| Brinkworth Brook | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Region | West of England |
| District | Wiltshire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Broadtown |
| • location | Broad Hinton,Wiltshire,England |
| • coordinates | 51°30′08″N1°52′25″W / 51.5022°N 1.8735°W /51.5022; -1.8735 |
| • elevation | 325 ft (99 m) |
| Mouth | Bristol Avon |
• location | Great Somerford,Wiltshire,England |
• coordinates | 51°32′43″N2°02′18″W / 51.5454°N 2.0382°W /51.5454; -2.0382 |
• elevation | 197 ft (60 m) |
| Length | 8.7 mi (14.0 km), westerly |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Thunder Brook |
| River system | Bristol Avon |
TheBrinkworth Brook is a tributary of theBristol Avon. It rises nearBroad Hinton inWiltshire in theWest Country of England, and flows in a north and then westerly direction, joining the Avon atGreat Somerford.
The Brinkworth Brook rises atBroad Town, just north of Broad Hinton, nearRoyal Wootton Bassett. It flows first in a northerly direction, and then just south of Royal Wootton Bassett it is joined by minor tributaries from Westlea[citation needed] inSwindon and a reservoir atTockenham Wick. The stream then passes under theM4 motorway and turns to the west pastBrinkworth, joined on the right by the Thunder Brook near Dovey's Farm. At Somerford Bridge the Brinkworth Brook turns south and joins the Bristol Avon near Dauntsey House at Great Somerford.
The brook forms the southern and part of the western boundaries of the parish of Brinkworth. There is evidence of awatermill, possibly on the Brinkworth Brook in the 16th century.[1]
The Brinkworth Brook is typical of Wiltshire's chalk streams, with gravelled beds. Floating water crowfootRanunculus,Desmoulin's whorl snail, the sedgeCarex and the reedsPhragmitesandGlyceria maxima. In addition, "diverse fish assemblages, and [..] varied aquatic invertebrate fauna" are to be found.[2]
The Brinkworth Brook suffers from pollution from highway run-off, specifically theM4 motorway.[3]