There is much debate as to where the River Avon rises, but the Sherston Branch rises at Joyce’s Pool near Didmarton in Wiltshire. This is a seasonal source of the Avon and is often dry in summer but floods regularly in winter. St Aldhelm’s Mead is a stretch of land in a field by the river and gets its name from Aldhelm, the first Abbot of Malmesbury (c. 671-675), who oversaw the monastery for thirty years. For more information please go to: St Aldhelm . Daniel’s Well was named after Daniel a disciple of Aldhelm. He travelled extensively and after a long and busy life, returned to Malmesbury to retire. For more information, please go to: Daniel
The Sherston Avon – Photo Gallery
Sunrise over the Sherston Avon at Daniel’s Well
Weir pool at Easton Grey nr Malmesbury (1)
Weir gates at Easton Grey – made by Ratcliffe’s of Malmesbury (1)
Reeds in the Sherston Avon at Easton Grey nr Malmesbury (1)
The weir gates (photo 1) on the Sherston Avon at Easton Grey nr Malmesbury in Wiltshire, where made by Ratcliffe and Son, blacksmiths in Malmesbury who provide a wide range of services to business and non-business customers in Malmesbury. The Bristol and Avon River Trust have carried out restoration projects along a section of the Sherston Avon at Easton Grey and more details can be found on their website at: Bristol and Avon River Trust There was also a minor Roman settlement at White Walls and more details are available at: Roman Britain
The Sherston Avon floods again (2)
Floods turn Football pitch into water polo ground! (2)
The rivers around Malmesbury flood regularly during winter as the photographs above show – the children are making the most of the opportunity to try their kayak out in St Aldhelm’s Mead and the football pitch has been turned into a water park.
Early morning view from the Sherston Avon water meadows towards Malmesbury (2)
The Sherston Avon flows at Daniels Well, Malmesbury (2)
The Sherston Avon flowing under Malmesbury’s Town Bridge (3)
Flooded water meadows as the Sherston Avon flows towards Malmesbury (2)
Spring Blossom on the Sherston Avon – May 2026(2)
Water Lillies in the early morning light(2)
The Sherston Avon enters Malmesbury under the Turtle Bridge and flows through water meadows and Daniel’s Well towards the Silk Mills by the Town Bridge. The Silk Mills were built in 1793 by Francis Hill from Bradford. He moved his business from Bradford because of considerable unrest with the workforce in that city. More information on the history can be found at: Silk Mills history