In its lower reaches from Bath to the Severn Estuary at Avonmouth near Bristol , the river is navigable and known as the Avon Navigation. The Avon is the 19th longest river in the UK at 75 miles km although there are just 19 miles 31 km as the crow flies between the source and its mouth in the Severn Estuary. The catchment area is 2, square kilometres sq mi.
Claverton Pumping Station. Quick facts for kids. Path of the Avon [1]. The town's location made trade links with South Wales, Ireland, and more northerly territories not only possible but lucrative. A few centuries later, and thanks to the river, Bristol was again in a key position. The growing city began to monopolise trade with the Americas and with West Africa. By the early 18th century, the growing port was second only to London that was dominating trade with the far east.
Making the Avon navigable in further boosted trade opportunities for Bath as well as Bristol. This 'Golden Age' wasn't to last however. Ships were becoming larger and other ports such as Liverpool were better equipped to trade with the west. The port of Bristol began to decline. A very active debate occurred in the Upper Chamber on 5 March , but eventually it was decided that a Select Committee should be set up.
This was a financial step too far for the objectors, so left the Council with an unopposed run to obtain a Bill, but many useful amendments eventually occurred because of the representations. This suggestion was supported by Cabot Cruising Club, an organisation more orientated to seagoing craft.
This shed was originally a bonded sherry warehouse but at that time used as a stolen car pound and also due for demolition as part of the scheme.
An organising committee was quickly formed comprising:. The above were the hard core of people who went on to raise funds to organise the first Bristol Water Festival, and subsequent two years. So how was this done? This included 25 small craft that came down from the Midlands waterway system in an escorted convoy from Sharpness to supplement local craft from the Bristol Avon and visitors from South Wales ports. There was a formal civic party to open the event, there was a lot of favourable comment in the Press, and a precedent was set for the future.
In August the Council obtained their Parliamentary Bill to alter the harbour which had become the Bristol Corporation Act , but with significant amendments:. In November the joint committee decided to hold another BWF in , and by this time the Council had appointed Sir Hugh Casson to advise on development potential for leisure and recreation. The significant difference was the presence of several large vessels:. Over manhours were spent landscaping with a bulldozer, clearing rubble, painting the dock furniture, and tree planting.
Again there was the significant presence of several large vessels:. The Feeder Canal link was still under threat and posed a threat to the possible coast to coast route for the Kennet and Avon Canal that was being restored at the time.
A second working party was organised called the Feeder Canal Improvement Scheme to improve the visual amenity, this was held in March and involved clearance and planting trees between Totterdown Basin to Netham Lock. Yet another working party was organised in August to complete the planned improvements, but by that time things had changed. The Local Government reorganisation of May created the new County of Avon, and the amendments to the Bristol Corporation Act had included a 4 year time limit being imposed to carry out the work, so the Bill lapsed.
Bearing in mind the considerable time, responsibility and workload involved in organising the 3 Festivals, the decision was made by the IWA and CCC volunteers to stand down from organising the event.
From for the following 4 years the annual event was still organised by volunteers with assistance from the Council, but renamed the Bristol Regatta and Rally of Boats.
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