River Anton

The River Anton at Goodworth Clatford

The River Anton is a chalk stream nine and a half miles long in Hampshire. It rises in Andover and flows southwards to meet the River Test near Chilbolton.

The principal tributary of the Anton, the Pillhill Brook, joins the river at Upper Clatford.

Course

The river rises in Anton Lakes nature reserve (51°13’40"N, 1°28’56"W), in northern Andover, just below King Arthur's Way, and flows through the centre of the town. It then flows in a southerly direction through the villages of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford and Cottonworth before meeting the Test just below Chilbolton (51°9’3"N, 1°27’21"W).

It is a chalk stream with failing quality water and supports a wide variety of wildlife. The river is the subject of the "River Anton Enhancement Strategy", a partnership with several agencies and local organisations to improve the river.

Leisure facilities

The Anton has some very good trout fishing with frequent catches of large specimens; fly fishing is the only method allowed. The fishing rights are private.

Created as part of its Enhancement Scheme, the River Anton Way was originally a scenic four-mile walk along the river from Charlton Lakes in the north, via the town centre to Rooksbury Mill Local Nature Reserve in the south. In 2015, proposed by the Andover Ramblers and sponsored by Test Valley Borough Council, the way was extended by five and a half miles through the parishes of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford, Wherwell and Chilbolton.

Watermills

There were five watermills along the river:

• In Andover:
  • Anton Mill,
  • Town Mill, and
  • Rooksbury Mill,
• Copthall Place Mill in Clatford
• Fullerton Mill.

Flour is still milled in Andover but at the electrically powered Junction Mills.