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The Trent rises in the north-west of the county between Biddulph and Mow Cop at about 700 feet above sea level. The stream almost immediately, passes into Knypersley Pools, where several streams unite, with the surplus water proceeding from Biddulph Moor. The Trent now flows on 3 miles to Norton, below which a considerable tributary comes in called Fowlea which rises near the Trent source, and flows through a parallel valley. The united stream flows about 3 miles to Stoke-upon-Trent, passing the town of Hanley and a long line of thickly-populated country, which it leaves to the west. Beyond Stoke it flows 2 miles further to Hanford, where it receives the Lyme from the north, a brook about 5 miles long flowing near Newcastle. A short distance from this it enters Trentham Park, where it forms a lake of about 80 acres. After leaving Trentham it flows near Barlaston, being fed by waters from the high lands about Hilderstone, and passing west of Stone it flows southeast near Sandon, Salt and Weston-on-Trent, being joined by Amerton brook and Gayton brook on its left bank and waters from Ingestre and Tixall on its right bank, and at Great Heywood is joined on its right bank by its important tributary the Sow. From its confluence with the Sow it still flows southeast through Rugeley, receiving on its right bank the Sherbrook, which waters a rich botanical valley on Cannock Chase, and flowing through Armitage its course becomes more easterly by Pipe Ridware, where it is joined by the river Blythe. The Blythe rises northeast of Chartley Park and flows south-east towards Leigh and through Gradwich and Grindley, under Blythe Bridge, near Blithford Hall and through Blithford and Sandborough to its confluence with the Trent near Kings Bromley, being fed by waters from Chartley, Bagot Wood, Rake End and Kingston. The Trent now flows west near Wichnor Park, and above Alrewas to its confluence with the Tame near Croxall. The Tame rises north of Pelsall in the south of Cannock Chase, collecting waters from the Silurian Hills about Dudley and also from the country east of Wolverhampton and from the western ridge of Hamstead Hill and Walsall. These numerous feeders join the Tame near West Bromwich, and the Tame flowing through Perry Barr enters Warwickshire at Witton. Flowing through Castle Bromwich, Curdworth and Fazely it re-enters Staffordshire at Tamworth, receiving here an important tributary, Black Brook, which drains a large extent of country about Chesterfield, Stonnal, Weeford and Hints, and passing through Prayton Park unites with the Tame near Fazely. The Tame then flows through Elford to its confluence with the Trent near Croxall. The Trent now makes a sharp turn to the north and takes the direction of the Tame at the confluence. After a further flow of 6 miles it reaches Burton-on-Trent, and 2 miles lower recieves the Dove. The area drained by the Trent is about 800 square miles, and in a distance of about 50 miles the bed of the river has fallen from 700 feet above sea to 180 feet, most part of this fall of 520 feet occurring in the first 11 miles, between the source and the confluence with Fowlea Brook, where the bed of the stream is not more than 370 feet above sea. The mean fall of the first five miles of the Trent is at the rate of nearly 50 feet to the mile, and of the next five of 18 feet. After this the fall nowhere exceeds 8 feet to a mile. The following are some of the more noteworthy species :-
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