Meare Bridge River Brue

River Brue

Source to Bruton Town  -  Approximately 3.5 miles

The River Brue rises in Kingswood Warren in the parish of Brewham on the westernmost edge of the high land of Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs and flows generally in a south westerly direction through the hamlet of Border and on to South Brewham, where it passes beneath Church Bridge, a stone arch bridge ( a bridge was recorded at this location in the 13th century). From South Brewham it continues through the grounds of Colinshays Manor and passes through the Bruton flood control system before it reaches the town of Bruton. From source to Bruton the river flows for an approximate distance of 3.5 miles and is joined on its journey by several tributary streams that drain the hills either side of the river.

Bruton Town to Alford -  Approximately 5 Miles

The river then flows through the ancient town of Bruton passing beneath several historic bridges and is joined on the western end of the town close to Leggs Bridge by Combe Brook which rises in the hills north of Bruton close to Copplesbury Farm and a smaller unnamed stream from the south. It then flows on past Gants Mill to Cole where it is joined by the River Pitt. From Cole the river takes a more westerly direction to Wyke Champflower with it's three arch medieval bridge and then resumes the south westerly flow through Ansford, past Clanville Manor to Alford where it is joined by the River Alham.

Bow Bridge Downstream Face
Bow Bridge Downstream Face
West Lydford Weir |

Alford to West Lydford - Approximately 3 Miles

Passing Alford House the river passes the site of Hornblotton Mill, where now just the the mill leat remains and on to Lovington Mill where the river turns south for a short distance before resuming a westerly direction passing beneath Bridgefoot Bridge which carries the Fosseway and on to West Lydford.

West Lydford to Tootle Bridge - Approximately 1.25 miles

At West Lydford the river passes beneath a delightful 17th century stone bridge of five arches and just past St Peter's Church turns north cascading over a large weir. At this point a mill leat is formed which provided a power source for a mill close to Tootle Bridge where the mill leat rejoins the Brue. Resuming its westerly direction the river continues on to the medieval Tootle Bridge.

Tootle Bridge to Cow Bridge - Approximately 5 miles

From Tootle Bridge the river takes a northerly direction to Baltonborough Flights. This section of the river is erroneously shown on the Ordnance Survey maps as Dunstan's Dyke which according to John Moreland's article The Brue at Glastonbury was created some 40 years earlier by diverting Southwood Brook to provide the water source for a mill leat which provided power for Baltonsborough Mill. The erroneously named Dunstan's Dyke section of the River Brue was a diversion of the river created in the 13th century to provide more water power for Baltonsborough Mill. The original course of the river from Tootle Bridge is now called Cunlease Rhyne which rejoins the river just below Baltonborough Flights. The Mill leat continues from Baltonsborough Flights in a northerly direction to St Dunstan's Church, turning west and then north west to rejoin the river Brue above Baltonsborough Mill. From Baltonsborogh Flights the river itself travels west and then north west to Wallyer's Bridge at Baltonsborough and on in generally the same direction to Butt Moor Bridge and on through Kennard Moor and South Moor to Cow Bridge, just south of Glastonbury. 

Cow Bridge to Cold Harbour Bridge - Approximately 2.9 miles

From Cow bridge the river flows in a westerly direction along a straight channel to Clyce Hole or Prior's Weir. This straight channel was constructed circa 12 th century to provide the flow for the Glastonbury Mill Stream that starts at Clyce Hole. At Clyce Hole the river drops 3 metres and continues to flow in a westerly direction to Pomparles Bridge which carries the A39. From Pomparles Bridge the river changes direction to a generally northern flow and after approximately 0.25 miles the channels have been engineered to change the course of the original river flow. The new channels were probably constructed circa 12th century. The river passes beneath Cradle Bridge which carries Porchestall Drove and then beneath a disused railway bridge which originally carried the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, Highbridge to Glastonbury line. This is also the location where the disused Glastonbury Canal crossed the river. It continues to flow northerly to Cold Harbour Bridge where it joins with the mouth of the Glastonbury Mill Stream.

Cold Harbour Bridge to Westhay Bridge - Approximately 3 miles

The river changes to a north easterly direction at Cold Harbour Bridge and flows in a straight channel to Stileway Bridge, first crossing beneath the accommodation bridges, Tyne Farm Bridge, White Bridge, and Rice Farm Bridge. The river then passes beneath Porters Hatch Bridge, where nearby is the 14th century Abbot's Fish House, now a listed building and scheduled ancient monument. From Porters Hatch Bridge the river passes the medieval Meare Manor and chapel where it flows beneath an18th century single arch stone bridge. Approximately 1 mile downstream from Meare Bridge the river is joined by Decoy Rhine and Whites River. Whites River is short and holds the flows of the River Sheppey which feeds in via James Wear River, and Hartlake River which is formed by the streams of Redlake and Whitelake. The river then continues to Westhay Bridge.

Weir at Clyst Hole
Weir at Clyst Hole
Bruton Dam Spillway
Bruton Dam Spillway
Highbridge Clyse - Upstream Face
Highbridge Clyse - Upstream Face

Westhay Bridge to Basin Bridge 6.40 miles

From Westhay Bridge the river flows north easterly for close to 3 miles, in a almost straight channel, past Westhay Levels to the south and Tadham Moor to the north to reach the North Drain join and pumping station. The river turns west and flows beneath a lattice girder bridge at River House Farm, and then a natural stone single arch bridge which carries the Burtle Road. Continuing through Liberty Moor it reaches Cripps Bridge and the join with the Cripps River. The last part of that journey is a 0.7 mile section of a straight channel cut to remove a meander in the river as part of the 1801 Brue Drainage Act. It flows on to Basin Bridge.

Basin Bridge to Bridgwater Bay 3.60 Miles

From Basin bridge the river flows westerly to Hackness Sluice which also carries Newbridge Drove. Flowing beneath the M5 Motorway Bridge near Brent farm it turns north for a short distance to pass beneath the Highbridge Rail Bridge where it turns west to Brue Bridge at Highbridge. It continues in a westerly direction to the New Clyce Bridge which controls the tidal river flow. Meandering on through the Brue Estuary to reach the sea at Burnham on Sea.

The Brue was navigable from the harbour at Highbridge up to the south of Glastonbury and the current tidal limit is up to the sluices at New Clyce Bridge in Highbridge.

For a full selection of images for this river visit the rivers Image Gallery.  A list of bridges can be found here