River Sherbourne

The source of the river is in the fields near Hawkes End in the parish of Allesley. It flows for about 8 miles or 13 km in a generally southeastern direction. In the centre of Coventry it flows through Spon End (where it is spanned by Vignoles Bridge) and it is culverted just before it reaches the Inner Ring Road and Spon Street, and continues through the suburb of Whitley. It joins the River Sowe (a tributary of the River Avon) south of the A45 road near Baginton.

The name Sherbourne is said to derive from Scir Burna, "clear stream" in Old English.

In 1935 and on eight more recent occasions, the upper Sherbourne around Allesley has dried up almost completely.

Coventry City Council has plans to open up a stretch of the river which is currently culverted, and runs beneath The Burges, a street in the city centre.

As part of the Sherbourne Valley Project, there are plans to return the river to its natural course, avoiding the current culverts and weirs, in the area of Coundon Wedge, west of Coventry. Specifically where the river is joined by the North Brook. This would allow fish to pass up and down the river more easily.

The grade II-listed Sherbourne Viaduct carries the Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line over the river near the Charterhouse.

List of crossings

In downstream order from source to confluence with the Sowe:

• Spon End Viaduct
• Spon Bridge (grade II listed)
• Vignoles Bridge
• River is culverted beneath Coventry City Centre
• Gosford Street
• Bridge at the Charterhouse, off London Road
• Sherbourne Viaduct
• A4082 London Road
• Whitley Abbey Bridge (grade II listed)
• A45 road (Stonebridge Highway)