River Beck facts for kids

The River Beck is a small river in south London. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river called the River Ravensbourne.

The River Beck: A London Stream

Where Does the Beck Start?

The River Beck begins in a place called Spring Park. This is where the areas of Shirley and West Wickham meet. For its first part, the river acts as a natural border. It separates the London areas of Croydon and Bromley. A long time ago, this same river also marked the border between the old counties of Surrey and Kent.

The River Beck in Kelsey Park

The river has given its name to a few local places. You can find Beck Lane in Elmers End and Beck Way in Beckenham.

The Beck's Journey to Other Rivers

The Beck flows into a park called Cator Park. Here, another small stream, the Chaffinch Brook, joins it. After these two streams meet, the river gets a new name. It is then called the Pool River.

The Pool River continues its journey until it meets the River Ravensbourne. The River Ravensbourne then flows into the famous River Thames. So, the water from the River Beck eventually makes its way into the River Thames!

What's in a Name?

The name "Beck" probably comes from the town of Beckenham. The old name for Beckenham was "Beohha's homestead" in Old English. This means it was the home or farm of someone named Beohha.

Another idea is that "Beck" comes from a Middle English word meaning "stream." If this is true, then "River Beck" would be a bit like saying "River River." This kind of name is called a tautological name. However, using "beck" to mean "stream" is not very common in southern England.