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confluence is in a field called Trewsbury mead. This also is claimed 
as the source of the Thames. There is a large encampment 
above on the higher ground. 
Rudder, in his History of Gloucestershire, says that the 
Thames has been reputed to rise in the parish of Coats out of a 
well, which overflows in the winter, or in wet seasons, but in the 
summer it can be traced no higher than to some springs which 
rise in the parish of Kemble, south of the Foss road. 
The Thames and Severn Canal formed some considerable time 
ago has probably affected the springs in the neighbourhood. 
The water is pumped into the canal after being collected from 
the springs, There are traces of an old water-course on the 
north side of the Foss road, and an old culvert passes under it. 
This is now dry except in winter, but formerly conveyed water 
from near Trewsbury Camp. The following is the account given 
in a recent publication on the name “Thames.” “At a spot 
on the right near the Tetbury Road Station, called ‘Thames 
head,’ from the earliest times, that celebrated river is considered 
to have its earliest flow, though asimilar honour is claimed for 
_ ‘Seven Springs’ in the parish of Cubberley ; seven springs arise 
here, but there is one stream pure as crystal and tasteless, which 
runs into a small tank ; this would be the Thames, but owing toa 
powerful pump, which works night and day, this water is 
discharged into the canal at the rate of 250 gallons per stroke.”* 
“Tsis,” says Leland, “riseth a iii myles from Cirencester, not 
far from a village cawlled Kemble, within half-a-mile of the Fosse 
Way between Cirencester and Bath.” 
Camden says, “Leaving Corinium (Cirencester), the river 
Corin, ten miles off, unites itself with the Isis. This river, 
commonly called the Ouse, to make it derive its origin in 
Gloucestershire, rises from a continual spring in the south edge 
of this county, near the little village of Torleton, not far from 
* See Hand Book for Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester p. 16, 
B 
