For the river in Hampshire formerly known as the River Exe, see Beaulieu River.
The River Exe (/ˈɛks/EKS) in England rises at Exe Head, near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, 5.2 miles (8.4 km) from the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It flows for 60 miles (96 km)[1] and reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south (English Channel) coast of Devon. Historically, its lowest bridging point was the Old Exe Bridge in Exeter, the largest settlement on the river, but there is now a viaduct for the M5 motorway about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the city centre.
River Exe
The Exe Estuary from a balloon over Exeter. The M5 motorway is in the foreground, Topsham on the left bank just beyond, and Exmouth at the river mouth opposite Dawlish Warren.
The river's name derives from *Uɨsk, a Common Brittonic root meaning "abounding in fish", and a cognate of both the Irishiasc, meaning "fish", and pysg, the plural word for "fish" in Welsh.[2][3] The same root separately developed into the EnglishAxe and Esk, the WelshUsk, though not, as some have claimed, the word whisky, this latter being from the Classical Irish/Gaelicuisgi "water" (the fuller phrase being uisgi betha; Irish: uisce beatha; Scottish Gaelic: uisge beatha; "aqua vitae" ("water of life")).
The river's name occurs in Exeter ("fortress on the Exe") and many other settlements along its course, including Exford, Up Exe, Nether Exe, Exwick, Exton, Exminster, and Exebridge,[4] where it is joined by the River Barle. The seaside town of Exmouth is at the east side of the estuary mouth, and Dawlish Warren is at the west, with its long sand spit extending across the mouth.
The river fuelled Exeter's growth and relative importance in medieval times. The city's first industrial area was developed at Exe Island, which was created in the 10th century by digging a series of leats into the sandy and marshy land bordering the river. The island became home to numerous watermills producing paper and textiles.[5]
Tides on the river are limited at Trews Weir in Exeter, two kilometres upstream of Countess Wear, the site of a former weir commissioned by the Countess of Devon in the 13th century.[6] The Exeter Canal bypassed this weir to enable ships to reach Exeter Quay. At high tide, the estuary forms a large body of water that is heavily used for water sports especially sailing, windsurfing and water skiing.
At low tide, extensive mud flats are exposed, and these are an important feeding source for wading birds. Along with other rias in South West England, the Exe estuary is an important site for wintering waders. Dawlish Warren is a favoured site for birdwatching. The river has a low pH but does not suffer from a serious acid rain problem. It is populated with wild brown trout , and in the lower reaches coarse fish including dace, chub, perch, roach, pike and bream and some grayling, the average size being 8–10 ounces (230–280 g). There is a run of Atlantic salmon and a sparse run of sea trout. Just 150 metres (490 ft) below the union of the River Barle is Black Pool, which is one of the best, and highest salmon pools on the river. The smaller fish species present include stone loach and there are good reasons to assume others are present.
2008 clearing operationedit
In 2008 the Environment Agency embarked on a project to clear vegetation from the river in Exeter. In order to do so the water level was lowered further than during the worst droughts that Exeter had seen.[7]
^The Statesman’s Year-Book World Gazetteer ed. John Paxton
^Eilert Ekwall (1981). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. Oxford [Eng.]: OUP. p. 171. ISBN0-19-869103-3.
^Owen, H.W. & Morgan, R. 2007 Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales Gomer Press, Ceredigion; Gwasg Gomer / Gomer Press; page 484.
^A.D. Mills (2003). A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford Paperbook Reference. ISBN978-0198527589.
^"The Leats of Exeter – a short history". Exeter Memories. from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
^. www.exetermemories.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 February 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
^"River Exe runs dry to make way for Flood Defence Work". www.thisisexeter.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
Further readingedit
Lawrence, Rod (1999). The Exe: A River for Wildlife. Bradford-on-Avon.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to River Exe.
