Devil's Water facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devil's Water |
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Devil's Water
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 Location within Northumberland
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| County | Northumberland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | 54°58′29″N 2°02′22″W / 54.9746°N 2.0395°W |
| Length | 26.3 km (16.3 mi) |
Devil's Water is a river found in Northumberland, England. It is a smaller river that flows into the larger River Tyne. The Devil's Water joins the River Tyne from the south. This meeting point is close to the village of Dilston. It is about 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Corbridge.
The river starts from several smaller streams. These tiny streams are called burns and sikes. They come together between Embley and Hackford. These places are about 5 miles (8 km) south of Hexham.
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What are the Devil's Water Tributaries?
A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. The Devil's Water has its own tributaries. These include:
- Rowley Burn
- West Dipton Burn
Why is Devil's Water Historically Important?
Devil's Water is important in history. It played a part in a big event called the Battle of Hexham. This battle happened a long time ago, in 1464. It was part of the Wars of the Roses. These wars were a series of fights between two powerful families in England. They were fighting to decide who would be king.
The Battle of Hexham (1464)
The Battle of Hexham took place near the Devil's Water. It was a key moment in the Wars of the Roses. The battle was fought between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The Lancastrians were trying to put their king, Henry VI, back on the throne. The Yorkists supported Edward IV.
The Yorkist army won a big victory at Hexham. This battle helped Edward IV become the undisputed king of England. Many Lancastrian leaders were captured or killed. The Devil's Water area was part of the battlefield. This makes the river a significant historical landmark.
Where Does the Name "Devil's Water" Come From?
The name Devil's Water might sound a bit mysterious. It probably shares its origin with other rivers named Douglas. You can find rivers like the Douglas Water in Scotland and the River Douglas in Northern England.
The name comes from an old language called Common Brittonic. This language was spoken in Britain a very long time ago. The name Douglas (and likely Devil's Water) combines two old words:
- dūβ- which meant "black"
- *glẹ:ss which meant "stream", "rivulet", or "watercourse"
So, the name likely means "black stream" or "dark water". This is similar to the Welsh word du-glais, which also means "black stream".
