River Erewash facts for kids

Quick facts for kids River Erewash
The River Erewash, Derbyshire
Country	England
Counties	Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire
Physical characteristics
Main source	south east of Kirkby-in-Ashfield
River mouth	confluence with River Trent at Attenborough Nature Reserve

The River Erewash is a river in England. It is a smaller river that flows into the River Trent. The Erewash flows mostly south through Derbyshire. It runs very close to the border with Nottinghamshire.

What Does Erewash Mean?

The name Erewash comes from old English words. It means "wandering, marshy river." This name really fits the river well. The Erewash often twists and turns. It also flows through wet, low-lying areas.

Sometimes, the river can flood quickly after heavy rain. This happens especially around places like Gallows Inn Playing Fields in Ilkeston. When it floods, the water spreads out over the land. But it also drains away quickly.

Where Does the River Erewash Flow?

The River Erewash starts in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. At first, some of it flows underground in pipes. This is called being "culverted."

From Source to County Border

The river then comes to the surface. It flows west, going under the M1 motorway. It passes between the towns of Pinxton and Selston. After this, the Erewash becomes the border. It marks the line between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Flowing South and East

The river continues to flow south. It runs between Langley Mill and Eastwood. It then goes along the east side of Ilkeston. Here, it also becomes the border for the Borough of Erewash.

The Erewash keeps flowing south. It passes between Sandiacre and Stapleford. Finally, at Toton, it turns east. The river then joins the River Trent. This meeting point is at the Attenborough Nature Reserve, near Long Eaton.

The Erewash Valley and Canals

The river gives its name to the Erewash Valley. This area has a long history of industry. The river also gave its name to the local government area. This area is called the Borough of Erewash. It was created in 1974.

The River Erewash itself is not used for boats. But it flows next to the Erewash Canal for much of its journey. This canal runs from Langley Mill to the River Trent. Another old canal, the Cromford Canal, used to run alongside it further north.

The River in Books

Even though it's a small river, the Erewash is famous in books. This is mainly because of a writer named D.H. Lawrence. He grew up in the Erewash Valley. He wrote about the river many times in his stories.

For example, in his book The Rainbow, he describes the river:

The Brangwens had lived for generations on the Marsh Farm, in the meadows where the Erewash twisted sluggishly through alder trees, separating Derbyshire from Nottinghamshire.

This shows how important the river was to his stories and the area.

Images for kids

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  The River Erewash, Derbyshire