Extract from THE STRIPLING THAMES by Fred S Thacker (1909)

The Churn and the Severn Canal both flow through the town. There was once a bridge at the foot of Cecily Hill over a little branch stream known as the Gunstoole River (in danger of being corrupted into "Council" Brook! ), and here was established the ducking or "gonging" stool for punishment by immersion of brewers of bad ale (women were anciently brewers), scolds, and loose women. "The woman was placed in the chair with her arms drawn downwards; a bar was placed across her back and in front of her elbows; another bar held her upright and there were cords to tie her securely in. The executioners then took hold of the chair which was at the other end of the beam from the stool, and ducked her on the see-saw principle. " The practice is said to have commenced in the fifteenth century, and lasted, at Leominster they say, as late as 1809. The little stream still flows along, but is now largely covered in, and no trace of the old penal institution remains. Perhaps Cirencester happily decided it was no longer necessary. It was, however, for very long a perversion of justice, in the popular mind, for those in authority to punish by fine instead of by pillory or ducking stool. Fines, indeed, to the stricter moralists, have always appeared a questionable form of expiation. "So late as 1745," says the Reverend E. A. Fuller,"Lord Bathurst was presented at the Cirencester court leet for not maintaining these means of punishment, and nominally amerced one hundred and twenty pounds. "(With Thanks to the Thames Society

The River Churn In our Element

Future Strategy Plans by the Environment Agency

 

A Little history

The name Churn is ancient, certainly pre-Roman and probably has its origins in the Celtic language, spoken by the Dobunni tribe, who controlled the area before the Roman conquest in the 1st Century. The original name may have sounded similar to Korinn. It has been suggested that the origin of the word is associated with the ancient British Cornovii tribe.

Of particular interest to me is the concept of 'votive offerings' to allow wishes to be made or favors bestowed on the supplicants. In the past there has been a long history of throwing objects into rivers to placate their destructive forces - perhaps we will see more of this as the flood problems increase. See Cross River Traffic Project

Water Nymph, Roman Statue Found in River Churn- Cirencester Museum

Neptune - From Cirencester Museum

Cirencester, sitting on the river has always has an important relationship with the Churn. The Romans created their settlement here perhaps to form strategic alliances with the Celtic tribes, but not for any other apparent strategic reason. It is too small to be navigable, and too slow moving to be any use as a major power source for mills along its length. The Romans did divert its course around the city walls to act as a defensive moat. Later it plays a role in the establishment of the now demolished Abbey. As far as I can make out the river passed between the Abbey buildings and still runs through the grounds (this is actually Gunstoole Brook)

1937: In the House of Commons, Mr Perkins was the Member for Stroud constituency which included Seven Springs.
The Minister for Agriculture was the Member for the Constituency which included Thames Head -

Question to the Minister for Agriculture from Mr Perkins:
"Is the minister aware that the latest edition of the Ordnance Survey Map marks the source as Thames Head?
Would the minister give an undertaking that in the next edition the words ‘Source of the Thames’ would be transferred to Seven Springs in Mr Perkins’ constituency?"
The Minister for Agriculture:
"No."
Mr Perkins:
"Is the Right Honorable Gentleman aware that the source known as ‘Thames Head’ periodically dries up?"
An Honorable Member:
"Why don’t you?" (Laughter)

The Stone at Seven Springs.
"Here, O Father Thames, is your sevenfold Spring".

During my travels along the river I met and engaged with many people; strangers on the streets and in the parks, artists by the river bank and council officials concerned as to my 'permission' to be in the river at all..

On a bright sunny day in Spring as Simon Pickering(the park ecologist) and myself walked along the river we were asked by a friendly allotment holder not to move a stick that was protruding from the bank - 'That's my Kingfishers resting spot' he informed us 'I like to sit and watch him from the bank as he fishes from that stick...' We moved on quietly with renewed reverence for each obstacle.

Talking some weeks later to a youth worker Terry, in Cheltenham, he tell us that he remembers how he skated on the frozen meadows at Watermoore - just about where the Tescos car park is now....

The lovely lady from Rankine Taylor Antiques recounts the story of her wine bottles loosing there labels as the waters rise in her cellar resulting in a true blind tasting.

Nigel Mott - a mine of local information filled my head full of childhood memories of swimming playing and causing mischief all along the river. He also introduced me to his friend, who worked for the water board and spent many hours under the streets of Cirencester exploring its subterranean depths in the days before the tunnels were blocked with grilles.

I hope to be able to expand record and document more of these stories in greater depth

Trolley Salvage outside Tescos - Cirencester