loo SOUTH COUNTRY TROUT STREAMS 



on its west, passes by a swampy piece of ground 

 known as Bransbury Common. WherwelP comes 

 next, then Chilbolton, and then Fullerton Bridge, 

 where the Anton joins, and where the upper 

 Test may be said to end. All these names are 

 classic ones to the ardent dry fly fisherman. But 

 before the junction with the Anton is reached, the 

 Test receives a ten-mile tributary which comes 

 from Micheldever, passing Stoke Charity, Bulling- 

 ton, Barton Stacey, and Bransbury. The Test 

 here runs in several branches or feeders, used for 

 flooding the water meadows at certain seasons. 

 Stockbridge is five miles down stream from Fuller- 

 ton Bridge, and Leckford and Longstock lie be- 

 tween, on respectively the left and right banks of 

 the Test. Houghton and Bossington are next 

 reached, and at the latter place the Wallop Brook 

 or Nine Mile Water, w^hich comes from Upper 

 Wallop, and which is supposed to have formerly 

 fed no less than nine mills, where it now feeds but 

 one, joins the stream. 



*' Could it be proved," says Mudie, " that the 

 ancient mills possessed the capabilities and powers 

 of those of modern erection, it would be strong 

 evidence in support of the theory of those writers 



1 Wherwell Priory, the property of Mr. Iremonger, is one 

 of the most beautiful places on the Test. A branch of the 

 river goes underneath the house, and the tame trout may be 

 fed from the drawing-room windows. Wherwell church and 

 churchyard adjoining the Priory are not places to be neglected 

 by the angler. The churchyard contains some evergreens 

 worth seeing, and is a favourite resort of the golden crested 

 wren. The box and yew hedge of the parsonage garden 

 is a singularly perfect one, and there is some fine old oak 

 in the interior of this " haunt of ancient peace." 



