Gypsey Race facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gypsey Race |
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Gypsey Race near Bridlington
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 Location of the mouth shown within the East Riding of Yorkshire
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| Country | England |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Duggleby 114 metres (374 ft) 54°5′21″N 0°39′33″W / 54.08917°N 0.65917°W |
| River mouth | North Sea at Bridlington 54°4′52″N 0°11′27″W / 54.08111°N 0.19083°W |
| Length | 41.4 kilometres (25.7 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 265.5 square kilometres (102.5 sq mi) |
The Gypsey Race is a special stream in Yorkshire, England. It's called a winterbourne, which means it doesn't always flow above ground all year round. This stream starts near Wharram-le-Street and travels through many villages like Duggleby, Rudston, and Boynton. Finally, it flows into the North Sea at Bridlington harbour. It's the most northern of the chalk streams in Yorkshire.
Contents
The Journey of the Gypsey Race
The Gypsey Race begins its journey in the Great Wold Valley. It starts from several springs and flows above ground for a while. However, between Duggleby and West Lutton, the stream often goes underground. It flows through the chalk rock, like a hidden river.
Underground Sections
The water then reappears above ground in a village called Rudston. Sometimes, when there has been a lot of rain, the stream can even show up further north in Wold Newton. This is about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from Rudston. Some of the underground water also travels south. It helps feed other streams like West Beck and the River Hull.
Old Stories and Floods
For a very long time, people have told stories about the Gypsey Race. According to folklore, when the stream flows very strongly and floods (they called these "The Woe Waters"), it was a sign of bad luck or big changes coming.
Historical Events and the Stream
People noticed that the stream flooded before important events. For example, it flooded before a big sickness called the Great Plague in 1664. It also flooded before King Charles II returned to the throne in 1660 and before William of Orange arrived in 1688. The stream was also in flood before the two World Wars and during very cold winters in 1947 and 1962.
Recent Flooding
The Gypsey Race can still cause floods today. In 2012, the village of Burton Fleming was badly flooded. In some places, the water was as deep as 2 feet (0.6 meters)!
Fun on the Stream
Not everything about the Gypsey Race is about old stories or floods. The villagers in Boynton have a fun event every May. They hold an annual duck race on the stream! Hundreds of bright yellow plastic ducks are released into the water. People pay to enter a duck, and the money raised helps support the village hall.
Pictures
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Burton Fleming
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Burton Fleming
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