River Chew

Geobox|River
name =River Chew
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =


image_size =
image_caption = River Chew between Stanton Drew and Pensford
country = England | country_

country1 =
state = Somerset
state_type = County
state1 =
region =
region1 =
district = Chew Valley
district1 =
city =
city1 =
length = 27
watershed = 145
discharge_location = Keynsham
discharge_average = 1.18
discharge_max = 20
discharge_min = 0.5
discharge1_location =
discharge1_average =
source_name = Chewton Mendip
source_location = Mendip Hills
source_district =
source_region =
source_state = Somerset
source_country = England
source_lat_d = 51
source_lat_m = 16
source_lat_s = 34
source_lat_NS = N
source_long_d = 2
source_long_m = 34
source_long_s = 42
source_long_EW = W
source_elevation = 305
source_length =
mouth_name = River Avon, Bristol
mouth_location = Keynsham
mouth_district =
mouth_region =
mouth_state = Somerset
mouth_country = England
mouth_lat_d = 51
mouth_lat_m = 25
mouth_lat_s = 29
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 2
mouth_long_m = 30
mouth_long_s = 26
mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_elevation = 10
tributary_left = Strode Brook
tributary_left1 = Winford Brook
tributary_right =
tributary_right1 =
flows_through = Chew Valley Lake
free_value =

---

map_size =
map_caption = Topographical map of the Chew Valley

The River Chew is a small river in England. It merges with the River Avon after 17 miles forming the Chew Valley.

The spring from which the Chew rises is just upstream from Chewton Mendip. The river flows North West from Chewton Mendip through Litton, Chew Valley Lake, Chew Stoke, Chew Magna and Stanton Drew. The river passes under the A37 at Pensford almost making the old church and pub garden into an island. The river then flows through the villages of Publow, Woollard, Compton Dando and Chewton Keynsham before joining the River Avon at Keynsham. For much of the Chew's route the Two Rivers Way footpath is alongside, the same route for part of its length is also part of the Monarch's Way long distance footpath. In total the Chew flows for some 17 miles through the North Somerset countryside.

The name 'Chew'

The name 'Chew' has Celtic origins, but its exact meaning isn't certain, however there have been several explanations, including "winding water", [cite web | title=History of the River Chew | work=River Chew Web Site | url=http://www.riverchew.co.uk/history.htm | accessdate=2006-07-03] the EW being a variant of the French EAU meaning water. The word CHEWER is a western dialect for a narrow passage and CHARE is Old English for turning. Many believe that the name CHEW began in Normandy as CHEUX, and came to England with the Norman Conquest during the 11th century. [cite web | title= Normandy, France - Ancestor's Stories | url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~debbie/stories/normandy.html | accessdate=2006-07-03]

However, some people agree with Ekwall’s interpretation that it is derived from the Welsh "cyw" meaning "the young of an animal, or chicken", so that "afon Cyw" would have been "the river of the chickens". [cite book | author=Ekwall, Eilert | year = 1928 | title=English River-Names | publisher= Oxford University Press | id =ISBN 0-19-869119-X]

Other possible explanations suggest it comes from the Old English word cēo ‘fish gill’, used in the transferred sense of a ravine, in a similar way to Old Norse gil, or possibly a derogatory nickname from Middle English chowe ‘chough’, Old English cēo, a bird closely related to the crow and the jackdaw, notorious for its chattering and thieving. [cite web | title=What we know about the Chew Family | url=http://www.ancestry.com/search/SurnamePage.aspx?html=b&ln=Chew&sourcecode=13304 | accessdate=2006-07-03] According to Robinson it is named after the Viking war god Tiw. [cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimbourne |isbn=1874336032]

Floods of 1968

The river suffered a major flood in 1968 with serious damage to towns and villages along its route, including sweeping away the bridge at Pensford. [cite web | title=The great flood of 1968 | work=Memories of Bristol | url=http://weldgen.tripod.com/the-great-flood-1968/index.html | accessdate=2006-01-04]

On 10-11 July a storm brought heavy rainfall to the Valley, with convert|175|mm|in|0|lk=on falling in 18 hours on Chew Stoke, double the areas average rainfall for the whole of July.cite book|last=Richley|first=Rob|title=The Chew Valley floods of 1968|publisher=Environment Agency|location=Exeter|date=June 2008]

Fishing

Fishing rights for the Millground and Chewton sections of the river are owned by [http://www.keynsham-angling.co.uk/chew.htm Keynsham Angling Club] . The Mill Ground stretch of the River Chew consists of the six left-bank fields (looking downstream) from Chewton Place at Chewton Keynsham to the Albert Mill, Keynsham. The water is home to a good stock of sizeable Chub, Roach, European perch and Rudd, along with good numbers of Gudgeon, Dace and Trout. In the Chewton section waters are much more 'wild' than the Mill Ground, with overhanging trees and fast-flowing runs, leading to deeper eddies and pools. Not all swims are fishable and some will need hacking out before angling, but this is a classic roving river. Trout, Grayling and Chub lurk in the shady, meandering stream, along with a good showing of Dace, Roach and Eel.

Any Flood alerts for this river are available from the [http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning/3G2a Environment Agency River Chew from Chewstoke to Keynsham page]

References

External links

For further information, visit the dedicated River Chew website at [http://www.riverchew.co.uk www.riverchew.co.uk]

Gallery