Editing River Avon, Warwickshire

{{Short description|River in central England}}
{{For|other rivers called Avon|River Avon (disambiguation){{!}}River Avon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = River Avon
| name_native        = 
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Stratford-on-avon river 15a07.JPG
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = The River Avon by the [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre|Royal Shakespeare<br />Theatre]] in [[Stratford-upon-Avon]]
| map                = Avon (Warwickshire).png
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = Path of the Avon ([http://u.osmfr.org/m/374001/])
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 7
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[England]]
| subdivision_type2  = Counties
| subdivision_name2  = [[Northamptonshire]], [[Leicestershire]], [[Warwickshire]], [[Worcestershire]], [[Gloucestershire]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = Towns
| subdivision_name4  = [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], [[Warwick]], [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], [[Evesham]], [[Tewkesbury]]
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|137|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="Owen 2005 230–232">{{harvnb|Owen |2005 |pp=230–232}}</ref> 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= [[Evesham]]<ref name=hydro>{{harvnb |Marsh |Hannaford |2008 |p=69}}</ref>
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|15.5|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=hydro>{{harvnb |Marsh |Hannaford |2008 |p=69}}</ref>
| discharge1_max     = 
| discharge2_location= [[Bredon]]
| discharge2_min     = 
| discharge2_avg     = {{convert|16.7|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=hydro/>
| discharge2_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = 
| source1_location   = [[Naseby]], [[Northamptonshire]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|52.3975|-0.9887|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = 
| mouth              = 
| mouth_location     = Confluence with the [[River Severn]], [[Tewkesbury]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|51.9964|-2.1634|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = 
| river_system       = [[Severn]]
| basin_size         = {{convert|2670|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name="Owen 2005 230–232"/>
| tributaries_left   = [[River Leam|Leam]], [[River Stour, Warwickshire|Stour]], [[River Isbourne|Isbourne]]
| tributaries_right  = [[River Swift|Swift]], [[River Sowe|Sowe]], [[River Arrow, Worcestershire|Arrow]]
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| progression        = Avon → [[River Severn|Severn]] → [[Bristol Channel]] → [[Celtic Sea]]
| extra              = 
}}

The '''River Avon''' ({{IPAc-en|'|eI|v|@n}} {{respell|AY|vən}} or {{IPAc-en|'|eI|v|ɒ|n}} {{respell|AY|von}}) in central England flows generally southwestwards and is a major left-bank and easternmost tributary of the [[River Severn]]. It is also known as the '''Warwickshire Avon''' or '''Shakespeare's Avon''', to distinguish it from [[River Avon (disambiguation)|several other rivers]] of the same name in the United Kingdom.

Beginning in [[Northamptonshire]], the [[river]] flows through or adjoining the [[county|counties]] of [[Leicestershire]], [[Northamptonshire]], [[Warwickshire]], [[Worcestershire]] and [[Gloucestershire]], near the [[Cotswold Hills]] area. Notable towns it flows through include [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], [[Warwick]], [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], [[Evesham]], [[Pershore]] and [[Tewkesbury]], where it joins the Severn. It has traditionally been divided since 1719 into the Lower Avon, below [[Evesham, Worcestershire|Evesham]], and the Upper Avon, from Evesham to above Stratford-upon-Avon.

Improvements to aid navigation began in 1635, and a series of locks and [[weirs]] made it possible to reach Stratford, and to within {{convert|4|mi|km|0}} of [[Warwick]]. The Upper Avon was tortuous and prone to flooding, and was abandoned as a means of navigation in 1877. The Lower Avon struggled on, and never really closed, although by 1945 it was only navigable below [[Pershore]]. Restoration of the lower river as a navigable waterway began in 1950, and was completed in 1962. The upper river was a more daunting task, as most of the locks and weirs were no longer extant. Work began in 1965 on the construction of nine new locks and {{convert|17|mi|km}} of river, using mainly volunteer labour, and was completed in 1974 when it was opened by [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother]].

The Avon connects with the [[Stratford-upon-Avon Canal]] in the centre of Stratford, and is used primarily by leisure craft. Plans to extend the navigable river to provide a link with the [[Grand Union Canal]] at either Warwick or [[Leamington Spa]] have met with some opposition.

