River Meon


The River Meon is a river that flows through an area of Hampshire in southern England known as the Meon Valley, it flows generally southwards from the South Downs to the Solent. For most of its route it is a chalk stream, with a length of 21 miles.

Course

The River Meon rises approximately one mile south of the village of East Meon. It first flows due north to that village, then northwest to West Meon, and southwest to Warnford before adopting its principal southwards flow. From Warnford the river flows through the villages of Exton, Corhampton and Meonstoke, Droxford, Wickham, and Titchfield. From Titchfield the river flows some through the marshes of the Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve before entering the Solent through the small harbour at Hill Head.

Navigation

The River Meon was never navigable and Titchfield Haven, on the Solent coast was a minor harbour. In the 17th century, the Earl of Southampton caused a sluice to be constructed to drain the marshes. These wetlands now form the Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve.