River Test

River Test
River
Counties Hampshire
Source
 - location Ashe, near Overton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
 - elevation 90 m (295 ft)
 - coordinates 51°14′43″N 1°14′21″W / 51.2454°N 1.2392°W / 51.2454; -1.2392
Mouth Southampton water
 - location Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
 - coordinates 50°55′30″N 1°28′45″W / 50.9251°N 1.4792°W / 50.9251; -1.4792Coordinates: 50°55′30″N 1°28′45″W / 50.9251°N 1.4792°W / 50.9251; -1.4792
River Test highlighted in red, shown in South East England
The Test downstream of Sadler's Mill, Romsey
The Test is tidal in Southampton and is lined with quays
Pen and Ink of the River Test near Long Parrish circa 1891[1]

The River Test is a river in Hampshire, England. It has a total length of 40 miles (64 km) and it flows through downland from its source near Ashe to its estuary at Southampton, where it converges with the River Itchen to form Southampton Water. In its upper reaches it is a chalk stream, and is used for fly fishing for trout.[2]

The river is managed by the Environment Agency, whilst the Port of Southampton is the navigation authority for the tidal section below Redbridge.

The River Test has given its name to the Test Valley District, a local government district , and to Southampton Test, a UK Parliament constituency.

Course

The river rises near the village of Ashe, 10 km to the west of Basingstoke (at grid reference SU 532,498), and flows west through the villages of Overton, Laverstoke, and the town of Whitchurch, before joining with the Bourne Rivulet at Testbourne and turning in a more southerly direction. It then proceeds through the villages of Longparish and Middleton to Wherwell and Chilbolton, where the Rivers Dever and Anton join.[3]

From Chilbolton the river goes through the villages of Leckford, Longstock, Stockbridge and Houghton to Mottisfont and Kimbridge, where the River Dun joins the flow. From here the village of Timsbury is passed, then through the grounds of Roke Manor before reaching the town of Romsey. On the western edge of Romsey, Sadler's Mill, an 18th Century watermill, sits astride the River Test.[4]

South of Romsey, the river passes the country house of Broadlands, and then Nursling that was once the site of a Roman bridge. Finally the river is joined by the River Blackwater and soon becomes tidal, widening out into a considerable estuary that is lined on its northern bank by the container terminals and quays of the Port of Southampton. The Test estuary then meets that of the River Itchen and the two continue to the sea as Southampton Water.[5]

Between Chilbolton and Redbridge, the river was once paralleled by the Andover Canal, which was itself converted to a railway in 1865, and then in turn abandoned. Most traces of the canal have disappeared, although the remains of a stretch can still be seen between Timsbury and Romsey.[6]

In Literature

The river plays a part in Richard Adams' novel Watership Down.

Watership rabbits are pursued by an enemy force, one rabbit carries out a plan which leads to their successful escape down the Test on a punt. In the text we are told that this plan would not have been possible on most rivers, but the Test's smooth-flowing, weed-free nature makes it an exception. The punt becomes lodged on a low bridge, and the surviving rabbits are forced to swim under it.

Tributaries

The following are the named tributaries of the River Test, listed in order upstream from Southampton Water.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hamilton, Edward (1891). Recollections of Fly Fishing. London: Sampson, Low and Marston Co Ltd. p. 106.
  2. ↑ Environment Agency (2006). Fact file on the River Test. Retrieved 8 February 2006. Archived 8 April 2005 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Ordnance Survey (2004). OS Explorer Map 144 – Basingstoke, Alton & Whitchurch. ISBN 0-319-23606-4.
  4. ↑ Ordnance Survey (2004). OS Explorer Map 131 – Romsey, Andover & Test Valley. ISBN 0-319-23600-5.
  5. ↑ Ordnance Survey (2004). OS Explorer Map OL22 – New Forest. ISBN 0-319-23616-1.
  6. ↑ Andover Town Central (2000–2006). The Andover Canal. Retrieved 9 February 2006.
  7. ↑ Ordnance Survey (1995). OS Landranger Map 185 – Winchester and Basingstoke. ISBN 0-319-22185-7.
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