==Etymology==
[[File:RiverSevernMap.jpg|thumb|The drainage basin of the Severn. The Avon is the easternmost river shown.]]
"Avon" derives from the [[British language (Celtic)|British language]] {{Lang|cel|abona}}, "river", which also survives as a number of [[River Avon (disambiguation)|other English and Scottish river names]], and as modern [[Welsh language|Welsh]] {{Lang|cy|afon}} {{IPA|cy|ˈavɔn|}} and [[Cornish language|Cornish]] ''avon'', "river". This makes "River Avon" an example of a [[List of tautological place names|tautological place name]].

==Course==
{{River Avon Warks map}}
{{see also|List of crossings of the River Avon, Warwickshire}}
The [[source (river or stream)|source]] of the Avon is from a spring near the village of [[Naseby]] in Northamptonshire. For the first few miles of its length from the village of [[Welford, Northamptonshire|Welford]] it forms the border between Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, on this section, it has been dammed to create [[Stanford Reservoir]]. Upon reaching [[Dow Bridge]] on [[Watling Street]] it enters Warwickshire. It then flows in a generally west-southwesterly direction, passing through the towns and villages of [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], [[Wolston]], (bordering [[Leamington Spa]]), [[Warwick]], [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], [[Welford-on-Avon]], [[Bidford-on-Avon]], [[Evesham, Worcestershire|Evesham]] and [[Pershore]], before it joins the [[River Severn]] at [[Tewkesbury]].

The river has a total length of {{convert|85|mi|km|0}} and a catchment size of {{convert|1032|sqmi|km2}}.<ref name="Owen 2005 230–232"/> The Avon's tributaries include the Rivers [[River Swift|Swift]], [[River Leam|Leam]], [[River Stour, Warwickshire|Stour]], [[River Sowe|Sowe]], [[River Dene|Dene]], [[River Arrow, Worcestershire|Arrow]], [[River Isbourne|Isbourne]] and [[River Swilgate|Swilgate]] as well as many minor streams and brooks.

A long distance footpath has been created which follows the river from its source to the River Severn at Tewkesbury. The route is marketed as Shakespeare's Avon Way, and is {{convert|88|mi|km|0}} long. It uses existing footpaths and tracks to stay as close to the river as is reasonably possible.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shakespearesavonway.org/index_files/route.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113073714/http://www.shakespearesavonway.org/index_files/route.htm |archive-date=13 January 2020 |url-status=usurped |title=Route |publisher=Shakespeare's Avon Way Association |access-date=11 December 2010}}</ref>

==Prehistory==
Before the last Ice Age about 50,000 years ago, the Warwickshire Avon was a small river which drained northwards to the River Trent. During the [[Wolstonian]] glacial period, ice advanced into the Midlands from the north, east and west blocking the flow of the Avon to its former confluence with the Trent. The waters were thus trapped: on the north, east and west by the glacier, and by the Cotswolds to the south, resulting in the formation of a large glacial lake, which has been called [[Lake Harrison]]. At its maximum, it is considered that this glacial lake covered the whole of Warwickshire and was over {{convert|200|ft|m|-1}} deep. After about 10,000 years, when the glacier finally retreated, the water was able to cut through the previous watershed and to escape to the southwest, so forming the present day route of the river.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/counties/area_ID37.aspx |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140605090108/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/counties/area_ID37.aspx |archive-date=5 June 2014 |title=Warwickshire |publisher=Natural England}}</ref>

==Navigation==
From Alveston weir, which is {{convert|2|mi|km|1}} upstream of Stratford-upon-Avon, downstream to Tewkesbury and the River Severn, the river has been rendered navigable by the construction of [[canal lock|locks]] and [[weir]]s. The [[Stratford-upon-Avon Canal]] links to the Avon through a lock in the park in front of the [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]] in Stratford-upon-Avon.<ref name=nic>{{harvnb |Nicholson |2006 |pp=28–30}}</ref> The River Avon can be used by boats with a maximum length of {{convert|70|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}, beam of {{convert|13|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}}, height of {{convert|10|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} and draught of {{convert|4|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} from Tewkesbury to Evesham. Above Evesham, beam is restricted to {{convert|12|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}} and draught to {{convert|3|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name=jane>{{harvnb |Cumberlidge |2009 |pp=65–68}}</ref>

