River Derwent, North East England

The River Derwent is a river which flows between the historic county boundaries of Durham and Northumberland in the north east of England. It broadens into the Derwent Reservoir, west of Consett. The Derwent is a tributary of the River Tyne, which it joins at Derwenthaugh near Gateshead.

File:Disused Weir, River Derwent - geograph.org.uk - 630403.jpg

Disused Weir, River Derwent, just south west of Shotley Bridge. The building behind is an old pump house.

File:Footbridge over the River Derwent - geograph.org.uk - 630570.jpg

Footbridge over the River Derwent just south west of Shotley Bridge

The river flows for 35 miles from its origin, where two streams, Beldon Burn and Nookton Burn meet approximately a mile west of Blanchland, to Derwenthaugh where it flows into the River Tyne (the confluence is between Blaydon and the MetroCentre complex). On its journey, the River Derwent flows through places such as Allensford, Shotley Bridge, Blackhall Mill and Rowlands Gill. The Derwent Walk Country Park at Rowlands Gill<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is named after the river.

The name Derwent comes from the Brythonic/Early Welsh word for oak derw and valley -went.<ref>alternatively water dour / der/ dar and white (g)-went. See under DUR http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pbtyc/Misc/Etymology.html</ref>

The Muggleswick-born writer, John Carr, wrote a 40 verse poem "Ode to the River Derwent".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

River Derwent flows next to the Gibside estate.

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline
• Derwent Photographs
• Bridges On The Derwent

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