River Greta, Durham facts for kids
The River Greta is a river in County Durham, England. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river, which makes it a tributary of the River Tees. The Greta flows through the northern part of an old area called the North Riding of Yorkshire.
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Where the River Greta Starts
The River Greta begins high up in the Pennines, which are a range of hills often called the "backbone of England." It collects water from areas like Spittal Ings and Beldoo Moss. From there, it flows east through Stainmore Forest.
How the River Grows
As the Greta travels, other smaller streams join it. One important stream is Sleightholme Beck. This beck starts where two smaller streams, Dry Gill and Frumming Beck, meet. After Sleightholme Beck joins, the River Greta continues its journey through a village called Bowes. Near Bowes, the river crosses the Pennine Way, a famous long-distance walking path. This area was once home to a Roman fort called Lavatris.
History and Art Along the Greta
The beautiful scenery around the River Greta has inspired many artists over the years. Famous painters like John Sell Cotman and J. M. W. Turner loved to capture its views in their artworks.
Ancient Sites and Old Buildings
There are also many interesting historical places near the river:
- Cup and Ring Carvings: On Barningham Moor, you can find ancient rock carvings known as cup and ring marks. These were made by people long, long ago.
- Norman Keep: At Scargill, there's an early Norman castle tower, called a keep. It's a reminder of the Norman times in England.
- Roman Shrine: On Scargill Moor, there was once a Roman shrine. Some items from this shrine are now kept safe in the Bowes Museum.
- Brignall Mill: This old watermill, built in the 1600s, is now a holiday cottage. It shows how people used the river's power in the past.
Places Along the River
Here are some of the main places the River Greta flows past, starting from its source:
- Spital
- Bowes
- Gilmondby
- Scargill
- Barningham
- Greta Bridge