The river is crossed by two manually operated pedestrian [[chain ferry|chain ferries]], these being the [[Hampton Ferry (River Avon)|Hampton Ferry]] in [[Evesham]] and the [[Stratford-upon-Avon Ferry]] in [[Stratford-upon-Avon]].

Traffic is now exclusively leisure-oriented. Overnight moorings are available at [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], [[Luddington, Warwickshire|Luddington]], [[Welford-on-Avon]], [[Barton, Warwickshire|Barton]], [[Bidford-on-Avon]], [[Harvington]], [[Offenham]], [[Evesham]], [[Craycombe]], [[Wyre, Worcestershire|Wyre]], [[Pershore]], [[Defford]], [[Comberton]], [[Birlingham]], [[Eckington, Worcestershire|Eckington]], [[Strensham]] and Tewkesbury. There are boatyards at Stratford-upon-Avon, Welford-on-Avon, Barton, Bidford-on-Avon, Evesham, and Tewkesbury.

The river forms part of the [[Avon Ring]], a circular cruising route which is {{convert|109|mi|km|0}} long, and includes 129 locks. From Tewkesbury it follows the course of the [[River Severn]], the [[Worcester and Birmingham Canal]] and the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal to arrive back at the Avon at Stratford-upon-Avon.
[[File:Twyningriveravon.JPG|thumb|none|The Avon viewed from the garden of the Fleet Inn, [[Twyning, Gloucestershire]].]]
[[File:River avon stratford 14a07.JPG|none|thumb|The Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon on a sunny day]]

==History==
The navigation works on the Avon were originally authorised by an [[Order in Council]] and Letters Patent of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] in 1635, which named [[William Sandys (waterworks engineer)|William Sandys]] as the grantee, with powers to improve both this river and the [[River Teme]]. He had already bought a number of mills on the river, but there were few objections from millers at those he did not own, for he built pound locks with two sets of gates, to enable vessels to pass by without the large loss of water associated with flash locks. The only objections were from Sir William Russell, who owned Strensham mill, and whose grievance was about land purchase, rather than the navigation works.<ref name=king>{{harvnb |King |2006 |pp=349–350}}</ref> By 1641 it was reported that the river was navigable to within {{convert|4|mi|km|0}} of Warwick.<ref name=jane/>

After a period of decline, navigation rights along the river were confirmed by a clause in the Rivers Stour and Salwarpe Navigation Act 1662 ([[14 Cha. 2]]. c. ''14''). Further improvements were made to the river above Evesham from 1664 by a syndicate led by [[Andrew Yarranton]]. He was working for Lord Windsor and others, and the work included the construction of three navigation weirs, which were a type of flash lock with a single barrier. These were used to enable boats to pass over shoals, and with the exception of the one at Pensham, were not built adjacent to mills. The Pensham watergate did at times hinder the proper operation of the mill, when the water levels rose above the gate.<ref name=king/> Once Yarranton's work was completed, barges of 30 tonnes could navigate to Stratford.<ref name=hadfield3>{{harvnb |Hadfield |1985 |p=56}}</ref>

Ownership of the navigation was formally divided into the Upper and Lower Avon in 1717, with Evesham being the dividing point. The Lower Avon Navigation between Evesham and the River Severn was leased by George Perrott in 1758, who spent over £4,000 upgrading the locks and weirs to enable 40-ton barges to navigate the river. The work was completed by 1768.<ref name=jane/> Perrott then intended to sell the navigation, but when the Stratford Canal was being promoted, he had a clause inserted into the Bill to force the [[Worcester and Birmingham Canal]] to make payments to him in view of the expected drop in tolls that the Navigation would experience. Once the Stratford Canal was completed, there was fierce competition between the Upper and Lower Avon companies, with coal from the Worcester and Birmingham coming up-river to Evesham, and coal coming down-river from Stratford. As the tolls dropped, Perrott leased the Lower river to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal company from 1830 until 1851.<ref name=hadfield8>{{harvnb |Hadfield |1985 |pp=146–147}}</ref>

