River Yeo (South Somerset)

The River Yeo, also known as the River Ivel,[1] is a tributary of the River Parrett in north Dorset and south Somerset, England.

River Yeo
River Ivel
River Yeo in Ilchester
EtymologyCeltic river-name gifl 'forked river'. Old English ēa 'river'
Location
CountryEngland
CountiesDorset, Somerset
TownsSherborne, Bradford Abbas, Yeovil, Mudford, Yeovilton, Ilchester
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationHenstridge Bowden, South Somerset
  coordinates50°58′55″N 2°26′26″W
MouthRiver Parrett
  location
Langport, South Somerset, Somerset, England
  coordinates
51°01′51″N 2°49′29″W
Length15 mi (24 km)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftBearley Brook
  rightTrent Brook

The river's names derive from the Celtic river-name gifl 'forked river'. The name Yeo appears to have been influenced by Old English ēa 'river'.[2]

The river rises in the North Dorset Downs region. It flows through the town of Sherborne and Sherborne Lake in north Dorset, and the Somerset towns of Yeovil, Yeovilton and Ilchester, to which it gives its name, and joins the River Parrett near Langport. For a few miles east of Yeovil, it forms the county boundary between Somerset and Dorset.

The river is navigable for light craft for 8 miles (13 km) from the Parrett to Ilchester.[3]

The Yeo's tributaries include the River Gascoigne, which rises near Milborne Wick and joins the Yeo near Sherborne,[4] the River Wriggle, Trent Brook, Hornsey Brook, the River Cam and Bearley Brook.

References

  1. Somerset County Council website
  2. Mills, A.D. and Room, A. A Dictionary of British Place-Names Oxford University Press
  3. Jim Shead website
  4. John Vallins (4 July 2005). "Rolling down the river". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2013.

Media related to River Yeo, Dorset at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.