River Brit
{{Short description|River in west Dorset, England}}{{use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox river
| name = River Brit
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other =
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| image = File:Palmers Brewery - geograph.org.uk - 1232454.jpg
| image_size = 240
| image_caption = River Brit at Palmers Brewery, Bridport
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = United Kingdom Dorset
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Dorset
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = England
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = Dorset
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| subdivision_type4 = District
| subdivision_name4 = Dorset
| subdivision_type5 = Towns and villages
| subdivision_name5 = West Bay, Bridport, Netherbury, Beaminster
| length = {{Convert|15.17|km|mi|abbr=on}}
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| discharge1_location = West Bay
| discharge1_min =
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| source1 = Beaminster
| source1_location = Dorset, England
| source1_coordinates =
| source1_elevation =
| mouth =
| mouth_location = West Bay, Dorset, England
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|50.7089|-2.7638|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression =
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| tributaries_left = River Asker
| tributaries_right = River Simene
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The River Brit is a river in west Dorset in south-west England, which rises just to the north of Beaminster. It then flows south to Netherbury and Bridport, where it is joined by tributaries: the River Simene and River Asker. South of Bridport, it reaches Lyme Bay on the English Channel coast, at West Bay.Frome, Piddle & West Dorset Fisheries Association [http://www.riverfrome.com/?page_id=202 Retrieved 22 May 2017.] The Brit has a length of {{convert|15.17|km|order=flip}}.Geoview [http://gb.geoview.info/river_brit,29287924w Retrieved 9 June 2020.]
Name
The river takes its name from the town of Bridport, which in turn derives from the River Bride, the neighbouring drainage basin to the east, which has connections with Bridport's early history. Before the establishment of Bridport, the Brit was named the River Wooth. This is still reflected in the names of settlements, such as Wooth Manor and Camesworth.{{cite web|url=http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/History/C%20J%20Baileys%20The%20Bride%20Valley/The%20Natural%20Setting.htm|title=Extracts from C.J. Bailey's Book "The Bride Valley"|publisher=www.burtonbradstock.org.uk|author=C. J. Bailey|access-date=5 March 2014|date=1982}}
Natural history
The river has Indian balsam plants on its banks.[http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2008/11/the-flowers-of-dorsets-riversides/ Dorset Life magazine - the flowers of Dorset's riversides] It was previously polluted by the local hemp and flax industries and by sewage discharges, but the environment of the river has improved in recent years. Fish species found include the stone loach, brown trout and minnows. These in turn support wildlife such as kingfishers and otters. Conditions are healthy enough to support the parr of salmon and sea trout, which live in the river for two to five years before turning into smolt and returning to the sea; fish passes have been installed to facilitate this.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- Video of paddling up the River Brit [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X81pLOB0sg Retrieved 22 May 2017.]
{{Dorset}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brit, River}}
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{{England-river-stub}}