RSPB reserves: Exminster & Powderham Marshes
Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve
January 10, 2024
river, river, hampshire, formerly, known, beaulieu, river, england, rises, head, near, village, simonsbath, exmoor, somerset, miles, from, bristol, channel, coast, flows, more, less, directly, south, that, most, length, lies, devon, flows, miles, reaches, subs. For the river in Hampshire formerly known as the River Exe see Beaulieu River The River Exe ˈ ɛ k s EKS in England rises at Exe Head near the village of Simonsbath on Exmoor in Somerset 5 2 miles 8 4 km from the Bristol Channel coast but flows more or less directly due south so that most of its length lies in Devon It flows for 60 miles 96 km 1 and reaches the sea at a substantial ria the Exe Estuary on the south English Channel coast of Devon Historically its lowest bridging point was the Old Exe Bridge in Exeter the largest settlement on the river but there is now a viaduct for the M5 motorway about 2 miles 3 2 km south of the city centre River ExeThe Exe Estuary from a balloon over Exeter The M5 motorway is in the foreground Topsham on the left bank just beyond and Exmouth at the river mouth opposite Dawlish Warren LocationCountryEnglandCountiesDevon SomersetSettlementsExeter Tiverton ExmouthPhysical characteristicsSourceExe Head locationnear Simonsbath Somerset England coordinates51 09 33 N 3 47 12 W 51 15917 N 3 78667 W 51 15917 3 78667 elevation440 m 1 440 ft MouthLyme Bay locationEnglish Channel coordinates50 36 53 N 3 25 30 W 50 61472 N 3 42500 W 50 61472 3 42500 elevation0 m 0 ft Discharge locationThorverton average15 89 m3 s 561 cu ft s minimum0 44 m3 s 16 cu ft s 27 August 1976 maximum492 6 m3 s 17 400 cu ft s 4 December 1960Discharge locationStoodleigh average12 41 m3 s 438 cu ft s Discharge locationPixton average4 47 m3 s 158 cu ft s Basin featuresTributaries leftRiver Haddeo River Culm River Clyst rightRiver Barle River Creedy Exeter as seen from the River Watercolour on paper by John White AbbottExe mouthExe headclass notpageimage Map showing the location of source and mouth within Somerset and Devon The Exe Estuary with Powderham Castle in the background Exeter from Trew s Weir circa 1799 Watercolour on paper by Thomas Girtin Contents 1 Topography 2 2008 clearing operation 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksTopography edit nbsp The River Exe at Exeter Quay The river s name derives from Uɨsk a Common Brittonic root meaning abounding in fish and a cognate of both the Irish iasc meaning fish and pysg the plural word for fish in Welsh 2 3 The same root separately developed into the English Axe and Esk the Welsh Usk though not as some have claimed the word whisky this latter being from the Classical Irish Gaelic uisgi water the fuller phrase being uisgi betha Irish uisce beatha Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha aqua vitae water of life The river s name occurs in Exeter fortress on the Exe and many other settlements along its course including Exford Up Exe Nether Exe Exwick Exton Exminster and Exebridge 4 where it is joined by the River Barle The seaside town of Exmouth is at the east side of the estuary mouth and Dawlish Warren is at the west with its long sand spit extending across the mouth The river fuelled Exeter s growth and relative importance in medieval times The city s first industrial area was developed at Exe Island which was created in the 10th century by digging a series of leats into the sandy and marshy land bordering the river The island became home to numerous watermills producing paper and textiles 5 Tides on the river are limited at Trews Weir in Exeter two kilometres upstream of Countess Wear the site of a former weir commissioned by the Countess of Devon in the 13th century 6 The Exeter Canal bypassed this weir to enable ships to reach Exeter Quay At high tide the estuary forms a large body of water that is heavily used for water sports especially sailing windsurfing and water skiing Railways run along both sides of the estuary The Avocet Line from Exeter to Exmouth on the eastern side and the South Devon main line on the western The latter is on a causeway the South Devon Railway sea wall from Powderham to Dawlish Warren The Exmouth to Starcross Ferry carries passengers across the mouth of the estuary during the summer months linking the harbour at Exmouth with a pier adjacent to Starcross railway station on the South Devon main line At low tide extensive mud flats are exposed and these are an important feeding source for wading birds Along with other rias in South West England the Exe estuary is an important site for wintering waders Dawlish Warren is a favoured site for birdwatching The river has a low pH but does not suffer from a serious acid rain problem It is populated with wild brown trout and in the lower reaches coarse fish including dace chub perch roach pike and bream and some grayling the average size being 8 10 ounces 230 280 g There is a run of Atlantic salmon and a sparse run of sea trout Just 150 metres 490 ft below the union of the River Barle is Black Pool which is one of the best and highest salmon pools on the river The smaller fish species present include stone loach and there are good reasons to assume others are present 2008 clearing operation editIn 2008 the Environment Agency embarked on a project to clear vegetation from the river in Exeter In order to do so the water level was lowered further than during the worst droughts that Exeter had seen 7 See also editRivers of the United KingdomReferences edit The Statesman s Year Book World Gazetteer ed John Paxton Eilert Ekwall 1981 The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place names Oxford Eng OUP p 171 ISBN 0 19 869103 3 Owen H W amp Morgan R 2007 Dictionary of the Place names of Wales Gomer Press Ceredigion Gwasg Gomer Gomer Press page 484 A D Mills 2003 A Dictionary of British Place Names Oxford Paperbook Reference ISBN 978 0198527589 The Leats of Exeter a short history Exeter Memories Archived from the original on 15 August 2018 Retrieved 26 April 2019 Exeter Memories Countess Wear www exetermemories co uk Archived from the original on 7 February 2008 Retrieved 12 March 2008 River Exe runs dry to make way for Flood Defence Work www thisisexeter co uk Retrieved 14 March 2008 Further reading editLawrence Rod 1999 The Exe A River for Wildlife Bradford on Avon External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to River Exe RSPB reserves Exminster amp Powderham Marshes Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title River Exe amp oldid 1193230249, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
