Harbourne River Explained

Harbourne River
Map:Harbourne River map.png
Map Size:200
Pushpin Map Size:200
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:England
Subdivision Type3:County
Subdivision Name3:Devon
Length:20km (10miles)
Source1:Harbourne Head
Source1 Coordinates:50.4714°N -3.8397°W
Mouth Location:Bow
Mouth Coordinates:50.5971°N -3.672°W

The Harbourne River is a river in Devon in England. Its estuary is known as Bow Creek, and flows into the River Dart near Stoke Gabriel.

The river rises on the slopes of Gripper's Hill on Dean Moor on Dartmoor. From the source it flows generally south east, under the A38 road, to the village of Harberton. There it turns south, then east through Harbertonford to the hamlet of Bow near Ashprington. Below Bow the river is tidal, and becomes Bow Creek. Two miles below Bow, the estuary joins the Dart. The hamlet of Tuckenhay lies on the south bank of Bow Creek.

There was a history of milling on the river. From the late 18th century there was a woollen mill at Harbertonford, fed by a leat from a weir upstream of the village.[1] Until flood defence works were completed in 2002, the river caused periodic flooding at Harbertonford.[2]

The river gives its name to Harbourne Blue, a goat's cheese made near Ashprington.

References

  1. Web site: Harberton Woollen Mill Leat. Heritage Gateway. 1 Nov 2018.
  2. Web site: Harnessing the Harbourne. A flood defence scheme for Harbertonford. Environment Agency. 1 Nov 2018. 1 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160401115903/http://www.harbertonford.org.uk/#/palmers-dam/4591389919. dead.