River Anton

The River Anton is a chalk stream in Hampshire in south east England. It rises in Andover and flows southwards for approximately 8 miles (13 km) to meet the River Test near Chilbolton.[1] The principal tributary of the Anton, the Pillhill Brook, joins the river at Upper Clatford.[2]

(River) Anton
The River Anton at Goodworth Clatford
Outflow of the river in northern Hampshire
Location
CountryEngland
CountyHampshire
TownsAndover
District/BoroughTest Valley
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationAndover
 • coordinates51°13′40″N 1°28′56″W
Mouth 
 • location
River Test at Goodworth Clatford
 • coordinates
51°09′03″N 1°27′21″W
Length9.3 mi (15.0 km)
Basin features
ProgressionAndover, Test, Southampton Water (sub-arm of English Channel, arm of Atlantic Ocean)
Tributaries 
 • rightPillhill Brook

Course

The river rises in Anton Lakes nature reserve, in north Andover, just below King Arthur's Way, and flows through the centre of the town. It then flows in a southerly direction through the villages of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford and Cottonworth before meeting the Test just below Chilbolton.[3] It is a chalk stream with high quality water and supports a wide variety of wildlife. The river is the subject of the "River Anton Enhancement Strategy",[4] a partnership with several agencies and local organisations to improve the river.

Leisure facilities

The Anton has some very good trout fishing with frequent catches of large specimens; fly fishing is the only method allowed. The fishing rights are private.

Created as part of its Enhancement Scheme, the River Anton Way was originally a scenic 3.8 mi (6.1 km) walk along the river from Charlton Lakes in the north, via the town centre to Rooksbury Mill Local Nature Reserve in the south. In 2015, proposed by the Andover Ramblers and sponsored by Test Valley Borough Council, the way was extended by 5.5 mi (8.9 km) through the parishes of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford, Wherwell and Chilbolton.[5]

Watermills

There were five watermills along the river; Anton Mill,[6] Town Mill,[7] and Rooksbury Mill,[8] all in Andover, along with Copthall Place Mill at Clatford[9] and Fullerton Mill.[10] Flour is still milled in Andover but at the electrically powered Junction Mills.[11]

Water quality

The Environment Agency measure water quality of the river systems in England. Each is given an overall ecological status, which may be one of five levels: high, good, moderate, poor and bad. There are several components that are used to determine this, including biological status, which looks at the quantity and varieties of invertebrates, angiosperms and fish, and chemical status, which compares the concentrations of various chemicals against known safe concentrations. Chemical status is rated good or fail.[12]

Water quality of the River Anton in 2019:

SectionEcological
Status		Chemical
Status		Overall
Status		LengthCatchmentChannel
Anton - Lower[13] Moderate Fail Moderate 7.077 km (4.397 mi) 32.876 km2 (12.693 sq mi)
Anton - Upper[14] Good Fail Moderate 7.437 km (4.621 mi) 99.822 km2 (38.541 sq mi) Heavily modified;

References
  1. "River Anton, Hampshire". Westover Farm Partnership. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  2. Eilert Ekwall (1928). English River Names. OUP. p. 15.
  3. Ordnance Survey (2004). OS Explorer Map 131 - Romsey, Andover & Test Valley. ISBN 0-319-23600-5.
  4. TVBC Site, Anton River Enhancement Scheme
  5. "River Anton Wey". Test Valley Borough Council. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  6. "Anton Mill, Andover". Mills Archive. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. "Town Mill, Andover". Mills Archive. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  8. "Rooksbury Mill, Andover". Mills Archive. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  9. "Copthall Place Mill". Mills Archive. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  10. "Fullerton Mill". Mills Archive. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  11. "Junction Mills, Andover". Mills Archive. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  12. "Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency. 17 February 2016.
  13. "Anton - Lower". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.
  14. "Anton - Upper". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.
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