The River Itchen | The River Itchen is a river in Hampshire, England, Source at Cheriton, flowing, Tichborne, Candover Brook, here the River Alre joins the flow, New Alresford, Avington, Itchen Stoke, Itchen Abbas, Martyr Worthy, Easton, Abbots Worthy, several different channels through the city of Winchester, some of which are close enough to Winchester Cathedral to cause problems to the foundations, Winchester City Mill, east of the city's Roman walls, along a promenaded reach known as 'The Weirs', through a series of water meadows, Hospital of St Cross, Twyford, Shawford, Eastleigh, Bishopstoke, Itchen Valley Country, Park Mansbridge, former towpath of the long disused Itchen Navigation forms part of the Itchen Way, Swaythling, Monks Brook joins the flow, under Woodmill Bridge becoming tidal, 4 further bridges then confluence with the River Test estuary in Southampton Water and on to the Solent. The river has a total length of 28 miles (45 km), and is noted as one of England's - if not one of the World's - premier chalk streams for fly fishing, particularly those using dry fly or nymphing techniques. High quality habitats designate it as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, supporting a range of protected threatened species including the water vole, otter, brook lamprey and white-clawed crayfish. During Roman Britain, the river may have been associated with the Celtic goddess Ancasta. |