River Brant
{{short description|River in Lincolnshire, England}}
{{Infobox river
| name = River Brant
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology =
| image = River Brant - geograph.org.uk - 130620.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = The River Brant at Blackmoor bridge
| map =
| map_size =
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United Kingdom
| subdivision_type2 = Country within the UK
| subdivision_name2 = England
| subdivision_type3 = Counties
| subdivision_name3 = Lincolnshire
| subdivision_type4 = District
| subdivision_name4 = North Kesteven, South Kesteven
| subdivision_type5 = Villages
| subdivision_name5 = Gelston, Brandon, Stragglethorpe, Brant Broughton
| length_km = 23
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
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| discharge1_location = Brant Broughton{{cite web |url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/meanflow/30033 |title=30033 – Brant at Brant Broughton |work=The National River Flow Archive |publisher=Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |access-date=4 May 2013}}
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|0.24|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/meanflow/30033 |title=30033 – Brant at Brant Broughton |work=The National River Flow Archive |publisher=Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |access-date=4 May 2013}}
| discharge1_max =
| source1 =
| source1_location = Gelston, Lincolnshire
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|52.9948|-0.6438|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|60|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth =
| mouth_location = River Witham near South Hykeham, Lincolnshire
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|53.1623|-0.5772|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size_km2 = 138
| tributaries_left = Sand Beck, West Brant Syke
| tributaries_right = The Beck
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra = Progression : Brant — Witham — The Haven — North Sea
}}
The River Brant is a {{convert|14|mi|km|0|abbr=on|adj=mid|-long}} tributary of the River Witham that flows entirely within the county of Lincolnshire, in the east of England.
In 1855 the river was described as follows:Lewis, Samuel. [https://books.google.com/books?id=BUNTxplv8Y0C The Book of English Rivers: An Account of the Rivers of England and Wales, Particularizing Their Respective Courses, Their Most Striking Scenery, and the Chief Places of Interest on Their Banks], original edition (1855), p. 46, {{ISBN|9781108025492}}, accessed 5 May 2013
"Brant, a tributary of the Witham in the western part of the county of Lincoln. This small stream has its rise in several fine springs in the parish of Hough-on-the-Hill, and pursues its humble course in a northern direction, westward of a range of high land."
Name
The origin of the name is from the Old English brant (meaning "steep", "deep"), referring to a steeply sloping incline.{{cite web |url=http://www.loveden.org.uk/brandonhistory.html |title=Brandon History |publisher=loveden.org.uk |access-date=7 May 2013}}
Course
The Brant rises on the flank of Summerfields Hill to the south-west of Gelston near Hough-on-the-Hill, and curves round such that it flows almost directly north, parallel to the Limestone Lincolnshire Edge. The river flows past Brandon to which it gives its name, then reaches Stragglethorpe where it is joined by The Beck, which drains Fulbeck. At Brant Broughton it meets with its largest tributary the Sand Beck, and then continues north passing the Low Fields of Navenby, Boothby Graffoe and Coleby where it flows to the west of the deserted medieval village of Skinnand and the remains of Somerton Castle. Further north it then reaches its confluence with the River Witham between the villages of Aubourn and South Hykeham.{{cite web |url=http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?topic=wfd_rivers&layerGroups=default&lang=_e&ep=map&scale=7&x=420369.21874999994&y=349517.93750000005#x=494783&y=345999&lg=1,7,8,9,5,6,&scale=5 |title=Environment Agency What's in your Backyard |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=5 May 2013}}{{cite book |author=Ordnance Survey |title=Lincoln & Newark-on-Trent |publisher=Ordnance Survey |year=2009 |series=OS Landranger Map Series |isbn=9780319227213}}
{{Location map+ |Lincolnshire
| relief = 1
| caption = {{small|Map showing Lincoln, and the course of the Brant and locations along its length in Lincolnshire}}
| places =
{{Location map~ |Lincolnshire
| label = Gelston
| background = |marksize=7
| position = bottom
| lat = 52.997
| long = -0.6411
}}
{{Location map~ |Lincolnshire
| label = Lincoln
| background = darkseagreen|marksize=7
| lat = 53.2281
| long = -0.5438
| position = left
}}
{{Location map~ |Lincolnshire
| label = Brandon
| background = |marksize=7
| position = left
| lat = 53.02
| long = -0.65
}}
{{Location map~ |Lincolnshire
| label = Brant Broughton
| background =
| lat = 53.0777
| long = -0.6325
| marksize = 7
}}
{{Location map~ |Lincolnshire
| label = Mouth
| background = |marksize=7
| lat = 53.1623
| long = -0.5772
}}
| float = left
| background = white
| width = 270
}}{{clear left}}