River Teme

The River Teme (Welsh Afon Tefaidd) rises in mid-Wales south of Newtown, Powys and flows through Ludlow in Shropshire, then between Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire and Burford, Shropshire on its way to join the River Severn south of Worcester. The whole of the River Teme was designated as an SSSI, by English Nature, in 1996.

Etymology

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

Geography

The river source is on Cilfaesty Hill in the Kerry Hills near Dolfor and south of Newtown. Two other rivers - the River Ithon and the River Mule - rise within 500 metres. It flows across the border into England close to Knighton. From there to its confluence with the River Severn, at Worcester (about 60 miles/100 km downstream) it flows through Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire. The upper reaches of the river are usually steep with fast flowing but relatively shallow waters. There are some mills, and a number of weirs, including several at Ludlow. Below Tenbury the river is more tranquil but still quite 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.

During its journey the river flows over Upper Ludlow shales and Devonian sandstones [2]

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

The Teme falls nearly 500 metres during its length from a height of 506 metres above sea level at its source to just 14 metres above sea-level at its confluence with the river Severn[3]

Nature

otters

The Teme is a clean river and after many years of decline the population of otters is recovering

Obstructions keep salmon numbers at a low level. [4]

Recreational use

Canoeing

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 at http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/teme.htm - information on the Tenbury Wells to Broadwas area is available at http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/temetenbury.htm

Fishing

Fishing is popular on many stretches of the Teme, with its barbel fishing being particularly noted [5]

Coracles

Leintwardine held its 11th annual coracle regatta in June 2005. For 2006 the event moved to Mortimer's Cross. An account of the 2005 event, with pictures, is available at http://www.coracle-fishing.net/leintwardine-2005/index.htm

Boating

Rowing boats are available for hire from The Linney Park, Ludlow - see http://www.visitsouthshropshire.co.uk/ludlow.htm - which includes a picture of boating on the Teme.

Navigability

See navigability for definition.

River Teme at Ludlow

Leisure boating

Undoubtedly, small boats have long been used on the river. For example:

• 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 [6]
• 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

There is no doubt that the final 1.5 miles from Powick Mill to its confluence with the river Severn that the Teme is 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 18^th century, pig iron was brought up the river to Powick forge (as the mill then was).

There are two opposing views as to whether the river Teme was navigable by boats carrying cargo above Powick Mill for more than short distances. Undoubtedly, navigation would have been very convenient for the ironmasters at Bringewood Ironworks, but the proponents of navigation have not been able to bring forward any unequivocal documentary or archaeological evidence of its use. They allege that there were flashlocks to to enable vessels to pass mill weirs, as on the river Thames, but adduce no evidence of any, or of actual voyages.

In 1999 Colin Green claimed 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 earlier published source for this claim has been provided.

William Sandys (who improved the Avon) was at the same time also authorised to improve the Teme, but there is no evidence that he did so, 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.

The only indication of any commercial use of vessels above Powick is a single newspaper advertisement in 1750 that the miller at Stanford on Teme had a boat for sale, capable of carrying 10 tons. Unless locks had been installed, this could not have operated over any great distance, as a boat of this size would have been unable to pass mill weirs. Evidence that has been offered in support of navigability at Ludlow consists of certain paintings (thought to date from c.1830) which show a river with boats. It is not clear if these paintings show Ludlow as it actually was, or if they were at least partly derived from the artist's imagination.

In an article published in March 2006 in the Journal of Railway and Canal Historical Society, Pat Jones, reviewing the evidence, asserts that the Teme was navigable above Powick. However in an article published in the same journal in July 2006 Peter King refutes this and writes that evidence of substantial commercial use of the river as a navigable waterway above Powick is minimal.

Cultural influences

In valleys of springs of rivers
By Ony and Teme and Clun
The country for easy livers
The quietest under the sun – A. E. Housman

External links

• Teme valley project
• Teme Valley towns