Cheddar Yeo

File:Gough's Cave, Alladdin's Cave.jpg]]

The Yeo rises from a spring near Charterhouse and then disappears under the Limestone of the Mendip Hills before reappearing in Gough's Cave before emerging into Cheddar Gorge. Within Gough's Cave the river forms the largest underground river system in Britain.{{Cite web|url=http://somersetrivers.org/index.php?module=Content&func=view&pid=57|title=Cheddar Yeo|publisher=Somerset Rivers|access-date=30 March 2010}} From a point relatively close to the areas of the cave open to the public, the cave-divers' descent into Sump 1a begins through a tight passage known as Dire Straits. The bottom of that passage opens into the river passage, which is several meters across. This has been explored for {{convert|335|m|ft|abbr=on}} downstream, whilst upstream a dive of {{convert|150|m|ft|abbr=on}} brings the diver out in a {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}} long chamber named Lloyd Hall (which can now also be reached by an alternative, dry, route).{{Cite book|last=Thomas |first=Alan|title=The Last Adventure |year= 1989 |publisher=Ina Books |location=Wells |isbn=1-869897-05-6 }} which contains a first-hand account of the exploration of the river passage by Richard Stevenson{{Cite book|last=Irwin |first=David John |author2=Knibbs Anthony J. |title=Mendip Underground: A Cavers Guide |year= 1999 |publisher=Bat Products |location=Wells |isbn=0-9536103-0-6 }} – which also contains a detailed description of the cave. Another dive of {{convert|140|m|ft|abbr=on}} through Sump 1b, finishing with an ascent through a rising passage, leads to another chamber, {{convert|60|m|ft|0}} long and {{convert|25|m|ft|0}} wide at its widest point, and full of large boulders, called Bishop's Palace. This chamber is the largest chamber currently found in the Cheddar caves. Further on, three sump pools (named the Duck Ponds) lead to Sump 2 which is about {{convert|27|m|ft|0}} deep at its lowest point and {{convert|150|m|ft|0}} long. Air is again reached at Sheppard's Crook, which is followed by Sump 3. This sump is {{convert|55|m|ft|0}} deep and at its bottommost point is about {{convert|30|m|ft|0}} below sea level. Following Sump 3, a wide ascending passage continues for {{convert|370|m|ft|0}} before reaching an impassable blockage, still below the water's surface.

After emerging from the cave the river flows through Cheddar past the site of a Saxon palace,{{Cite web| url= http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-769-1/ahds/dissemination/pdf/vol06-07/6_053_066.pdf | last= Rahtz | first= Phillip | publisher= Archaeology Data Service | title= The Saxon and Medieval Palaces at Cheddar, Somerset — an Interim Report of Excavations in 1960–62 | access-date=31 March 2008}}{{Cite web|url=http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/EUS_CheddarText.pdf |title=Cheddar Archaeological Assessment |last=Richardson |first=Miranda |year=2003 |work=Somerset Extensive Urban Survey |publisher=Somerset County Council |access-date=30 March 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915134755/http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/EUS_CheddarText.pdf |archive-date=15 September 2011 }} in the grounds of The Kings of Wessex School, together with a 14th-century chapel dedicated to St. Columbanus.{{Cite web| url= https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1173737 | work= historicengland.org.uk | title= Former chapel dedicated to St Columbanus | access-date=31 March 2008}} Roman remains have also been uncovered at the site.{{Cite news| title=School dig uncovers Roman grave | publisher= BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/4630806.stm | date=20 January 2006 | access-date=31 March 2008}}

It then flows south under a disused railway bridge which used to carry the Cheddar Valley line and west through Rackley before joining the River Axe.

The catchment area is {{convert|54|sqkm|sqmi}}.

File:Cheddar Yeo from Hythe Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 193386.jpg

As early as 1527 there are records of watermills on the river. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were several watermills which ground corn and made paper, with 13 mills on the Yeo at the peak, declining to seven by 1791 and just three by 1915.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parish-council.com/Cheddar/index.asp?pageid=148051 |publisher=Cheddar Parish Council |first=John |last=Outhwaite |title=A Short History of Cheddar |access-date=30 March 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715043919/http://www.parish-council.com/Cheddar/index.asp?pageid=148051 |archive-date=15 July 2011 }}

In the Victorian era it also became a centre for the production of clothing.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cheddarvillage.co.uk/about.htm |title=A brief history of Cheddar |publisher=Cheddar Web Site |access-date=30 March 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305120412/http://www.cheddarvillage.co.uk/about.htm |archive-date= 5 March 2010 }} The last mill in Cheddar, which was used as a shirt factory, closed in the early 1950s.

