The River Test is a river in Hampshire, England. The river has a total length of 40 miles (64 km) and it flows through downland from its source near Ashe, 10 km to the west of Basingstoke (at grid reference SU 532 498), to the sea at the head of Southampton Water. In its upper reaches it is a chalk stream, known throughout the world for the excellent quality of its fly fishing for trout.
The river rises near the village of Ashe, and flows west through the villages of Overton, Laverstoke, and the town of Whitchurch, before joining with the Bourne Rivulet at Testbourne and turning into a more southerly direction. It then flows through the villages of Longparish and Middleton to Wherwell and Chilbolton, where the Rivers Dever and Anton contribute to the flow.
From Chilbolton the river flows 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.
South of Romsey, the river flows past the country house of Broadlands, past Nursling that was once the site of a Roman bridge, and between Totton and Redbridge. Here 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. Finally the Test estuary meets that of the River Itchen and the two continue to the sea as Southampton Water.
Between Chilbolton and Redbridge, the river was once paralleled by the abandoned Andover Canal. Much of the length of this canal was converted to a railway in 1865, and much of this railway has since also been abandoned. As a result, most traces of the canal have completely disappeared, although the remains of a stretch of the canal can still be seen between Timsbury and Romsey.
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 in the area, and to Southampton Test, a UK Parliament constituency.
Read more about River Test: In Watership Down, Tributaries
Other articles related to "river test, river":
... to have derived from ‘Stone Bridge’ a crossing over the River Test, used as a route to a Saxon palace near Andover ... acts included chanting psalms while standing naked in the cold water of the River Test ... Roke, Michelmarsh and Awbridge and also free fishing in the River Test.’ Its new owner, Roger Gollop, was a Parliamentarian and magistrate of Southampton ...
... The following are the named tributaries of the River Test, listed in order upstream from Southampton Water ... River Blackwater River Dun Wallop Brook River Anton Pilhill Brook River Dever Bourne Rivulet River Swift ...
... linked to its position at the mouth of the River Test and, later, as the terminus of the Andover Canal ... Located at the mouth of the River Test, and acting as the terminus of the Andover Canal, the village was a considerable trading post for commodities such as coal, timber and corn, as well as a centre for ship ... carriageway of the A35 passes over the roundabout on a large overpass, and to the west crosses the River Test on a large causeway, parallel to the main line railway ...
... The tidal section of the river, and the area of the navigation authority of The Port of Southampton, end in Redbridge, at a point close to these transport structures ... The River Test is even more famous than the Itchen in the world of fly fishing ...
Famous quotes containing the words test and/or river:
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