River Tern

{{Short description|River in Shropshire, England}} {{for|the bird|River tern}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use British English|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox river | name = River Tern | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = River Tearne | name_etymology =  | image = River Tern CB.jpg | image_size = 250 | image_caption = The Tern near Longdon-on-Tern | map = River Tern Map.jpg | map_size = | map_caption = A map of the Tern and its tributaries. Watershed is shown in cyan. | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption=  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United Kingdom | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = England | subdivision_type3 = County | subdivision_name3 = Shropshire | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = City | subdivision_name5 = Market Drayton, Atcham  | length = {{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = Maer Pool | source1_location = lake in the grounds of Maer Hall, Staffordshire | source1_coordinates= {{coord|52.94323|-2.31742|format=dms|type:river_region:GB|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = {{convert|114|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = River Severn | mouth_location = Attingham Park, Atcham, Shropshire | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|52.67828|-2.66214|format=dms|type:river_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|44|m|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | tributaries_left = River Meese, River Strine | tributaries_right = River Roden | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}

The '''River Tern''' (also historically known as the '''Tearne'''<ref>[https://archive.today/20120911072810/http://www.search.secretshropshire.org.uk/engine/resource/default.asp?txtKeywords=Withington&lstContext=&lstResourceType=&lstExhibitionType=&chkPurchaseVisible=&txtDateFrom=&txtDateTo=&originator=/engine/search/default_hndlr.asp&page=&records=&direction=&pointer=12987&text=0&resource=4974 Secret Shropshire: Field name map of Withington Parish]</ref>) is a river in Shropshire, England. It rises north-east of Market Drayton in the north of the county. The source of the Tern is considered to be the lake in the grounds of Maer Hall, Staffordshire. From here it flows for about {{convert|30|mi|km|0}}, being fed by the River Meese and the River Roden, until it joins the River Severn near Attingham Park, Atcham.

Extensive peat bog formerly existed,<ref>Reported in 1838 by John Selby Prideaux and Sir William Jardine, "An attempt to ascertain the Fauna of Shropshire and North Wales", ''Magazine of Zoology and Botany'', vol. 2 (1838), p. 538.</ref> extending from Crudgington on the Tern as far as Newport.

[[File:Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct.jpg|thumb|left|Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct]] At Longdon-on-Tern, the Tern is spanned by the Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct, the world's first large-scale cast iron navigable aqueduct (Benjamin Outram's 13 m cast iron Holmes Aqueduct pre-dated it by a month), designed by Thomas Telford to carry the Shrewsbury Canal. Although no longer connected to the canal network, The {{convert|62|yd|m|0|adj=on}} long structure still stands, but is marooned in the middle of a field. {{Clear}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.andyboden.com/tv.html Tern Views] - a detailed description with photographs

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tern, River}} Category:Tributaries of the River Severn Category:Rivers of Shropshire Category:Tern catchment Category:Rivers of Staffordshire