Cam Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cam Brook |
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Weir on Cam Brook at Combe Hay
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| Country | England |
| State | Somerset |
| District | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Cities | Cameley, Temple Cloud, Camerton, Dunkerton, Combe Hay |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Hinton Blewitt, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, England 51°18′26″N 2°35′05″W / 51.30722°N 2.58472°W |
| River mouth | Midford Brook Midford, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, England 51°20′27″N 2°20′32″W / 51.34083°N 2.34222°W |
The Cam Brook is a small river in Somerset, England. It begins its journey near Hinton Blewitt. The brook then flows through several villages, including Cameley, Temple Cloud, Camerton, Dunkerton, and Combe Hay. Finally, it joins the Wellow Brook at Midford to form the Midford Brook. This new brook then connects with the larger River Avon near the Dundas Aqueduct.
Historically, the Somerset Coal Canal used water from the Cam Brook. This canal was important for transporting coal from the Somerset Coalfield area. A special nature spot called Long Dole Wood and Meadows SSSI is found on the flat land next to a stream that flows into the Cam Brook.
Exploring the Cam Valley
The Cam Valley is a very pretty area with gentle, rolling hills. These hills have been shaped over time by natural forces like water. Many small springs bubble up along the valley sides. The streams from these springs are often lined with trees, making them look very green and peaceful.
Valley Features
Where the valley sides meet the bottom, the change is usually smooth and rounded. The valley floors are narrow but flat, allowing the Cam Brook to wind freely across its flood plain. In some places, the brook can be quite deep and has steep banks. This area is very important to groups like the Cam Valley Wildlife Group, who study and protect the local nature, including the nearby Wellow Brook.
Filming Location
The Cam Brook valley has even been a star! The famous 1953 film The Titfield Thunderbolt was filmed here. This Ealing Studios comedy is about villagers who try to run a train service on an old railway line. The movie used the recently closed Camerton branch of the Bristol and North Somerset Railway line, which ran along the Cam Brook valley. A cricket scene from the film was shot near a viaduct hotel in Limpley Stoke.
Local Traditions
The Cam Valley Morris Men are a traditional dance group based in nearby Priddy. After the apple harvest, you might see them in Kilmersdon taking part in the traditional celebrations of wassailing. This old custom involves singing and drinking cider to wish good health to the apple trees for the next year's harvest.
Famous Faces
Did you know that actress Maisie Williams, famous for her role in Game of Thrones, grew up in Clutton, a village close to the Cam Brook?
