River Usk

"Wysg" redirects here. For the radio station, see LifeTalk Radio.
River Usk (Afon Wysg)
River
Looking north across the river towards Caerleon, near Newport
Countries United Kingdom, Wales
Region South Wales
County Powys, Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Newport
Tributaries
 - left Afon Cilieni, Nant Brân, Afon Ysgir, Afon Honddu (Powys), Grwyne Fawr, Afon Gafenni
 - right Afon Hydfer, Afon Crai, Afon Senni, Afon Tarell, Afon Cynrig, Afon Menasgin, Caerfanell, Afon Crawnon, Afon Llwyd, Ebbw River
Source
 - location Fan Brycheiniog, Powys, Wales
 - elevation 502 m (1,647 ft)
 - coordinates 51°54′3″N 3°43′19″W / 51.90083°N 3.72194°W
Mouth Bristol Channel
 - location Uskmouth, Newport, Wales
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
 - coordinates 51°32′31″N 2°59′6″W / 51.54194°N 2.98500°WCoordinates: 51°32′31″N 2°59′6″W / 51.54194°N 2.98500°W
Length 102.0 km (63 mi)
Discharge for Chain Bridge (Usk)[1]
 - average 27.919 m3/s (986 cu ft/s) for 1957-2012
 - max 585.4 m3/s (20,673 cu ft/s) on 27 Dec 1979
 - min 1.58 m3/s (56 cu ft/s) on 27 Aug 2003
The River Usk near Abergavenny with the Blorenge in the background

The River Usk (Welsh: Afon Wysg) rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the westernmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially forming the boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys, it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and Abergavenny after which it takes a more southerly course.

Beyond the eponymous town of Usk it passes the Roman legionary fortress of Caerleon to flow through the heart of the city of Newport and into the Severn estuary at Uskmouth beyond Newport, at Newport Wetlands.

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal follows the Usk for most of the length of the canal.

Etymology

The name of the river derives from a Brythonic root word meaning "abounding in fish" or "water", which also appears in other river names such as Exe, Axe, Esk and other variants. The most probable suggestion is that the name is cognate with pysg (plural of pysgod), the Welsh word for 'fish'.[2]

Environmental significance

The whole river has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It contains estuary with mudflats and salt marsh, lagoons, bog and marsh, varied grassland and woodland habitats along its course. Its flora and fauna is diverse and includes salmon, trout, otters, twaite, shad, lamprey, perch, sea trout, chub, dace and roach as well as kingfishers, herons and other wildfowl and bird life. Dippers can be seen upriver along with red kite.

The Usk has long been a noted salmon and trout fishing river. Salmon of over 30 lb (14 kg) can still be caught. The river has the highest estimated salmon egg deposition of any river south of Cumbria and the Scottish rivers, and exceeded its spawning target. The river has recently been rated as the best fly fishing water in Wales for salmon and inside the UK Top Ten.

The normal tidal limit of the river is just below the bridge at Newbridge-on-Usk, some five miles north of Newport.[3]

In history and legend

The River Usk has played an important role in the history of South Wales and features in some local folk-tales.

Historically, the tidal reaches of the Usk have been used as a major shipping port for much of the last millennium, mostly because of its wide and deep mouth, and good navigable access from the Severn estuary and the Bristol Channel and thence access to home waters and further overseas.

Evidence of the Usk's long-standing use in transport and trade came in the form of the remains of the Newport ship which were unearthed in July 2002. The medieval ship, dated to around 1465, was most likely a trading ship, and may have sailed around Europe or even beyond in its lifetime. Its presence in the Usk has confirmed what an important trading route the Usk must have been to the many towns and villages along its course.

The Usk has also played a role in many local legends. The Medieval Latin text The Rise of Gawain, Nephew of Arthur recounts a humorous tale in which an incognito Gawain pushes his uncle King Arthur into the Usk, and is then forced to explain to his wife Gwendoloena (Guinevere) why he is so wet.[4]

Geoffrey of Monmouth writes of Caerleon in the mid 12th century:

For it was located in a delightful spot in Glamorgan, on the River Usk, not far from the Severn Sea. Abounding in wealth more than other cities, it was suited for such a ceremony. For the noble river I have named flows along it on one side, upon which the kings and princes who would be coming from overseas could be carried by ship." (Historia Regum Britanniae "History of the Kings of Britain")

It is not until the 13th century French prose romances that Camelot began to supersede Caerleon, and even then, many descriptive details applied to Camelot derive from Geoffrey's earlier grand depiction of the Welsh town."[5]

The Usk valley contains many sites of prehistorical archaeological significance and the valley has long been a trade route, settlement area and an avenue into Wales for successive invaders such as the Romans and Normans.

The Newport Transporter Bridge, the lowest crossing point on the river, has the greatest length of any surviving transporter bridge in the world.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Usk at Chain Bridge". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
  2. ↑ Owen, H.W. & Morgan, R. 2007 Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales Gomer Press, Ceredigion; Gwasg Gomer / Gomer Press; page 484.
  3. ↑ Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 scale Explorer map sheet 152 Newport & Pontypool
  4. ↑ Day, Mildred Leake (1994), "The Rise of Gawain, Nephew of Arthur", in Wilhelm, James J., The Romance of Arthur, New York: Garland, p. 366
  5. ↑ Camelot in Norris J. Lacy, Editor, The Arthurian Encyclopedia (1986 Peter Bedrick Books, New York) 75-6.

External links