A HISTORY OF WARWICKSHIRE 



slopes of the Marston Hill, and has a west course for six miles, where 

 Ham Brook falls into it, a small stream draining Wormleighton, Fenny 

 Compton and the Burton Hills. The course of the Itchen now becomes 

 northerly, through Bishop's Itchington, near Southam, through Long 

 Itchington to its confluence with the Learn near Marton. It is little 

 more than a brook in any portion of its course, and having a gentle flow, 

 is as a rule luxuriously weed-grown. 



6. THE Sow 



The Sow rises on the high land near Astley, flowing south-west 

 through Bedworth woodlands, where it receives on its left bank a stream 

 from Arbury. Here its course bears south through Exhall, where it is 

 joined by Breach Brook, a stream draining Fillongley and Corley ; from 

 there it flows through Longford and Foleshill, receiving on its left bank 

 March Brook from Hawkesbury. Its course now becomes westerly 

 through Wyken, Sow and Binley, and receives on its left bank waters 

 from Monk's Kirby, Withybrooke, Combe, Stretton-on-Fosse and part of 

 Brinklow. From Binley it takes a widely sinuous course through Wil- 

 lenhall and Baginton to its confluence with the Avon in Stoneleigh Park, 

 receiving near Baginton the little river Sherbourne, a stream draining the 

 country around Allesley, Westwood Heath and Kenilworth. Its whole 

 course is about twenty miles. 



7. THE STOUR 



The Stour rises at Stour Well in Oxfordshire, and enters Warwick- 

 shire at Traitors' Ford, about three miles from its source ; it flows 

 through Stourton, Cherrington, Burmington, Shipston-on-Stour, Halford, 

 Alderminster, Atherstone-on-Stour to its confluence with the Avon two 

 miles below Stratford-on-Avon. Although the Stour is for a consider- 

 able portion of its course an insignificant stream, the country through 

 which the river runs is peculiar for its alternation of hill and dale, Bright 

 Hill, Brailes Hill and Ilmington Downs being among the more elevated 

 of our Warwickshire hills, and commanding fine far-reaching views over 

 the surrounding country. The highest points are Ebrington Hill, which 

 has an elevation of 855 feet above the sea ; Bright Hill 737 feet, and 

 Brailes Hill 700 feet. The district is well wooded, and contains here 

 and there remains of what have, in former times, been widely stretching 

 heath lands. 



8. THE ALNE 



The Alne is formed by two streams rising far apart. The main 

 stream rises on Apsley Heath near the county boundary, and takes 

 an easterly course by Tanworth Mill, through Henley-in-Arden and Beau- 

 desert to the grounds of Wootton Hall, where it unites with the second 

 principal feeder. This stream rises near Wroxall Abbey, about seven 

 miles north-east of Wootton Hall, and flows through Rowington, Low- 



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