Oakhanger Stream

Oakhanger Stream is a tributary of the River Slea that lies in Hampshire, England.

Oakhanger Stream
Footbridge over the Oakhanger Stream near the village of Oakhanger
Location
CountryEngland
CountiesHampshire
Districts / BoroughsEast Hampshire
TownsSelborne
Physical characteristics
SourceWell Head
 • locationNoar Hill, Selborne
 • coordinates51°05′21″N 0°56′24″W
 • elevation126 m (415 ft)
MouthRiver Slea
 • location
Kingsley
 • coordinates
51°07′57″N 0°52′52″W
 • elevation
72 m (235 ft)
Length8.343 km (5.184 mi)
Basin size18.703 km2 (7.221 sq mi)
Basin features
River systemWey catchment
Tributaries 
 • leftGracious Street Stream

Course

The source is at Well Head, at the foot of Noar Hill, to the south of Selborne. The initial section towards Selborne is known as the Well Head Stream, the route was diverted in 1894 to provide a supply of water to the village in memory of Gilbert White. At Dorton, on the north side of Selborne, it is joined by the Gracious Street Stream.[1] From Selborne, now known as the Oakhanger Stream, it passes through the village of Oakhanger then skirts the east side of Shortheath Common and on towards Kingsley Mill where it joins with the Kingsley Stream to form the Rver Slea.[2]

Watermills

There were, at least, two corn mills on the Oakhanger Stream, the Old Mill in Selborne, a Grade II listed building now used as a private residence,[3] and Dorton Mill, midway between Selborne and Oakhanger, of which no trace is now visible.[4]

Water quality

The Environment Agency measure water quality of the river systems in England. Each is given an overall ecological status, which may be one of five levels: high, good, moderate, poor and bad. There are several components that are used to determine this, including biological status, which looks at the quantity and varieties of invertebrates, angiosperms and fish, and chemical status, which compares the concentrations of various chemicals against known safe concentrations. Chemical status is rated good or fail.[5]

The water quality of the Oakhanger Stream was as follows in 2019:

SectionEcological
Status		Chemical
Status		Overall
Status		LengthCatchmentChannel
Oakhanger Stream[6] Poor Fail Poor 8.343 km (5.184 mi) 18.703 km2 (7.221 sq mi)

The reasons for not reaching good status is due to agricultural and waste water pollution.

References
  1. White, Gilbert. "17 October 1790". The Natural History of Selborne. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  2. 'The parish of Selborne', in A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 3, ed. William Page (London, 1908), pp. 4-16. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol3/pp4-16 [accessed 7 July 2020].
  3. Historic England. "The Old Mill (1174787)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. "Dorton Mill, Selborne". The Mills Archive. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. "Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency. 17 February 2016.
  6. "Oakhanger Stream". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.


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