Gur Beck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gur Beck |
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Gur Beck in East Beckham
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 Gur Beck Source within North Norfolk
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| Country | England |
| State | Norfolk |
| Region | East of England |
| District | North Norfolk |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Near the Village of West Beckham, East of England, England 262 ft (80 m) |
| River mouth | Merges with the Scarrow Beck 52°52′23.5″N 1°15′19.6″E / 52.873194°N 1.255444°E |
| Length | 4.2 mi (6.8 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Watermills | Gresham |
The Gur Beck is a small river, also called a watercourse, located in the northern part of Norfolk, England. It's a tributary, which means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger one. The Gur Beck flows into the Scarrow Beck.
This little river starts from a natural spring, a place where water flows out of the ground. Its spring is found just east of the village of West Beckham in North Norfolk. The Gur Beck flows for about 4.2 miles (6.8 kilometers) before it joins the Scarrow Beck near a place called Sustead. In the past, there was a watermill on the Gur Beck in the village of Gresham, but it no longer works today.
Gresham Castle and Its Moat
Just south of the village of Gresham, you can find the remains of Gresham Castle. This wasn't a huge castle, but more like a strong manor house that was protected by a moat. A moat is a wide, deep ditch, often filled with water, built around a castle or building to keep enemies out.
This castle was once owned by the famous Paston family. Their history is known through the Paston Letters, a collection of letters from the 15th century that tell us a lot about life in medieval England. The water for Gresham Castle's moat used to come directly from the Gur Beck. However, the river's path has changed over time. Now, the Gur Beck flows about 50 meters away from where the castle ruins are.
Gresham Watermill
The watermill at Gresham was not a very large one. Today, most of it is gone. All that remains is the old mill house, the channel where the water used to flow, and a small part of the building's foundations on the west side of the mill house. This site is now known as Old Watermill Farm and is located in Lower Gresham.
In 1819, this watermill was quite busy. It used the power of the Gur Beck to turn two sets of "French burr stones." These were special grinding stones used to crush local wheat into flour. This flour would then be used to make bread and other foods for the community. Even though the mill no longer works, it's a reminder of how rivers like the Gur Beck were once very important for daily life and work.
