A Trip Along the Severn Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Plynlimon (the English spelling) is the highest point of the Cambrians and is the source of three rivers - the Wye, the Severn and the Rheidol, which flows only through Wales, reaching the sea at Aberystwyth. The Severn passes Newtown in Powys, then Welshpool which is only four miles (about 6.5 km) from the border with England.

Shrewsbury is the first major town on its route, and it's here that the river turns towards the south. Ironbridge is a village, not a major town, but is famous for being the site of the first major bridge built of iron, dating from the early part of the Industrial Revolution. The village takes its name from the bridge, and the gorge through which the Severn runs is also known as the Ironbridge Gorge. The final place in Shropshire in the narrative is the market town of Bridgnorth, another place named after a bridge built over the Severn. The earliest reliable record of a bridge in this town is 1272 and the river runs through the middle of the town.

The river has now reached Worcestershire, flowing through Stourport-on-Severn in the northern part of the county. The 'port' part of its name came about because it became the terminus of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal where it joined the river. The town grew as a result of its location from the 1770s onwards, as it became an inland port to serve the canal. The development of railways ended the need for transport by canals, which are now used primarily for leisure. The next stop on our journey is Worcester, where the river flows on the western side with the cathedral overlooking it. The cathedral is the final resting place of King John, who specifically requested that he be buried there. The country cricket ground is adjacent to the river and frequently ends up under water.

From Worcester, the river enters Gloucestershire and has its confluence with the River Avon at Tewkesbury. Historically, the town was the site of a major 1471 battle in the Wars of the Roses. The Abbey was originally built in the twelfth century and was a Benedictine monastery - it was saved from Henry VIII's destruction by being bought by the town and being designated as the parish church. Minsterworth is included in the quiz due to its position on the banks of the Severn and being one of the best place from which to watch the Severn Bore. This is a tidal wave which flows against the normal course of the river forming a wave. Surfers take advantage of this and the Bore, which happens between 120 and 140 times a year, always attracts a crowd.

From here we reach the city of Gloucester, another place with a long-established cathedral and the burial place of Robert Curthose, son of William the Conqueror and also of the ill-fated King Edward II. Rather more recently, some scenes in the 'Harry Potter' films used the Cathedral as locations. The Three Choirs Festival is an event which involves the cities of Worcester, Gloucester and Hereford. The river is nearing its estuary now, and we can visit Lydney on its west bank. The town is part of the Royal Forest of Dean. Opposite, south of Gloucester and near Stroud, is Sharpness which became a vital port when the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal opened. Like Stourport it is primarily used by pleasure boats now.

Berkeley lies about halfway between Gloucester and Bristol and the Severn is now reaching its estuary. This small town has two big claims to fame as it's where Edward Jenner lived and developed the first effective vaccine against smallpox. The other is its castle, home to the Berkeley family since the twelfth century. King Edward II reputedly met his death here in 1327 with a red hot poker being involved in his demise.

The estuary is much wider now, and it's near Chepstow, on the Welsh side of the river, that the River Wye finishes its different route from Plynlimon by flowing into the Severn estuary near the southern border between Wales and England. The first Severn Bridge was built near here before the increase of traffic led to a second bridge opening in 2018, further downstream. The Severn estuary opens further, becoming the Bristol Channel at the end of its journey. This eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean to finish the Severn's route to the ocean.