[[File:Stratford-upon-Avon Canal lock and boats 15a07.JPG|thumb|left|One of the two lock gates between the River Avon and the Stratford-on-Avon canal]]
Meanwhile, the Upper Avon Navigation between Stratford and Evesham was owned by relatives of Lord Windsor, who had died in 1758, and its condition gradually deteriorated.<ref name=hadfield3/> Because of the sinuous course of the upper river, it was never really considered as a through navigation, except for a brief period when William James thought it could become a through route. He bought all of the shares in the Upper Avon company in 1813, and persuaded the Stratford Canal shareholders that there should be a junction between their canal and the river at Stratford, which was opened on 24 June 1816. In 1822, he spent £6,000 repairing the locks on the upper river, and became bankrupt. The navigation was taken over by seven men, all connected with the Stratford Canal, who turned Lucy's lock at Stratford into a two-rise staircase lock, constructed three new locks, and improved the river by dredging. Most of the subsequent traffic was local, competing with the Lower Avon for the delivery of coal to Evesham. The Upper Avon was leased to the Stratford Canal from 1842,<ref name=hadfield8/> but there was little traffic, and the lease was not renewed in 1847. The arrival of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway at Stratford sealed its fate, and when the company failed to sell the navigation to local landowners for £150, they effectively abandoned it in 1857. John Broughton, who was the railway manager at Stratford, was persuaded to buy the navigation for £300 by local traders, but the venture was short-lived. Broughton was succeeded, and the railway, now called the [[West Midland Railway]], became part of the [[Great Western Railway]]. In 1875, the GWR decided it would no longer maintain the river, and an appeal to the Railway Commissioners in 1877 ruled that they were not obliged to do so.<ref name=hadfield15>{{harvnb |Hadfield |1985 |pp=269–270}}</ref>

The Lower Avon Navigation never quite fell into total disuse. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal renewed their lease in 1851 for a further 21 years, but traffic was severely hit by the opening of a railway link from Ashchurch to Evesham in 1864. Receipts had dropped to £139 in 1872, and the canal company did not renew their lease again. Somehow the navigation remained open, and as the commercial traffic declined, there was a gradual increase in pleasure usage.<ref name=hadfield15/> By the end of the [[World War II|Second World War]] only one barge was plying the stretch between Tewkesbury and Pershore, and the river above Pershore became unnavigable.<ref name=hadfield15/>

==Restoration==
The first moves to return the waterway to a navigable condition occurred in March 1949, when the ''Evesham Journal'' published an article on its history and decline. [[Robert Aickman]] started a correspondence with the editor of the article, suggesting that the river could be restored. C. Douglas Barwell sought legal advice on how best the proposal could be managed,<ref name=squires2>{{harvnb |Squires |2008 |pp=24–26}}</ref> out of which the  ''Lower Avon Navigation Trust Ltd'' (''LANT'') was constituted as a charity in 1950,<ref name=jane/> and the BBC broadcast news of the proposals in April 1950.<ref name=squires2/> By May 1952, despite being in a period of great austerity, LANT had raised over £4,000 towards the work, and the involvement of the Royal Engineers, who helped with the reconstruction of Chadbury Lock as a training exercise, increased public awareness, and enabled further public appeals for funds to be made.<ref>{{harvnb |Squires |2008 |pp=28–31}}</ref> By 1962, LANT had raised over £50,000, the 7 locks from Tewkesbury to Evesham were restored to working order, re-opening the Lower Avon, and plans were already being made to rebuild Evesham Town Lock and press on towards Stratford. Mrs Barwell, the wife of Douglas Barwell, formally opened the waterway in June 1962.<ref name=squires4>{{harvnb |Squires |2008 |pp=47–54}}</ref> Mr. Barwell received an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] for his work on the navigation.<ref name=Edwards>{{harvnb |Edwards |1985 |pp=60–64}}</ref>

