River Frome

The River Frome rises in Dodington Park in South Gloucestershire and flows south-west for about 32 kilometres through Bristol to meet the Avon. In east Bristol it is often called the Danny, a name whose origin is uncertain. The river’s name comes from a Celtic word meaning ‘fair, fine, brisk’, shared with other rivers in the region. The Frome once powered many mills along its banks, and its lower stretches were used by shipyards in the 18th century. Flooding in the 19th and 20th centuries led to storm drains and diversions being built. A new culvert in 1825 redirected much of the flow into the New Cut of the Avon to improve harbour conditions. Visitors can walk or cycle the Frome Valley Greenway, a woodland path that follows the river from Frenchay to Eastville Park. Near Snuff Mills a preserved wheel marks the site of an old mill. The river disappears underground at Eastville Sluices, reappearing briefly in Riverside Park before joining the Avon through Mylne’s Culvert.