The River Severn, at around 220 miles from its source to the sea, is Britain's longest river. Rising on the slopes of Plynlimon, in Wales, it curves past Welshpool, Shrewsbury and Ironbridge before heading south for Bridgnorth,
Stourport-on-Severn, Worcester, Gloucester and the estuary, taking in landscapes from mountain and wooded gorge to water-meadow and wetland. Once known as the "King's high stream of Severn", the river was a principal trade route from medieval times.
After 1570, trade in coal expanded and the Severn became Europe's second busiest river by the end of the 17th century. Although commercial traffic declined with the coming of the railways in the 19th century, reminders of the river's heyday are to be found
along the waterfronts of its former inland ports and in its rural wharves and watermen's inns.
Recording the Severnside scene of the 19th and early 20th centuries in a splendid collection of well-captioned old photographs and prints, the author skilfully provides a 'snapshot' of a long-gone riverside way of life. Included are
prominent features of the cathedral cities and inland ports as well as the Severn's bridges, locks and weirs while river craft range from trow and passenger steamer to ferry and coracle, from horse-drawn narrowboat to sea-going ship. This fascinating
journey along the Severn will delight local folk, river-users and visitors to the waterway.
![[Severn Book]](pics/severn.jpg)
![[Acorn Inside]](pics/index.jpg){kind=small}