An anonymous benefactor was about to give £80,000 in 1963 towards the restoration on the Upper Avon, while a donation of £5,000 enabled Evesham lock to be rebuilt and opened on 11 June 1964.<ref name=squires4/> Collins Brothers, who owned the lock site, with the main dam, sluice and weir, donated them to the Lower Avon Navigation Trust in 1966, extending the jurisdiction of the Lower Avon above its historical limits.<ref name=Edwards/> The other waterway to Stratford, the [[Stratford-upon-Avon Canal]], had been restored by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] and was opened by [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother]] exactly a month later, and her involvement caught the public's imagination.<ref name=squires4/> Although the Upper Avon was in a much worse condition than the Lower Avon, the ''Upper Avon Navigation Trust Ltd'' (''UANT'') was constituted in 1965 to rebuild it. The project was led by David Hutchings, fresh from completing the Stratford Canal restoration,<ref name=Edwards/> who obtained permission to build a new lock at Stratford in early 1966, and launched an appeal for £6,000 to fund it. Work began on 19 July 1966, once half the cost had been raised.<ref name=squires5>{{harvnb |Squires |2008 |pp=61–69}}</ref>

[[File:uk-bidford-on-avon-1.jpg|thumb|right|Bridge at Bidford-on-Avon; notice the navigation arch at the right]]
The concept of building new locks and weirs, with most of the work being undertaken by volunteers, was new. Negotiation with the [[Severn River Authority]] led to an agreement that such works could be constructed, which was eventually formalised when a private Bill<ref name=squires5/> was put before parliament, which became the Upper Avon Navigation Act 1972.<ref name=Edwards/> Further funding came from an Inland Waterways Association national restoration fund, launched in 1969.<ref name=squires5/> Work continued, with phase one, covering the section from Evesham to Bidford Bridge, being declared open on 12 June 1971, during an IWA boat rally at Bidford. The estimated cost for the complete restoration was £250,000, all of which was raised by public subscriptions, with the exception of a grant for £25,000 from the Department of the Environment, which was made at the time of the phase 1 opening. The project, which involved the construction of nine new locks, reopening a {{convert|17|mi|km|adj=on}} navigation which had been derelict for over 100 years, was completed on 1 June 1974, when Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother returned to Stratford to declare it open. It was the largest project of its type to that date, and Hutchings was awarded an MBE for his leadership.<ref name=squires6>{{harvnb |Squires |2008 |pp=74–82}}</ref>

[[File:Warwick Castle and the River Avon, geograph 5749330 by Philip Halling.jpg|thumb|The Avon alongside [[Warwick Castle]]]]

==Proposed extension==
There have been proposals to extend the navigation upstream from Alveston to a link with the [[Grand Union Canal]] at either Warwick or Leamington Spa. This was first considered by the [[Severn Trent Water Authority]] in 1974, who conducted a survey, the cost of which was partly funded by the [[Inland Waterways Association]].<ref name=squires6/> This would open up a stretch of river that has never previously been navigable, but the proposal has not been universally welcomed. Landowners at [[Warwick Castle]] and [[Charlecote Park]] have attempted to claim the river as private property, although the 1636 [[Order of Council|Orders of Council]] state that the river was free to Coventry.<ref name=Edwards/> Despite much local support, there is still some opposition to the scheme.<ref name=jane/>

==Commercial traffic==
[[File:Stratford boat cruise 7975.jpg|thumb|The river is also used by [[tour boat]]s; Statford-upon-Avon]]
Commercial traffic returned to the Avon in May 2010, as part of a scheme to build flood defences at the town of Pershore, following flooding in 2007, which caused damage to a number of properties. Clay banks were constructed, with most of the material coming from [[Birlingham]], further downstream. Some 15,000 tonnes of clay was excavated and transported by barge to the construction works. At Birlingham, the excavation was managed to create a wetland reserve for wildlife, with {{convert|32|acre|ha|0}} of wet grassland and {{convert|5|acre|ha|0}} of open water and [[reed bed]]s. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust worked with the landowner to create the reserve, which is called the John Bennett Reserve. The use of barges to transport the clay was estimated to save 3,000 [[Truck|lorry]] trips between the two sites.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/119600.aspx|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140605090108/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/counties/area_ID37.aspx |archive-date=5 June 2014 |publisher=Environment Agency |title=Pershore Flood Alleviation Scheme sod cutting ceremony |access-date=12 June 2010}}</ref>

