Celtic River Goddess Weaves Her Magic Over The River Severn

The Second Severn Crossing (Welsh: Ail Groesfan Hafren) is a road  bridge over the River Severn (Welsh: Afon Hafren)  which rises between England and Wales. The bridge marks the lower limit of the River Severn and the start of the Severn Estuary. It flows into the Bristol Channel and then into the Celtic Sea and the wider Atlantic Ocean. The name Severn is thought to derive from a Celtic original name (Welsh: Hafren; Old Welsh: Habren). Habren was a Celtic Princess and the name was later Latinized into the name Sabrina. Legend has it that she who was drowned in the River Severn by her stepmother Gwendolen. 

Since that time the River has born her name. According to legend, Hafren/Sabrina lives in the river, which reflects her mood. She has become the goddess of the River Severn and is said to ride in a chariot and dolphins, with salmon swimming alongside her. This week a police helicopter crew took a spectacular picture of the River Severn shrouded in mist with the Second Severn Crossing bridge emerging from the fog. The Celtic goddess of the River Severn once again appearing to weave her magic.

Image: Second Severn Crossing photograph taken by National Police Air Service.