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River Derwent, North East England

Coordinates: 54°57′49″N 1°40′46″W / 54.9635°N 1.6794°W / 54.9635; -1.6794
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River Derwent
Derwent near Allensford
River Derwent, North East England is located in Northumberland
River Derwent, North East England
Location of the mouth within Tyne and Wear
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
County Northumberland
 County Durham
Physical characteristics
Mouth 
 • location
River Tyne
 • coordinates
54°57′49″N 1°40′46″W / 54.9635°N 1.6794°W / 54.9635; -1.6794

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.

Disused Weir, River Derwent, just south west of Shotley Bridge. The building behind is an old pump house.
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[1] is named after the river.

The name Derwent comes from the Brythonic/Early Welsh word for oak derw and valley -went.[2]

The Muggleswick-born writer, John Carr, wrote a 40 verse poem "Ode to the River Derwent".[3]

River Derwent flows next to the Gibside estate.

References

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  1. ^ "Derwent Walk Country Park and Derwenthaugh Park". Gateshead Council.
  2. ^ alternatively water dour / der/ dar and white (g)-went. See under DUR http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pbtyc/Misc/Etymology.html
  3. ^ The Bishoprick Garland; Or, A Collection of Legends, Songs, Ballads, &c. Belonging to the County of Durham (europeanlibraries ed.). Nichols, and Baldwin & Cradock. 1843. pp. 43–48.
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