River Skell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Skell |
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The River Skell in Studley Royal Park
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| Country | England |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Howson Ridge near Wath-in-Nidderdale 350 metres (1,150 ft) 54°7′2″N 1°44′59″W / 54.11722°N 1.74972°W |
| River mouth | River Ure near Ripon 23 metres (75 ft) 54°8′0″N 1°30′3″W / 54.13333°N 1.50083°W |
| Length | 12 miles (19 km) |
The River Skell is a 19-kilometer (12-mile) long river in North Yorkshire, England. It is a smaller river that flows into the larger River Ure.
The River Skell begins in a wet, marshy area on the moors. This spot is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) north of Pateley Bridge. For its first 3 kilometers (2 miles), the river is known as Skell Beck. As it leaves the moor, the river enters a narrow, wooded valley called Skell Gill. The valley slowly gets wider but stays very green and wooded. It passes through villages like Skelding and Grantley, and by the old Grantley Hall from the 1600s.
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Journey Through Studley Royal Park
The River Skell then flows into the beautiful Studley Royal Park. Here, it passes by Fountains Hall and the amazing ruins of Fountains Abbey. In the 1700s, the river below the abbey was dammed. This created a lovely ornamental lake and a special water garden.
Underground Flow Near Ripon
Downstream from the park, the river flows over porous rock. This means the rock has tiny holes, allowing some or all of the river's water to disappear underground. After this, the river reappears on the surface. It then enters the city of Ripon. On the edge of Ripon, the Skell meets its largest branch, the River Laver. Finally, the River Skell flows into the River Ure. This meeting point is about 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) east of the center of Ripon.
What's in a Name?
The name "Skell" comes from an old language called Old Norse. The word skjallr means "resounding" or "noisy." This name fits the river well because it flows swiftly and can be quite loud. In the Middle Ages, people sometimes called the river "Heaven Water." This name likely came from its close connection to the famous Fountains Abbey.
River Flow Measurements
Since 1984, the flow of the River Skell has been measured. This happens at Alma Weir in Ripon, close to where it joins the River Ure. Records from the past thirty years show that the area of land that drains into the river, called its catchment, is 120 square kilometers (46 square miles). The average flow of the river is about 1.54 cubic meters per second. In June 2007, the river reached its highest recorded level. The water was 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) over the weir. Experts estimated that the flow at that time was about 103 cubic meters per second.