==Water quality==
The Environment Agency measure the water quality of the river systems in England. Each is given an overall ecological status, which may be one of five levels: high, good, moderate, poor and bad. There are several components that are used to determine this, including biological status, which looks at the quantity and varieties of [[invertebrate]]s, [[angiosperm]]s and fish. Chemical status, which compares the concentrations of various chemicals against known safe concentrations, is rated good or fail.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/help/glossary |website=Catchment Data Explorer |title=Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status) |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=15 May 2017}}</ref>

The water quality of the River Avon was as follows in 2022.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Section !! Ecological Status !! Chemical Status !! Length !! Catchment !! Channel
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Avon (Warks) - source to Claycoton-Yelvertoft Bk |asset=GB109054043930 |accessdate=27 November 2021}} 
| {{Waterqual poor}}
| {{waterqual_fail}} 
| {{convert|12.0|mi}}
| {{convert|29.54|sqmi}}
| 
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Avon - ClaycotonYelvertoft Bk to conf R Sowe |asset=GB109054043920 |accessdate=27 November 2021}} 
| {{Waterqual mod}}
| {{waterqual_fail}} 
| {{convert|27.2|mi}}
| {{convert|45.48|sqmi}}
| 
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Avon (Warks) - conf R Sowe to conf R Leam |asset=GB109054043840 |accessdate=27 November 2021}} 
| {{Waterqual mod}}
| {{waterqual_fail}} 
| {{convert|12.1|mi}}
| {{convert|11.94|sqmi}}
| 
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Avon (Wark) conf R Leam to Tramway Br, Stratford |asset=GB109054044402 |accessdate=27 November 2021}} 
| {{Waterqual mod}}
| {{waterqual_fail}} 
| {{convert|23.3|mi}}
| {{convert|36.55|sqmi}}
| 
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Avon- Tramway Br Stratford to Workman Br Evesham |asset=GB109054044401 |accessdate=27 November 2021}} 
| {{Waterqual mod}}
| {{waterqual_fail}} 
| {{convert|21.0|mi}}
| {{convert|33.15|sqmi}}
| 
|-
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Avon conf Workman Br, Evesham to conf R Severn |asset=GB109054044403 |accessdate=27 November 2021}} 
| {{Waterqual mod}}
| {{waterqual_fail}} 
| {{convert|33.8|mi}}
| {{convert|36.74|sqmi}}
| heavily modified
|}

Reasons for the water quality being less than good include run off from agricultural land and discharge from sewage treatment plants, both private and public, while the lower river is also affected by physical modification of the channel. Like most rivers in the UK, the chemical status changed from good to fail in 2019, due to the presence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and mercury compounds, none of which had previously been included in the assessment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/help/usage#chemical-status |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314040920/https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/help/usage#chemical-status |archive-date=14 March 2024 |url-status=live |title=Chemical Status |publisher=Environment Agency |year=2023}}</ref>

== Sporting achievements ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}
At 01:18 on Sunday 18 July 2021, 41 year old Craig Openshaw from [[Tewkesbury]] became the first person in the world to swim the entire length of the 47.1 mile Navigable River Avon; known as the 'Swim The Avon' project. Craig was supported by a four man land and boat crew consisting of Robert Stringer, Bob Bain, Joe Bawdon and Phil Leibrandt.

Despite being an ex-competitive pool swimmer, Craig had never taken part in open water swimming previously and the crew had never embarked on any similar challenges.

The team set off from Alveston Weir in [[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford-Upon-Avon]] at 20:00 on Friday 16 July 2021 and swam through the day and night to complete the 47.1 mile swim. The challenge was completed in 29 hours and 18 minutes.

Bob Bain also rowed the entire course as lead kayak, in memory of his late wife Gail Bain.

