River Slea, Hampshire

Last updated

River Slea
Hampshire UK relief location map.jpg
Hampshire UK relief location map.jpg
The small central watercourse is the Slea/Oxney Stream, much larger to the north is the Wey (north branch)
Location
Country England
County Hampshire
District East Hampshire
Towns Sleaford, Bordon
Physical characteristics
Source Kingsley Stream
  locationKingsley Mill, Kingsley
  coordinates 51°07′57″N0°52′52″W / 51.1325°N 0.8811°W / 51.1325; -0.8811
  elevation72m
2nd source Oakhanger Stream
Mouth River Wey
  location
North of Brockford Bridge, far north fields of parish of Headley, Hampshire
  coordinates
51°08′31″N0°49′52″W / 51.1420°N 0.8310°W / 51.1420; -0.8310
  elevation
62m
Length6.2 km (3.9 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionOxney Stream, River Slea, Wey (south branch), Wey, Thames, North Sea
River system Wey catchment
Tributaries 
  rightOxney Moss

The River Slea is a tributary of the south branch of the River Wey in Hampshire.

Contents

Course

The river flows east from the confluence of the Kingsley and the longer Oakhanger streams at Kingsley Mill, through the village of Sleaford until it meets the Wey just north of Brockford Bridge. The section between Kingsley Mill and Sleaford is also known as the Oxney Stream. [1]

The Slea's main tributary is the Oxney Moss which rises on the west side of Bordon and joins at Sleaford.

Water quality

The Environment Agency measure 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 invertebrates, angiosperms and fish. Chemical status, which compares the concentrations of various chemicals against known safe concentrations, is rated good or fail. [2]

Water quality of the River Slea in 2019:

SectionEcological
Status
Chemical
Status
Overall
Status
LengthCatchmentChannel
Slea (Kingsley to Sleaford) [3] Moderate Fail Moderate 6.79 km (4.22 mi)31.326 km2 (12.095 sq mi)

Related Research Articles

River Test River in Hampshire, England

The River Test is a chalk stream in Hampshire in the south of England. It rises at Ashe near Basingstoke and flows southwards for 40 miles (64 km) to Southampton Water. Settlements on the Test include the towns of Stockbridge and Romsey. Below the village of Longparish, the river is broadly followed by the Test Way, a long-distance footpath.

River Churn River in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, England

The River Churn is a tributary of the River Thames in central England. It rises at Seven Springs in Gloucestershire and flows south for approximately 37.3 km (23.2 mi) to meet the Thames at Cricklade in Wiltshire. Its length from its source to the confluence with the Thames is greater than that of the Thames from Thames Head, though the Churn is regarded as a tributary rather than the main river.

River Itchen, Hampshire River in Hampshire, England

The River Itchen in Hampshire, England, rises to the south of New Alresford and flows 26 miles (42 km) to meet Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge. The Itchen Navigation was constructed in the late 17th and early 18th centuries to enable barges to reach Winchester from Southampton Docks, but ceased to operate in the mid-19th century and is largely abandoned today.

River Meon River in Hampshire, England

The River Meon is a chalk stream in Hampshire in the south of England. It rises at East Meon then flows 34 km (21 mi) in a generally southerly direction to empty into the Solent at Hill Head near Stubbington. Above Wickham, the river runs through the South Downs National Park.

Beaulieu River River in Hampshire, England

The Beaulieu River, formerly known as the River Exe, is a small river draining much of the central New Forest in Hampshire, southern England. The river has many small upper branches and its farthest source is 8 miles (13 km) from its 4 miles (6 km)-long tidal estuary. Unusually, the river, including its bed, is owned by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.

River Allen, Dorset River in Dorset, England

The River Allen is a river in the county of Dorset in South West England. It flows for 14 miles (23 km) and has its confluence with the River Stour in Wimborne Minster. It has two main tributaries, the Gussage Stream and the Crichel Stream.

