{{Short description|River in Worcestershire, England}} {{distinguish|Bowbrook}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Use British English|date=November 2016}} {{for|the river in Hampshire|Bow Brook, Hampshire}} {{Infobox river | name = Bow Brook | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = Bow Brook near Froxmere Court - geograph.org.uk - 808213.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Bow Brook near Froxmere Court | map = | map_size = 265 | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Worcestershire | pushpin_map_size = 265 | pushpin_map_caption= Location within Worcestershire <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = England | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = Counties | subdivision_name3 = Worcestershire | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = {{convert|46|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= Besford Bridge | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = {{convert|1.1|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = | source1_location = | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = | mouth = | mouth_location = River Avon | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|52.0809|-2.1191|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}
The '''Bow Brook''' is a substantial brook that flows for {{convert|46.3|km|order=flip}} through Worcestershire, England. It is a lower tributary of the River Avon which it joins near Defford downstream of Eckington Bridge. Its principal tributaries include the Stoulton, Dean, and Seeley brooks.<ref name=bb1>{{cite web|title=Bow Bk - Shell to conf R Avon|url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB109054043712|website=Catchment Data Explorer|publisher=Environment Agency |accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref><ref name=bb2>{{cite web|title=Bow Bk - Lett's Mill to Shell|url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB109054043711|website=Catchment Data Explorer|publisher=Environment Agency |accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref><ref name=bb3>{{cite web|title=Bow Bk - source to Lett's Mill|url=http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB109054043820|website=Catchment Data Explorer|publisher=Environment Agency |accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref>
==Course== It rises near Upper Bentley to the west of Redditch, and flows due south through Feckenham beyond which it turns west to reach Shell, where it is known as the Shell Brook, and onwards to Himbleton. It continues in a southerly direction flowing past Huddington and Upton Snodsbury where it is crossed by the A422, near Broughton Hackett, and then past Peopleton beyond which it is crossed by the A44. The brook is forded by a minor road between Walcot and Pinvin, here it turns south-west, past Ufnell Bridge on the B4084 until it reaches Besford Bridge where it is measured. It is bridged by the A4104 before it passes Defford the last village on its course, downstream of which it joins the Warwickshire Avon.<ref name=bb1/><ref name=bb2/><ref name=bb3/>
==Hydrology== The flow of the Bow Brook has been measured using a weir, in the lower reaches at Besford Bridge since 1969. This long-term record shows that the catchment of {{convert|156|km2}} to the gauging station yielded an average flow of {{convert|1.1|m3/s}}.<ref name=mean>{{cite web|url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/meanflow/54015 |title=54015 - Bow Brook at Besford Bridge Daily Flow Data |work=National Rivers Flow Archive |publisher=Centre for Ecology & Hydrology|accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref> The highest river level recorded at the station occurred on 21 July 2007, with a height of {{convert|4.06|m}}, although no corresponding peak flow is available.<ref name=peak>{{cite web |url= https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/station/2010 |title= Bow Brook at Besford Bridge |website= Flood information service |publisher=Government Digital Service|accessdate=27 April 2016}}</ref> The lowest flows were measured in August 1976.
The catchment upstream of the station has an average annual rainfall of {{convert|643|mm}} and a maximum altitude of {{convert|164|m}} at Tardebigge. Land use is mainly agricultural, consisting of arable, horticulture and grassland, with some woodland.<ref name=spatial>{{cite web |url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/spatial/54015 |title=54015 - Bow Brook at Besford Bridge Catchment Info |work= National Rivers Flow Archive |publisher=Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref>
==See also== *List of rivers of England
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Bow Brook, Worcestershire}} *[https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/station/2010 Bow Brook water levels at Besford Bridge] *[https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/station/2224 Bow Brook water levels at Feckenham]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bow}} Category:Rivers of Worcestershire 1Bow