devon, England. The line follows the River Creedy, River Yeo and River Taw for some of its route...
and road routes follow the river from Barnstaple through the centre of the county.
The Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
built a series of 4-6-2 steam locomotives named after various places within the West Country
SR West Country Class
The SR West Country and Battle of Britain classes, collectively known as Light Pacifics or informally as Spam Cans, are classes of air-smoothed 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive designed for the Southern Railway by its Chief Mechanical Engineer Oliver Bulleid...
. The locomotive that honours the Taw Valley is preserved in its rebuilt form on the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
carrying its post-nationalisation number 34027.