| River Sow | |
|---|---|
 River Sow nearMilford | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Country within the UK | England |
| Counties | Staffordshire |
| Towns | Eccleshall,Stafford |
| Villages | Great Bridgeford,Milford,Tixall |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Broughton,Staffordshire |
| • coordinates | 52°54′02″N2°21′55″W / 52.9006°N 2.3654°W /52.9006; -2.3654 |
| Mouth | |
• location | Confluence with theTrent nearEssex Bridge,Staffordshire |
• coordinates | 52°48′03″N2°00′32″W / 52.8008°N 2.0089°W /52.8008; -2.0089 |
| Length | 38 km (24 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 601 km2 (232 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Milford[2] |
| • average | 6.33 m3/s (224 cu ft/s)[2] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Brockton Brook, Meece Brook |
| • right | Doxey Brook,River Penk |
| Progression : Sow —Trent —Humber —North Sea | |
TheRiver Sow/saʊ/ is a tributary of theRiver Trent inStaffordshire,England, and is the river that flows throughStafford.
The river rises to the south ofLoggerheads, nearBroughton and flows south-east beside the villages of Fairoak, Bishop's Offley and Walk Mill until it reachesCop Mere. East of the Mere the river is joined by the Brockton Brook before it flows pastEccleshall and its castle. The Sow continues south-east passing Chebsey, where it is joined by the Meece Brook before reaching the mill at Worston and then Little andGreat Bridgeford. The river then flows through the nature reserve ofDoxey Marshes until it reaches Stafford, where it flows through Victoria park. Beyond the town atBaswich the Sow is joined by its largest tributary theRiver Penk, it then continues beneath the bridge betweenMilford andTixall until it flows through the grounds ofShugborough Hall to meet the Trent nearEssex Bridge.[3]
Between 1816 and the 1920s, the section between Stafford and Baswich was navigable, and was known as theRiver Sow Navigation. There are plans to restore it, which are being spearheaded by acommunity interest company called Stafford Riverway Link.[4]
The river was tested in 2009 and had pH levels of 7.6.Oxygen saturation levels at the source of the river are 68%. Fish species found in the river includeChub,Roach,Pike andBream.[5]