River Axe, Somerset
The
River Axe is a
river in south west
England. The river
rises from the ground at
Wookey Hole in the
Mendip Hills in
Somerset. The geology of the area is
limestone and the water proceeds down to Wookey Hole in a series of underground channels that have eroded through the
soluble limestone.
From Wookey Hole the river flows through a
ravine and then west through the village of
Wookey. At Wookey the River splits into two channels with the ‘Lower River Axe’ running past to the south of the village west towards
Henton and then onto
Panborough Moor where it joins a series of rhynes and drains supplying water to the wetland in the area. The Lower River Axe then runs north along the west most edge of
Knowle Moor whilst the River Axe continues west through the same moor. The two channels meet again on the boundary between Knowle and Panborough Moors.
The river continues northwest past
Wedmore Moor and through
Oxmoor,
Stoke Moor and
Monk Moor. The river passes through the settlement of
Lower Weare and on to the south of
Loxton. From this point until it reaches the coast at
Weston-super-Mare Bay the river forms the northern boundary of the county. The lower reaches of the Axe have a history of
navigation from the harbour at
Uphill through to the settlement of
Weare. The current tidal limit of the Axe is the sluice gates at
Bleadon and
Brean Cross.
*
Taunton Stop Line*
Somerset Levels
