River Hodder facts for kids
The River Hodder is a beautiful river in Lancashire, England. It's a special place, recognized as a County Biological Heritage Site because of its important nature.
The river starts high up on White Hill. It then flows for about 23 miles (that's about 37 kilometers) until it joins the River Ribble. The Hodder is the biggest river that flows into the Ribble, making it a major "tributary." When both rivers are full of water, especially after heavy rain (this is called being in "spate"), where they meet is an amazing sight!
Most of the River Hodder flows through a lovely area called the Forest of Bowland. This area is so special that it's protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means it's a landscape that's very important for its beauty and wildlife.
The top part of the river helps fill a big lake called Stocks Reservoir. This reservoir is super important because it provides a lot of the drinking water for people in Lancashire. After leaving the reservoir, the Hodder flows mostly south. Many smaller streams and rivers join it along the way. Some of the most important ones are Croasdale Brook, Easington Brook, the River Dunsop, Langden Brook and the River Loud.
Much of the land around the Hodder River in the north belongs to the King or Queen, as part of the Duchy of Lancaster. Further down, the land is owned by Stonyhurst College and the Jesuits, who are a group of Catholic priests. The river flows very close to Stonyhurst College and its former junior school, Hodder Place. The river even gives its name to parts of the college, like "Hodder House" and "Hodder Playroom."
Finally, the River Hodder meets the River Ribble near a village called Great Mitton. It also flows close to the River Calder there.
The river starts high up, over 400 meters (about 1,300 feet) above sea level. But within about 15 kilometers (9 miles), it drops down to 99 meters (325 feet) above sea level. This shows how much the land slopes!
The lower part of the Hodder River used to be a very old boundary. It marked the historical border between Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire. This river boundary was important in the early history of a powerful old area called the Lordship of Bowland.
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What Does "Hodder" Mean?
The name "Hodder" probably comes from an ancient language called Brythonic. This language was spoken in Britain a very long time ago. The name might mean "pleasant stream" or even "boundary." If it means "boundary," it suggests that the border between Lancashire and Yorkshire has been in the same place for thousands of years!
The name of the Forest of Bowland might also come from an old language, Old Norse. The word boga- means a "bow" in a river. This makes sense because the Hodder River winds and twists a lot through the Bowland landscape, like a bow or a curve.
How the River Changed Its Path
Long, long ago, the Hodder River flowed differently. It didn't curve east around Longridge Fell to join the River Ribble like it does today. Instead, it used to flow west along the Loud valley.
From a place called Doeford Bridge, it flowed west, then southwest. It might have joined the River Wyre by flowing past Broughton church and Woodplumpton. Or, it could have joined Savick Brook through Fulwood to meet the River Ribble in a different spot. Over time, the river's path changed to what we see today.
Villages Along the Hodder
The Hodder River doesn't flow through any big cities or towns. But it does pass by several charming villages. These include:
- Slaidburn
- Newton
- Dunsop Bridge
- Whitewell
- Hurst Green
- Great Mitton
A special discovery was made near where the Hodder joins the River Ribble in 2009. A collection of old silver items from the Middle Ages, called the Mitton Hoard, was found there!
Rivers That Join the Hodder
Many smaller rivers and streams flow into the River Hodder. These are its "tributaries." Some of the most well-known ones are:
- River Loud
- Trough Brook
- River Dunsop
You can find out more about all the rivers that join the Hodder by looking at the list of tributaries for the River Ribble.
