The South Winterborne River
The river gets its name from the old English word 'winter-burna' meaning 'winter stream'. In this case, it is one that flows most strongly in winter, or sometimes not at all during the summer. It rises to the west of Winterbourne Abbas, travels through Winterbourne Steepleton, Winterborne St Martin, Monkton, Herringston and Came before joining the River Frome near West Stafford. There is a Dorset legend that no-one ever witnesses the start of the water flowing [Somerset & Dorset Family History Society 2004].
The river shares its name with another one in East Dorset and two in Wiltshire. All the rivers lie on chalk, which creates the right conditions for the rivers to dry up in the summer and flow strongly during the winter. The flow will depend on the height of the water table; more information is contained here.
The South Winterborne river is prone to flooding over its extensive water-meadows, as shown below.
