River Derwent, Derbyshire Facts for Kids

For other rivers called Derwent, see River Derwent (disambiguation). For the submerged village, see Derwent, Derbyshire.

Quick facts for kids River Derwent
The River Derwent, near Hathersage
Country	England
Counties	Derbyshire
Physical characteristics
Main source	Bleaklow, east of Glossop 53°28′01″N 1°48′47″W / 53.466894°N 1.813175°W / 53.466894; -1.813175
River mouth	Derwent Mouth, River Trent 52°52′26″N 1°19′13″W / 52.8738°N 1.3203°W / 52.8738; -1.3203
Length	80 km (50 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries	Left: Bentley Brook, River Amber Right: River Westend, River Ashop, River Noe, River Wye, River Ecclesbourne

The River Derwent is a famous river in Derbyshire, England. It flows for about 80 kilometres (50 mi) and is a tributary (a smaller river that flows into a larger one) of the River Trent. The Derwent joins the River Trent south of the city of Derby. Most of the river's journey takes it through the beautiful Peak District and its surrounding areas.

Even though much of the river flows through quiet countryside, it has been very important to people for a long time. Between Matlock and Derby, the river helped start the Industrial Revolution. Its powerful water turned the machines in the very first large cotton factories. Today, the River Derwent provides water for many nearby cities. Its deep valley also acts as an important path through the hills of the Peak District.

Because the Derwent Valley is so pretty, many tourists visit it. The upper part of the river is inside the Peak District National Park. The middle part, around the old spa town of Matlock Bath, is popular for its shops, arcades, and attractions like the Heights of Abraham and its cable car.

What Does "Derwent" Mean?
The River's Journey
Animals and Plants of the Derwent
How People Use the River
Rivers That Join the Derwent
How the River Gave Its Name
Gallery
See also

What Does "Derwent" Mean?

The name "Derwent" comes from an old British word, *Deruentiū. This word was later changed into Latin as Deruentiō. It means "belonging to the forest of oak trees." An old Welsh poem called Pais Dinogad (Dinogad's Smock) also used a similar name, Derwennydd, for the river.

The River's Journey

The River Derwent starts high up at Swains Greave, about 590 metres (1,940 ft) above sea level. This is on the eastern side of Bleaklow, a large moorland area, near Glossop. For the first 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), the river forms the border between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.

As it flows, the Derwent passes through three large reservoirs: Howden, Derwent, and Ladybower Reservoir. Derwent Reservoir is named after the old village of Derwent, which is now underwater beneath the reservoir. Once it passes Howden Reservoir, the river stays entirely within Derbyshire. The Howden and Ladybower reservoirs also collect water from other rivers, like the River Westend and the River Ashop.

Further south, the Derwent flows past the village of Bamford, where the River Noe joins it. It then continues through towns and villages like Hathersage, Grindleford, Calver, and Baslow. It even flows through the beautiful grounds of Chatsworth House. The River Wye then joins the Derwent at Rowsley.

After passing Darley Dale, the Derwent reaches Matlock. Here, the Bentley Brook flows into it. The river then goes past Matlock Bath, Cromford, Whatstandwell, and Ambergate, where the River Amber joins it.

Below Ambergate, the river flows through Belper and the villages of Milford and Duffield. The River Ecclesbourne joins it here. Finally, the Derwent enters the city of Derby near Darley Abbey and flows right through the city center.

The River Derwent ends at Derwent Mouth, about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Shardlow. Here, it joins the River Trent. The river drops a total of 560 metres (1,840 ft) from its source to its mouth. Its path is quite winding, especially in its lower parts, which makes its actual length longer than it appears. The Derwent's waters eventually reach the North Sea through the Humber Estuary.

Animals and Plants of the Derwent

The River Derwent is home to many different kinds of animals. You might spot otters, various birds, insects, fish, and even crayfish. The river banks are also rich with many wild flowers, especially along the Lower Derwent Trail.

How People Use the River

In the past, the lower part of the Derwent, from its mouth up to Derby, was made suitable for boats in 1721. However, boats stopped using it around 1795. Today, the river is not used for large boats, but the upper parts are very popular with kayakers and canoeists. They enjoy the fast-flowing water and a special slalom course at Matlock Bath.

The river was also vital for powering textile mills. These factories were built along the Derwent between Matlock Bath and Derby. At first, mills like Lombe's Silk Mill in Derby and Richard Arkwright's Cromford Mill (the world's first water-powered cotton spinning mill) used smaller streams or water from lead mines. But later, bigger mills in Belper, Darley Abbey, and Masson Mill needed the full power of the Derwent. This led to building large weirs (dams) across the river, which you can still see today.

These mill sites were very important for the Industrial Revolution. Because of their historical significance, the area is now a Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

Even today, the power of the Derwent is used at some of these old mill sites. Instead of turning mill wheels, the water now generates hydro-electricity using turbines. A new hydro-electric station was recently built at Longbridge weir in Derby.

The reservoirs in the upper valley, Howden and Derwent, were finished in 1916. They were built to supply water to cities like Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby, and Leicester. Ladybower Reservoir was added in 1945 to meet growing demand. Treated water from these reservoirs travels through the 28-mile (45 km) Derwent Valley Aqueduct, which runs alongside the river. The river also helps supply Carsington Reservoir. Water is pumped from the Derwent at Ambergate when the river flow is high. When the river flow is low, water is released back into the Derwent from Carsington. This helps ensure there's enough water downstream at Little Eaton during dry summer months. All these reservoirs are managed by Severn Trent Water.

The Derwent Valley is also an important route for travel. The A6 road follows the valley between Derby and Rowsley. This road used to be the main route from London to Manchester. Old railway lines from Derby to Sheffield and Manchester also followed the Derwent. The Sheffield line is still part of the Midland Main Line. The Manchester line now runs only between Ambergate and Matlock, known as the Derwent Valley Line. Between Ambergate and Cromford, the river, road, and railway are also joined by the Cromford Canal.

Rivers That Join the Derwent

Many smaller rivers and streams flow into the River Derwent. Here are some of them:

River Amber
River Ashop
Bar Brook (near Baslow)
Black Brook (near Belper)
Bottle Brook (at Little Eaton)
Bentley Brook
Chaddesden Brook (in Derby)
River Ecclesbourne
Highlow Brook (near Hathersage)
Hood Brook (also near Hathersage)
Lea Brook (near High Peak Junction)
Ladybower Brook (flows into Ladybower Reservoir)
Markeaton Brook (joins in Derby)
River Noe
River Westend
River Wye

How the River Gave Its Name

The River Derwent has given its name to a few local groups. The oldest hockey club in Derbyshire is called Derwent Hockey Club. It started in 1897 and used to play its games on the banks of the Derwent in Darley Dale. The Derwent Rowing Club in Derby, founded in 1857, is also named after the river.