733 



AVOCA. 



AWATSKA BAY. 



751 



AVOCA. [WICKLOW.] 



AVOCA. [VAN DIEMEX'S LAND.] 



AVON, the name of several British rivers, the principal of which 

 we shall mention below. Avon is a British, or rather Celtic word, and 

 signifies a river. 



1. The Upper Avon, or the Avon of Warwickshire, is a tributary of 

 the Severn. It rises from a spring called Avon-well, in the village of 

 Naseby, in Northamptonshire ; and after flowing a little way towards 

 the north-west, turns to the south-west, and forms the boundary 

 between the counties of Northampton and Leicester. About 14 or 15 

 miles from its source it is crossed by the Roman Watling Street at 

 Dow Bridge, near the remains of a Roman station, supposed to be the 

 Tripontium of Antoninus. This station, which is in good preserva- 

 tion, is close to the bank of the river. It is about half a mile from 

 the Watling Street, on the north-east side, and therefore a little higher 

 up the river. From Dow Bridge the river has a winding course of 

 above 30 miles its main direction being first to the west and then to 

 the south-west, past Rugby and Stoneleigh toSVarwick. In this part 

 of it* course it receives three tributaries : the Swift (from Lutterworth 

 in Leicestershire) and the Sow (from the north-east part of Warwick- 

 shire) mi the right bank, and the Lem or Leame (which comes from 

 the borders of Northamptonshire, past Leamington Priors) on the left 

 bank. From Warwick, where it flows under the walls of the castle, it 

 winds ]!> ntly towards Stratford, the birth-place of Shakspere, about 

 8 miles S.W. from Warwick by the road ; but the length of the river is 

 probably 1 4 or 15 miles. A little below Stratford the river Stour (which 

 rises just within the border of Oxfordshire, and carries off the waters of 

 the southern part of Warwickshire) falls into the Avon on the left bank ; 

 a few miles below the Alne (which comes from the north, and receives 

 the waters of the Arrow at Alcester) enters it on the right bank. The 

 Avon, leaving Warwickshire, then enters Worcestershire, and passes 

 on to Evesham, having had a course from Stratford of about 18 miles. 

 From Evesham it takes a circuit by Pershore to Tewkesbury, just 

 within the border of Gloucestershire, where it falls into the Severn. 

 This last part of its course may be 25 or 26 miles ; and the whole 

 length of the stream from its rise to its junction with the Severn, may 

 be estimated at about 100 miles. The stream of the Avon is gentle, 

 its banks are interesting and often beautiful, though occasionally flat. 

 It is navigable from Stratford for vessels of about 40 tons burden. A 

 canal from Stratford to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal connects 

 the Avon with the great system of inland navigation in the midland 

 counties. 



2. The Lower Avon rises in the hilly district in the northern part 

 of Wiltshire. Several springs after uniting their waters flow first to 

 the north past Wootton Bassett (but not close to the town), then turn 

 to the west and afterwards to the south-west, past Chippenhatn and 

 Melksham to Bradford, nearly 40 miles from the source, following the 

 windings of the stream. Between Wootton Bassett and Chippenham 

 the Avon receives a stream from the neighbourhood of Malmesbury, 

 which is marked in some maps as the Avon, as though it were the 

 main stream : and another small stream from the neighbourhood of 

 Calne falls into it just abive Chippenham. From Bradford the 

 river has a circuitous course of more than 10 miles to Bath, receiving 

 the little stream of the Were from Trowbridge, and the Frome from 

 Frome, both on the left bank. Between Bradford and Bath the river 

 enters Somersetshire. From Bath, where it becomes navigable, it 

 flows about 27 or 28 miles to the north-west through Bristol into the 

 Bristol Channel. Its whole course is thus between 70 and 80 miles. 

 Large vessels can get up to Bristol, which is 9 or 10 miles up the river. 



" This river is more remarkable," says Skrine (' General Account of 

 all the Rivers of Note in Great Britain '), " for the romantic valleys it 

 forms, and the rich country it runs through, than for its extent, being 

 generally buried between deep banks." The Keunet and Avon Canal, 

 1 1 MI ii Bath to Newbury in Berks, connects the Avon River with the 

 Thames and with the Wilts and Berks Canal, and consequently with 

 other artificial navigations, thus opening a water-communication 

 between Bath and Bristol, and the clothing district of Wiltshire and 

 Somersetahire, as well as with the home and midland counties. Just 

 below Bristol the fine rocks of St. Vincent rise abruptly close to the 

 river. It was proposed some few years since to throw a suspension- 

 bridge over the Avon at this point, as there would be sufficient height 

 for the largest vessels to pass beneath it : an Act was obtained, and a 

 company formed ; but the works have not proceeded beyond the erec- 

 tion of piers and carrying an iron rod across the river. Below these 

 rocks the river runs between marshes into the Bristol Channel. 



3. The Little Avon is an insignificant stream, which rises in the 

 southern part of Gloucestershire, and flows past Berkeley Castle into 

 the Severn. 



4. The Avon of Wiltshire and Hampshire rises in Wiltshire. It is 

 formed by the junction of several rivulets (rising in the hills which lie 

 between Hungerford and Devizes), and flows in a southerly direction 

 by Amesbury to Salisbury, watering a low valley which intersects 

 Salisbury Plain. At Salisbury it receives the Wily or Willey-bourne 

 (which comes from the Mignbcmrluttcl of Warminster, and is aug- 



t.lie Nadder or A'Hrr-l,.,nrm', f r .,m tin; border of Dorset- 

 shire) ami the Bourne, which rises to the east of the springs of the 

 Avon, and pursues a course nearly parallel to it. The Bourne, it may 

 be observed, is dry in summer and harvest-time. By these accessions 

 OKOO. Div. vol.. I. 



the Avon becomes navigable, and entering Hampshire, runs along the 

 western edge of the New Forest, past Fordingbridge, Ringwood, and 

 Christchurch, until it falls into the English Channel just below the 

 last-mentioned town. Near its outfall it receives the Stour, which, 

 rising at Stourhead in Wiltshire, pursues its course in a south-east 

 direction past Blandford-Forum and Wimborne-Minster into Hamp- 

 shire. The whole length of the Avon is above 70 miles. 



