River Yarty facts for kids
The River Yarty is a river located in the eastern part of Devon, England. It flows close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset counties.
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Where Does the River Yarty Flow?
The River Yarty is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) long. It starts high up in Staple Hill, which is part of the Blackdown Hills. From there, it generally flows south.
The River's Journey South
- The river passes through a place called Bishopswood.
- For a short distance, it forms the border between Devon and Somerset.
- Then, it becomes the border between Devon and Dorset. This is where the three counties (Devon, Somerset, and Dorset) meet.
- It flows through a village called Marsh.
- The Yarty continues to create a river valley for most of its path.
- It flows between several villages like Yarcombe, Stockland, Dalwood, and Membury.
- Finally, the River Yarty joins the River Axe just southwest of Axminster. The River Axe then continues its journey to the English Channel.
Roads Crossing the Yarty
Two important roads cross over the River Yarty:
- The A303 is a major road that goes across southern England. It crosses the Yarty on a tall bridge called a viaduct near Marsh.
- Further south, the A30 crosses the river east of Yarcombe. This crossing is slightly west of the Devon and Dorset border.
The History of the River Yarty
The exact meaning of the name "Yarty" is not fully known. However, experts believe it comes from Old English, which is a very old form of the English language. Two villages, Yarcombe and Yartyford, were named after this river.
Flooding and Challenges
The area around the top part of the Yarty is quite hilly, but the river cuts through it, creating a deep valley. Because the river flows in a deep valley, it can sometimes flood. Since the 1960s, there have been many reports of homes and buildings near the Yarty being damaged by floods.
The land along the river's flood plain (the flat area next to the river that can flood) is often very wet and muddy. This makes it hard to cross. For example, in the spring of 1685, during a historical event called the Monmouth Rebellion, the muddy land caused problems. An army led by Lord Albermarle could not stop another army, led by the Duke of Monmouth, from moving north from Lyme Regis towards Sedgemoor.
