River Granta facts for kids
The River Granta is a special river in England. It's actually the name for two of the four smaller rivers that flow into the larger River Cam. Sometimes, people even use "Granta" and "Cam" to mean the same thing!
One part of the Granta river starts near a village called Widdington in Essex. It flows north, passing by the beautiful Audley End House. This part of the Granta then meets another river called the Rhee. The Rhee is also often called the River Cam. They join up about a mile south of a famous village called Grantchester. From where it starts to where it meets the Rhee, this part of the Granta is about 41.7 kilometers (25.9 miles) long.
There's another part of the Granta river too! This one flows for about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from south of Haverhill. It then joins the first, larger Granta river south of Great Shelford.
Another small river that flows into the Cam is called Bourn Brook. It starts near the village of Eltisley, which is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Cambridge. Bourn Brook flows east through places like Caxton, Bourn, and Toft. It finally joins the River Cam at a spot known as Byron's Pool.
The River's Changing Name
It can be a bit confusing, but on many maps, the river actually changes its name! When it reaches the Silver Street Bridge in the city of Cambridge, the river is called "Granta" upstream (before the bridge) and "Cam" downstream (after the bridge).
Long, long ago, even the lower part of the River Cam was called the Granta. But then, the name of the old Anglo-Saxon town, which was called Grantebrycge, changed to Cambridge. To match the town's new name, the river was also renamed the Cam.
You can find places like Grantchester and Granta Park along the banks of the River Granta. Their names are a nod to the river itself!
Images for kids
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The Millennium Bridge over the river Granta connecting Little and Great Abington
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Swimming in the River Granta near Grantchester Meadows
