River Teme

The River Teme at Ludlow

The River Teme (Welsh: Afon Tefeidiad) is a river of gentle hills and green dales in four counties of the west, before joining its waters with those of the River Severn.

The Teme rises in Radnorshire, south of Newtown, and flows thence through Knighton where it forms the county border for several miles. The Teme runs down to the magnificent castle town of Ludlow in Shropshire, flowing beneath the step slope of the hill on which the town stands.

From Ludlow, the Teme passes to the north of Tenbury Wells on the border with Worcestershire, and from there it makes its way to the River Severn south of Worcester.

The whole of the River Teme was designated as an Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1996.

The river is crossed by a number of historic bridges including one at Tenbury Wells that was rebuilt by Thomas Telford following flood damage in 1795. It is also crossed, several times, by the Elan Aqueduct.

Name

The name Teme is similar to many other river names in Britain, testament to the name's ancient origin. Similar names include River Team, River Thames, River Thame, River Tame and River Tamar. Scholars now believe these names and the older names Temese and Tamesis derive from an ancient British word Tamesa, possibly meaning 'the dark one'.

Geography

Source of the River Teme

The river source is on Cilfaesty Hill in the Kerry Hills near Dolfor, south of Newtown. Two other rivers, the River Ithon and the River Mule, rise within 500 yards.

The Teme flows out of Radnorshire to Shropshire through Knighton. From there it forms the county border between Radnorshire and Herefordshire for some miles before it definitively enters the latter shire, watering such villages as Leintwardine, and then after a swoop to the north-east it reaches Shropshire and the famous bridge at Ludlow.

The upper reaches of the river are usually steep with fast flowing but relatively shallow waters. There are some water mills, and a number of weirs, including several at the historic town of Ludlow; it is thought that the name "Ludlow" means "Loud Hill" from the nature of the river here.

Below Tenbury Wells the river is more tranquil but still shallow, with strong cross currents. Water levels in the Teme are highly variable, something which has been made worse in recent years through increases in water extraction for agriculture use.

River Teme at Ludlow

During its journey the river flows over Upper Ludlow shales and Devonian sandstones.

The River Clun flows into the Teme at Leintwardine in north Herefordshire. The River Corve flows into the Teme just outside Ludlow and the Ledwyche Brook flows into the Teme at Burford on the Herefordshire-Shropshire border. The Kyre Brook flows into the Teme at Tenbury Wells, and the River Rea flows into the Teme at Newnham Bridge, Worcestershire, a few miles south of Cleobury Mortimer, a small Shropshire town.

The Teme falls over 1,600 feet during its length from a height of 1,660 feet above sea level at its source to just 46 feet above sea-level at its meeting with the River Severn.

The Teme has in recent times often bursts its banks. June and July 2007 saw serious floods in a number of areas, including Leintwardine, Tenbury Wells and Ludlow although the watercourse that flooded the latter location was a tributary, the River Corve.

The Teme is the 16th longest river in the United Kingdom.

Nature

The Teme is a clean river and after many years of decline the population of otters is recovering, but obstructions keep salmon numbers at a low level.

Recreational use

Fishing

Fishing is popular on many stretches of the Teme, with its barbel fishing being particularly noted.

Leisure boating

River Teme at Ludlow

Leisure boats have long been used on the river and rowing boats can still be hired at The Linney Park, Ludlow. An annual coracle regatta is held on the Teme. In June 2005 it was held at Leintwardine. In June 2006, the 12th regatta was held at Mortimer's Cross.

A Countryside Agency report in September 2003 entitled Improving access for canoeing on inland waterways: A study of the feasibility of access agreements stated:

There are no formal access agreements for canoeing on the Teme. However, unlawful canoeing does occur and there are many claims about the resulting conflict. As a result of its character, the demand for canoeing is seasonal, when there is enough water in the river, and is more in the upper reaches where the faster water can be found. However, this part of the river is also the most valuable for fishing, with riparian owners keen to protect their interests and prevent canoeing, on the grounds that the Teme is not suited to canoeing under any circumstances. While there is probably less conflict below Tenbury, there is also less interest in canoeing, and probably less opportunity, given the water levels.

Information on canoeing on the Teme in the Ludlow area is available here and on the Tenbury Wells to Broadwas area here.