The swim captured the imagination of local communities along the river, with hundreds of spectators turning out to encourage the team.

Craig finished the world first swim following an intensive 3 month long training programme and completed all of his training in the river Avon. Permission to complete the swim was granted by the Avon Navigation Trust who verified the swim had never been previously completed.

The team raised a total of £17,800 for [[Cancer Research UK]], with the challenge featuring on various news outlets such as [[BBC News]].{{cn|date=September 2022}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Transport}}
*Other rivers named [[River Avon (disambiguation)|Avon]]
*[[River Severn]]
*[[Rivers of the United Kingdom]]
*[[Soft Flowing Avon]]

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book
  |first=Jane |last=Cumberlidge
  |title=Inland Waterways of Great Britain |edition=8th
  |publisher=Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson
  |year=2009
  |isbn=978-1-84623-010-3
  }}
*{{cite book
  |first=Jamie |last=Davies
  |title=Shakespeare's Avon: the history of a navigation
  |publisher=Oakwood Press
  |year=1996
  |location=Headington, Oxon
  |isbn=978-0-85361-490-6
  }}
*{{cite book
  |first=L. A. |last=Edwards
  |title=Inland Waterways of Great Britain |edition=6th
  |publisher=Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson
  |year=1985
  |isbn=978-0-85288-081-4
  }}
*{{cite book
  |first1=Charles |last1=Hadfield
  |first2=John |last2=Norris
  |title=Waterways to Stratford |edition=2nd 
  |pages=15–70
  |year=1968
  |publisher=David and Charles
  |isbn=978-0-7153-4231-2
  }}
*{{cite book
  |first=Charles |last=Hadfield
  |title=The Canals of the West Midlands
  |publisher=David and Charles
  |year=1985
  |isbn=978-0-7153-8644-6
  }}
*{{cite journal
  |first=Peter |last=King
  |title=The river Teme and other Midlands navigations
  |journal=Journal of the Railway and Canal Historical Society |volume=35 |issue=5
  |date=July 2006
  }}
*{{cite book
  |url= http://www.ceh.ac.uk/products/publications/documents/HydrometricRegister_Final_WithCovers.pdf
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031184702/http://www.ceh.ac.uk/products/publications/documents/hydrometricregister_final_withcovers.pdf
  |archive-date=31 October 2014 |title=UK Hydrometric Register
  |first1=Terry |last1=Marsh 
  |first2=Jamie |last2=Hannaford
  |publisher=Natural Environment Research Council
  |year=2008
  |isbn=978-0-9557672-2-7
  }}
*{{cite book
  |first=Hugh |last=McKnight
  |title=Shell Book of Inland Waterways
  |year=1981
  |publisher=David and Charles
  |isbn=978-0-7153-8239-4
  }}
*{{cite book
  |last=Nicholson
  |author-link=Nicholson Guides
  |title=Nicholsons Guide Vol 2: Severn Avon and Birmingham
  |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers
  |year=2006
  |isbn=978-0-00-721110-4
  }}
*{{cite book
  |first=Sue|last=Owen
  |title=Rivers and the British Landscape
  |publisher=Carnegie Publishing
  |year=2005
  |isbn=978-1-85936-120-7
  |display-authors=etal}}
*{{cite book
  |first=Roger
  |last=Squires
  |title=Britain's Restored Canals
  |publisher=Landmark Publishing
  |year=2008
  |isbn=978-1-84306-331-5
  }}
{{Refend}}

===References===
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|River Avon, Warwickshire}}
*[http://www.shakespearesavon.co.uk/ Shakespeare's Avon, the website of ''LANT'' and ''UANT'']

{{River Severn}}
{{Rivers and Watercourse of Northamptonshire}}
{{Transport in Worcestershire}}

{{Transport in Gloucestershire}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avon, Warwickshire}}
[[Category:River navigations in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Rivers of Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Rivers of Leicestershire]]
[[Category:Rivers of Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Rivers of Warwickshire]]
[[Category:Rivers of Worcestershire]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the River Severn]]
[[Category:Warwickshire Avon catchment| ]]