Various handsome seats adorn the banks of the Avon on its descent 

 to Salisbury, as well as in the lower part of its course through the 

 New Forest. Below Ringwood indeed it passes through a less inter- 

 esting sandy level to Christchurch. Large ships can get up to Christ- 

 church, where the tide rises 7 or 8 feet ; but a few miles higher up 

 locks and sluices are required to make the river navigable. 



The word Avon, Aven, or Afon, is a common prefix to the names of 

 rivers in Wales and Ireland; while sometimes in Scotland as in. 

 England it stands alone as the distinguishing name. Of this the Avon 

 Lwyd in Monmouthshire, the Avonmore in Wicklow, and the stream 

 which flows from Avon Loch, by Cairngorm Mountain, in Banffshire, 

 are instances. 



(Skrine's English Rivers; Thome's Rambles by Rivers: The Aron ; 

 Camden's Britannia ; Ordnance Survey, &c.) 



AVRANCHES, chief town of an arrondissement in the department 

 of La-Manche in France, the seat of a tribunal of first instance and of 

 a communal college, is situated on the left bank of the S<5ez, 170 miles 

 W. by S. from Paris, in 40 41' N. lat, 1 20' W. long: population, 

 8300. The town, which is but meanly built, is delightfully situated 

 on the side of a hill, with the ruins of the former cathedral crowning 

 the summit. The river winds at the bottom of the hill, and falls into 

 the sea two or three miles below the town. The tide flows up to the 

 bridge over the S<5ez at the foot of the hill on which the city is built ; 

 and brings up with it a quantity of sand, which the inhabitants of the 

 surrounding district use for manure. The valley of the river is 

 covered with fine verdure, and with woods which reach qmte down to 

 the shore. 



The cathedral, built in the llth century, was pillaged in the reli- 

 gious wars of the 16th century, and ruined during the Revolution. 

 The republicans took the lead off the roof to convert it into shot. 

 There remains of it now only a single pillar and the stone on which 

 Henry II. knelt before the Papal legate to receive absolution for the 

 murder of Thomas-a-Becket. From a raised platform or terrace iii 

 front of the cathedral there is a very extensive prospect over the bay 

 of Mont-St. -Michel and the neighbouring country. Small vessels can 

 get up the river as far as the bridge. Hemp, flax, lace, corn, cider, 

 butter, cattle, and salt, which is made near the town from sea-water, 

 are among the articles of trade. There is a public library of 25,000 

 volumes and 204 manuscripts, and a botanic garden. In the bishop's 

 garden, which is now a public lounge, there is a marble statue of 

 General Valhubert, a native of the town, who was killed at Austerlitz. 

 Many English families reside here, attracted by the cheapness of 

 living and the beauty of the neighbourhood. 



Avranches was known during the Roman dominion in Gaul under 

 the name of Ingena, and afterwards by that of Abrincatui, from the 

 people whose capital city it was. From Abrincatui the name was 

 changed into Abrincae, and finally into Avranches. As being in Nor- 

 mandy, it was under the dominion of the first English monarchs of 

 the Norman and Plantagenet races ; and was considered as one of the 

 bulwarks of Normandy against the Bretons. These however took it 

 in 1203, and razed the castle and walls. These last were afterwards 

 restored ; and the place was further strengthened by St. Louis of 

 France, into whose hands it had come. It fell again under the power 

 of the English during the war carried on by Henry V., and during the 

 reign of his successor, Henry VI., but was recovered by the French in 

 1450. In the religious wars of the 16th century, Avranches was taken 

 by the Huguenots, who pillaged the churches. It subsequently embraced 

 the party of the League, and was after a brave defence taken by the 

 troops of Henry IV. 



Avranches gave title to a bishop from about A.D. 400 till 1791, 

 when the see was suppressed, and united to the diocese of Coutances. 

 It was the capital of the district of Avranchin, a subdivision of Nor- 

 mandy, which included the basin of the Celune and the Seez. The 

 Couesnon divided it from Bretagne or Brittany. The climate of this 

 district is mild, but somewhat humid. Its mildness is attested by the 

 fact that peach-trees are grown as standards ; while about Cherbourg, 

 in the north of the department, they are grown only against a wall. 

 Flax, hemp, corn, .and fruit are the chief productions. Cider is made 

 in considerable quantity, and is in good repute. A good deal of salt 

 is manufactured on the coast. Avranchin now forms the arrondisse- 

 ments of Avranche and Mortain in the department of La-Manche. 



AWATSKA BAY is a capacious basin on the eastern coast of Kamt- 

 chatka, lying in the bight between Cape Gavaria and Chepoonski Noss, 

 and the only good harbour in the whole peninsula. The entrance is 

 four miles in length, and a mile and a half in breadth at the narrowest 

 part. The land is high on both sides, and the succession of bltin 

 points with alternate sandy bays produces a very pleasing effect. Ois 

 the north-east of the entrance is a small fort and lighthouse. The, 

 entrance leads into a largo basin, about 30 miles in circumfereucft 

 within which ore the three harbours of Rftkoweeua, Petropaulovski, 



3 c 



