bristol river historically river river bristol england approximately miles long rises flows south westerly direction bristol joining course river bristol floating harbour mean flow cubic feet second shared rivers means fair fine river known east bristol originally joined downstream formed city defences thirteenth century river diverted belonging abbey major port improvement works late nineteenth early twentieth centuries lower reaches river river flows centre urban rivers suffered pollution stretches run parks reserves sustain range wildlife power water area river mouth developed shipyards eighteenth century city bristol developed nineteenth twentieth century flooding major problem construction storm drains course miles long rises grounds south gloucestershire flows north westerly direction joined brook left river turns south settlement met brook right bank continuing southwards crosses brook tributary merges left bank bradley brook joins right bank river passes underneath motorway passing enters urban environment passing right left turning south westerly direction river enters estate city park known vassal past entering steep valley passing park feeds boating lake met brook right river flows motorway parallels course disappearing underground upstream joined underground brook left brook right brief stretch uncovered river runs underneath street site near junction street christmas street main flow follows course marsh street road joins close section stone bridge flood relief channel navigation bridge grid reference river canoe required possible start bridge bridge bradley brook history river drops nearly feet result number corn mills established harness water power mills mill ponds today wheel preserved mill buildings survive private residence originally flowed east present day course underground gate line street joining near bristol bridge narrow strip high land rivers naturally strategic place saxon town later walled centre city develop robert 1st earl gloucester rebuilt diverted present day form castle moat city entirely surrounded water mid thirteenth century harbour busy decided divert new course marsh belonging abbey deep ditch dug join present site prince street bridge line river known floating harbour constructed tides increasing use open sewer combined loss action tides meant health hazard diverted locks main flow tidal new cut east open length crossed bridges half nineteenth century built wade street stone bridge covering stretch completely street run section trench stone bridge draw bridge near northern end baldwin street covered section point park street covered began near mouth bristol seventeenth century building warships narrow tombs dock built opposite builders including additional docks built docks closed etymology derives meaning fair fine confused rivers south west england historic spelling river pronounced nineteenth twentieth century river known uncertain suggest nickname taken derived australian slang word flooding mean flow measured cubic feet second peak october cubic feet second minimum august cubic foot second mean flow measured cubic feet second peak july cubic feet second minimum august cubic feet second classified river grade highest grade chemical content biology assessed grade mid measurements taken stretch river bradley brook passes bristol river prone flooding northern running downstream constructed control wade street river enters underground emerging centre centre risk flooding river point flood relief run castle park central bristol carry excess flows major floods included road wellington road october nearby melting snow bristol old ground area remains risk flooding severe weather conditions december killed flooded river night time valley walkway valley walkway public miles long runs entire length river bristol guide pamphlet published walkway created partnership local authorities wildlife organisations location action groups including invasive forum regular events include clearing invasive species guided walks natural history valley supports range wildlife plants passing near number nature reserves parks including fields valley park notable species include grey wild service trees species bats british populations endangered native white bristol area found river extinct
River Frome, Bristol