Rowley Burn (Northumberland) facts for kids
Rowley Burn is a small stream in Northumberland, England. It is also sometimes called Rowley Brook or Ham Burn. This stream flows about three miles south of the town of Hexham. It eventually joins a larger river called the Devil's Water. The Devil's Water then flows into the famous River Tyne.
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What's in a Name?
The name "Rowley Burn" has an interesting history. Experts believe its name comes from old words. It might be similar to places called "Roughley."
The name likely comes from two Old English words:
- rūh which means 'rough'
- lēah which means 'open land in woodland'
So, Rowley Burn could mean something like "the stream by the rough open land in the woods."
Rowley Burn's Ancient History
Rowley Burn has been important for a very long time. It is even mentioned in a famous old book.
The Battle of Heavenfield
Around the year 731, a monk named Bede wrote a book. It was called Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum. This means 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People'. In his book, Bede wrote about a big battle. It was called the Battle of Heavenfield. This battle happened around the year 634.
Bede said the battle took place near a stream. He called this stream Denisesburna. He thought this name meant 'Denisus's stream'.
Identifying Denisesburna
For many years, people wondered which stream Bede was talking about. Then, in 1233, an old document was found. This document was a special paper for the Archbishop of York. It was written by a person named Thomas de Whittington.
This old paper showed that Denisesburna was actually Rowley Burn! Since then, experts have agreed that they are the same stream.
What the Name Really Means
Even though Bede thought Denisesburna meant 'Denisus's stream', modern experts have a different idea. They believe the first part of the name comes from older languages. These are called Brittonic languages. These languages were spoken in Britain long before English.
So, the name Denisesburna might have a different, even older meaning.
