Rivers
Rivers in the Tewkesbury Borough AreaThe River Severn
One of the most dramatic natural features of the Borough is the River Severn with its washland which floods at some time in most years, sometimes remaining submerged for months. The river enters the Borough to the north west of Tewkesbury town, meandering through the western part of the Borough between low hills and flat meadowland, past Gloucester city and away towards Berkeley.
The river is tidal as far upstream as Maisemore weir below which the famous Severn Bore can be seen in all its splendour, there being several popular viewing points in the area (Minsterworth, west of the village and Over Bridge being the most advantageous perhaps.) There are five road bridges over the river within the Borough, two by Thomas Telford at Over (now disused) and The Mythe (A438) both dating from the early C19th, and three modern bridges at Over (A40(T), Haw Bridge (B4213) and Maisemore (A417).
The River Avon
The Warwick Avon meets the River Severn at Tewkesbury in the meadows to the west of the town. The confluence is complicated in that the Avon splits into two as it reaches the town, the Old Avon passing over a weir into Stanchard Pit, and passing the site of the old town quay where Healings Mill now stands before reaching the Severn. The Mill Avon, a canal constructed by the C12th to serve the Abbey Mills at the south of the town, and navigable as far as these mills, served as an access by water to the commercial and industrial premises that formerly lined the river's edge. The Mill Avon Continues to join the course of the River Swilgate which runs along the foot of Holme Hill to meet the Severn at Lower Lode. The Lower Avon Navigation Trust is the navigation authority for the lower Avon as far as Evesham.
River Isbourne
The Isbourne is a tributary of the Avon, it rises at the back of Cleeve Common and runs north through Winchcombe, Greet, Toddington and Wormington before passing out of the Borough.