Saga Cryptic November 2017

[syruphead]

stuck on a couple
1d River channel - its close by the sound of it (4)
Have seen answer as styx, but why?
21a Poetic visionary introducing pipe down alkali factory (6)
?s?e?y

[Sam1960]

21. seen answered as " ashery"

[syruphead]

thanks sam, looks good to me

[Mamyalynne]

Snye is a River channel

Maybe sounds like '(it')s nigh - (close)

??

[syruphead]

yes, looks good too mamyalynne

[Davemano]

1 Another theory relates to cricket where the umpire calls 'stumps' for the end of play for the day. Stumps are also referred to as 'sticks' sounding Styx.

[Davemano]

Depending on other clues I probably think Snye fits the clue best.

[Mamyalynne]

It was 'channel' I was trying to work in - styx/sticks could mean river/close but leaves channel out.

Only a guess mind you.