River Anton
{{Short description|River in Hampshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox river
| name = (River) Anton
| name_other =
| name_etymology =
| image = RiverAnton.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_caption = The River Anton at Goodworth Clatford
| image_alt = Picture of a stretch of river
| pushpin_map = Hampshire
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption= Outflow of the river in northern Hampshire
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_relief = 0
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = England
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = Hampshire
| subdivision_type3 = Towns
| subdivision_name3 = Andover
| subdivision_type4 = District/Borough
| subdivision_name4 = Test Valley
| length = {{cvt|9.3|mi}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location=
| discharge1_min =
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| source1 =
| source1_location = Andover
| source1_coordinates= {{Coord|51.227661|-1.4821377|region:GB|format=dms}}
| source1_elevation =
| mouth =
| mouth_location = River Test at Goodworth Clatford
| mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|51.150919|-1.455768|region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression = Andover, Test, Southampton Water (sub-arm of English Channel, arm of Atlantic Ocean)
| river_system =
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| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right = Pillhill Brook
| waterbodies =
}}
The River Anton is a chalk stream in Hampshire in south east England. It rises in Andover and flows southwards for approximately {{convert|8|mi}} to meet the River Test near Chilbolton.{{cite web |url= https://www.westoverfarm.co.uk/river-anton |title= River Anton, Hampshire |author= |publisher= Westover Farm Partnership |access-date= 8 September 2020 }} The principal tributary of the Anton, the Pillhill Brook, joins the river at Upper Clatford.{{Cite book|title=English River Names|author=Eilert Ekwall|date=1928|publisher=OUP|pages=15}}
Course
The river rises in Anton Lakes nature reserve, in north Andover, just below King Arthur's Way, and flows through the centre of the town. It then flows in a southerly direction through the villages of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford and Cottonworth before meeting the Test just below Chilbolton.Ordnance Survey (2004). OS Explorer Map 131 - Romsey, Andover & Test Valley. {{ISBN|0-319-23600-5}}.
It is a chalk stream with failing quality water and supports a wide variety of wildlife. The river is the subject of the "River Anton Enhancement Strategy",[http://www.testvalley.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=7135 TVBC Site, Anton River Enhancement Scheme] a partnership with several agencies and local organisations to improve the river.
Leisure facilities
The Anton has some very good trout fishing with frequent catches of large specimens; fly fishing is the only method allowed. The fishing rights are private.{{CN|date=April 2021}}
Created as part of its Enhancement Scheme, the River Anton Way was originally a scenic {{cvt|3.8|mile}} walk along the river from Charlton Lakes in the north, via the town centre to Rooksbury Mill Local Nature Reserve in the south. In 2015, proposed by the Andover Ramblers and sponsored by Test Valley Borough Council, the way was extended by {{cvt|5.5|miles}} through the parishes of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford, Wherwell and Chilbolton.{{cite web |title=River Anton Wey |url=https://www.testvalley.gov.uk/communityandleisure/naturereserves/river-anton |website=Test Valley Borough Council |accessdate=20 August 2020}}
Watermills
There were five watermills along the river; Anton Mill,{{cite web |title=Anton Mill, Andover |url=https://new.millsarchive.org/mills/index/?action=show&which=6662 |website=Mills Archive |accessdate=8 September 2020}} Town Mill,{{cite web |title=Town Mill, Andover |url=https://new.millsarchive.org/mills/index/?action=show&which=6663 |website=Mills Archive |accessdate=8 September 2020}} and Rooksbury Mill,{{cite web |title=Rooksbury Mill, Andover |url=https://new.millsarchive.org/mills/index/?action=show&which=6657 |website=Mills Archive |accessdate=8 September 2020}} all in Andover, along with Copthall Place Mill at Clatford{{cite web |title=Copthall Place Mill |url=https://new.millsarchive.org/mills/index/?action=show&which=6661 |website=Mills Archive |accessdate=8 September 2020}} and Fullerton Mill.{{cite web |title=Fullerton Mill |url=https://new.millsarchive.org/mills/index/?action=show&which=2800 |website=Mills Archive |accessdate=8 September 2020}} Flour is still milled in Andover but at the electrically powered Junction Mills.{{cite web |title=Junction Mills, Andover |url=https://new.millsarchive.org/mills/index/?action=show&which=12768 |website=Mills Archive |accessdate=8 September 2020}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/help/glossary |website=Catchment Data Explorer |title=Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status) |publisher=Environment Agency |date=17 February 2016}} 30px Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.
Water quality of the River Anton in 2019:
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| Section | Ecological Status | Chemical Status | Overall Status | Length | Catchment | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Anton - Lower |asset= GB107042022780}}
| {{waterqual_mod}} | {{waterqual_fail}} | {{waterqual_mod}} | {{convert| 7.077 |km|mi|abbr=on}} | {{convert| 32.876 |km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} | | ||||||
| {{waterqual_title |desc=Anton - Upper |asset= GB107042022810}}
| {{waterqual_good}} | {{waterqual_fail}} | {{waterqual_mod}} | {{convert| 7.437 |km|mi|abbr=on}} | {{convert| 99.822 |km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} | Heavily modified; |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Hydrology of Hampshire}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anton}}