Leisure boating in the past

Historical evidence of leisure boating includes:

• Old maps show a few boat houses along the river in Worcestershire.
• Billings Directory 1855 mentions Boat House, evidently a farmhouse, at Eastham (five miles downstream of Tenbury Wells). Boat House Farm still exists at Eastham
• The boathouse at Newnham Bridge (three miles downstream of Tenbury Wells) was large enough, and substantial enough, to be converted into a house.
• At Tenbury Wells in 1886, people were rescued during floods using a boat that had broken loose from its mooring so there must have been at least one boat on the river at that time.
• Down Along Temeside includes an account of travelling by boat from Ludford Mill to Orleton (a couple of miles upstream of Stanford Bridge) in the early 20th century.

• Tenbury Wells and the Teme Valley includes a photograph taken at Little Hereford described as 'Boating on the Teme in 1905'. The author mentions two gentlemen from Oxford who in 1894 travelled up the Teme from Worcester to Ludlow in 17.5 hours, and returned (downstream) in 9 hours.

Commercial navigation

Navigation to Powick Mill

There is no doubt that the final mile and a half from Powick bridge and Mill to its confluence with the river Severn that the Teme is (or was) navigable. There was a coal wharf near Powick Bridge, belonging with the mill, whose owner had the right to use a towing path to the river Severn. In the 18th century, pig iron was brought up the river to Powick forge (as the mill then was). In 1810 it was reported that "The Teme is also navigable for barges from its junction with the Severn near Powick upwards to a small distance above Powick Bridge. The river having considerable declivity its navigation is soon interrupted by shoals and shallows"

Above Powick Mill

The Teme at Powick Mill

Except for its lowest reaches, there is no substantial evidence that the river was navigable by barges. Claims have been made that traffic on the Teme began in Roman times and 'continued in Norman times, when it is known the stone for the mill at Ashford Carbonel was brought from Caen in the 14th century, using water transport all the way'. However no unequivocal documentary or archaeological evidence has been adduced in support of this.

William Sandys who between 1636 and 1639 made the Avon) navigable from Tewkesbury to Stratford-upon-Avon was at the same time also authorised to improve the Teme between Worcester and Ludlow. There is however no evidence that he did so, perhaps due to his having used up all his resources on the Avon. Having failed to recover the Avon after the Restoration, Sir William Sandys and his son undertook work on the Wye and Lugg.

Ferries formerly existed at Rochford, at Cotheridge and at Clifton on Teme. Some very local navigation is indicated by a newspaper advertisement in 1750 that the miller at Stanford-on-Teme had a boat for sale, capable of carrying 10 tons. However, with no locks available, this vessel would have been unable to pass mill weirs.

Pictures, allegedly of Ludlow or its castle with a river and boats (thought to date from c.1830), such as A painting allegedly of Dinham Bridge, Ludlow. are probably at least partly derived from the artist's imagination.

This subject was debated at length in 2006 in the Journal of Railway and Canal Historical Society.

Cultural influences

A E Housman wrote the following verse, which makes reference to the River Teme:

“

In valleys of springs of rivers By Ony and Teme and Clun The country for easy livers The quietest under the sun

”

Settlements on the River Teme

(source) Felindre Beguildy Llanfair Waterdine Knucklas Knighton, Radnorshire Bucknell Brampton Bryan Leintwardine Burrington Bromfield Ludlow

Ashford Bowdler Ashford Carbonel Little Hereford Tenbury Wells Knighton-on-Teme Lower Rochford Newnham Bridge Eastham Stockton-on-Teme Stanford Bridge Shelsley Walsh Shelsley Beauchamp

Clifton-upon-Teme Whitbourne Martley Knightwick Broadwas Lulsley Cotheridge Leigh Bransford Powick Worcester

Outside links

• Teme valley project
• Teme Valley towns
• Teme Valley Times (local paper)
• Picture at Geograph (search the site for others)

Further reading

• Bradford, John (2008) The River Teme - A journey following the river from Worcester to its source, Hunt End Books ISBN 978-0-9549813-5-8
• Charteris, Bob (2006) The Teme Valley Way - Sauce to Source, Exposure Publishing ISBN 978-1-84685-098-1