Rackley was a trading port in the Middle Ages following construction of a wharf in 1200. In 1324 Edward II confirmed it as a borough, however by the end of the 14th century the port was in decline.{{Cite web |url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/12861/EUS_RackleyText.pdf |title=An archaeological assessment of Rackley |access-date=26 November 2008 |publisher=Somerset County Council }}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the 14th century a French ship sailed up the river and by 1388 Thomas Tanner from Wells used Rackley to export cloth and corn to Portugal, and received iron and salt in exchange. Later slate was imported through this route and it may have still be possible to trade through Rackley until the act of 1915 authorising the drainage of the Axe and installation of the flood gate at Bleadon.{{Cite book|last=Toulson |first=Shirley |title=The Mendip Hills: A Threatened Landscape |year=1984 |publisher=Victor Gollancz |location=London |isbn=0-575-03453-X }}

There was also a small port at Hythe on the Wedmore Road, just south of Cheddar, which was used until the 19th century.{{Cite web|url=http://www.realalternativesite.com/cheddar-cheddar-cheddar-water-a-2064.html |title=The Cheddar Yeo or Cheddar Water |publisher=Real Alternative Site |access-date=30 March 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810061329/http://www.realalternativesite.com/cheddar-cheddar-cheddar-water-a-2064.html |archive-date=10 August 2009 }}

File:Cheddar Yeo weir and reservoir feed.jpg

Water from the river also flows into Cheddar Reservoir which is a circular artificial reservoir operated by Bristol Water. The inlet grate for the {{convert|54|in|m|1}} water pipe that is used to transport the water can be seen next to the sensory garden in Cheddar Gorge. Dating from the 1930s, the reservoir has a capacity of {{convert|135|e6impgal|m3}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bristolwater.co.uk/leisure/cheddar-info.asp |title=Cheddar Reservoir Introduction |publisher=Bristol Water |access-date=30 March 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325204405/http://www.bristolwater.co.uk/leisure/cheddar-info.asp |archive-date=25 March 2010 }} It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its wintering waterfowl populations.[http://www.english-nature.org.uk/Special/sssi/sssi_details.cfm?sssi_id=1003948 English Nature SSSI information for Cheddar Reservoir] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524222856/http://www.english-nature.org.uk/Special/sssi/sssi_details.cfm?sssi_id=1003948 |date=24 May 2011 }}

In 2007 it announced that the new reservoir close to the existing site would be one of the options considered in its Draft 2009 Water Resources Plan.{{Cite web

|url=http://www.bristol-water.co.uk/pdf/environment/scoping.pdf

|page=6

|publisher=Entec

|title=Strategic Environmental Assessment of Bristol Water's Draft Water Resources Plan — Scoping Report

|date=October 2007

|access-date=15 April 2008

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716144922/http://www.bristol-water.co.uk/pdf/environment/scoping.pdf

|archive-date=16 July 2011

}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bristol-water.co.uk/pdf/environment/waterResourcePlan.pdf |page=30 |publisher=Bristol Water |title=Water Resources Plan |date=April 2004 |access-date=15 April 2008 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716144852/http://www.bristol-water.co.uk/pdf/environment/waterResourcePlan.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2011 }} The new reservoir would hold 6,000 million litres, roughly the same size as the existing reservoir, and built on the alluvial flood plain the Cheddar Yeo.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bristolwater.co.uk/pdf/environment/wrp2010/APP10/Cheddar%20Reservoir%202%20S001%20Preliminary%20design%20report%20rev%203.pdf |title=WR1 – Cheddar Reservoir Number 2 Preliminary Design Report |publisher=Bristol Water |access-date=30 March 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716064556/http://www.bristolwater.co.uk/pdf/environment/wrp2010/APP10/Cheddar%20Reservoir%202%20S001%20Preliminary%20design%20report%20rev%203.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}

The Environment Agency have rated the Cheddar Yeo as having moderate water ecological quality, but failed the chemical assessment in 2016.{{cite web|title=Cheddar Yeo – source to conf Stubbingham Rhyne|url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB109052021540|publisher=Environment Agency|access-date=23 August 2017}}

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File:Cheddar Yeo near Cross - geograph.org.uk - 74549.jpg

File:Goughscave.jpg

File:Cheddar Yeo.jpg

File:Cheddar Yeo looking north.jpg

File:Disused railway bridge over the Cheddar Yeo.jpg

File:Bridge over Cheddar Yeo at Hythe - geograph.org.uk - 113116.jpg

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Category:Rivers of Somerset

Category:North Somerset

Category:Somerset Levels

Category:Mendip Hills

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