River Coln River in Gloucestershire, England

The River Coln is a river in Gloucestershire, England. It rises to the north of Brockhampton, a village to the east of Cheltenham, and flows in a south/south-easterly direction through the Cotswold Hills via Andoversford, Withington, Fossebridge, Bibury, Coln St Aldwyns, Quenington and Fairford. It joins the River Thames to the south-west of Lechlade, near to the confluence with the Thames and Severn Canal.

River Wylye River in Wiltshire, England

The River Wylye is a chalk stream in the south of England, with clear water flowing over gravel. It is popular with anglers for fly fishing. A half-mile stretch of the river and three lakes in Warminster are a local nature reserve.

River Blackwater (River Test) River in Hampshire and Wiltshire, England

This River Blackwater drains small parts of the English counties of Hampshire and Wiltshire. It is a tributary of the River Test.

River Anton River in Hampshire, England

The River Anton is a chalk stream in Hampshire in south east England. It rises in Andover and flows southwards for approximately 8 miles (13 km) to meet the River Test near Chilbolton. The principal tributary of the Anton, the Pillhill Brook, joins the river at Upper Clatford.

River Dever River in Hampshire, England

The River Dever is a chalk stream in Hampshire in the south of England. It rises at West Stratton near Micheldever and flows westwards for 11 mi (18 km) to meet the River Test at Wherwell.

River Tillingbourne River in Surrey, England

The River Tillingbourne runs along the south side of the North Downs and joins the River Wey at Guildford. Its source is a mile south of Tilling Springs to the north of Leith Hill at grid reference TQ143437 and it runs through Friday Street, Abinger Hammer, Gomshall, Shere, Albury, Chilworth and Shalford. The source is a semi-natural uninhabited area. The catchment is situated on sandstone which has a low rate of weathering. The Tillingbourne is 24 km (15 mi) in length.

River Ock, Surrey River in Surrey, England

The River Ock is a tributary of the River Wey in Surrey, England.

River Wey River in southern England

The River Wey is a tributary of the River Thames in south east England. Its two branches, one of which rises near Alton in Hampshire and the other in West Sussex to the south of Haslemere, join at Tilford in Surrey. Once combined the flow is eastwards then northwards via Godalming and Guildford to meet the Thames at Weybridge. Downstream the river forms the backdrop to Newark Priory and Brooklands. The Wey and Godalming Navigations were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, to create a navigable route from Godalming to the Thames.

Oakhanger Stream River in Hampshire, England

Oakhanger Stream is a tributary of the River Slea that lies in Hampshire, England.

Cranleigh Waters River in Surrey, England

The Cranleigh Waters or Bramley Wey is a tributary of the River Wey in Surrey.

Pipp Brook River in Surrey, England

The Pipp Brook is a left-bank tributary of the River Mole, Surrey, England. It rises at two main springs north of Leith Hill on the Greensand Ridge, then descends steeply in a northward direction, before flowing eastwards along the Vale of Holmesdale. It runs to the north of Dorking High Street, before discharging into the Mole at Pixham.

Kingsley Stream is a tributary of the River Slea that lies in Hampshire, England. It joins the Oakhanger Stream by Kingsley Mill, south of the village. It is regarded by the Environment Agency as the headwaters of the Slea.

Pillhill Brook River in Hampshire, England

Pilhill Brook is a 9.9-kilometre-long (6.2 mi) tributary of the River Anton in Hampshire, England. It is a chalk stream, known for its trout fishing.

Bow Brook, Hampshire River in Hampshire, England

Bow Brook is a small river in the English county of Hampshire, which is a tributary of the River Loddon. Contributary streams rise near Ramsdell and Sherborne St John, and after flowing through rural countryside, it joins the Loddon near Sherfield on Loddon. Historically is has powered at least two watermills.

References

  1. Shore, T W. "Springs and Streams of Hampshire" (PDF). Hampshire Field Club. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. "Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency. 17 February 2016. UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  3. "Slea (Kingsley to Sleaford)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.