Walla Brook facts for kids

The Walla Brook is a name used for several different streams in a beautiful area of England called Dartmoor. Dartmoor is famous for its wide-open spaces, hills, and rivers. It can be a bit confusing because more than one stream shares the name "Walla Brook"! Let's explore where these different streams are and what makes them special.

The Four Walla Brooks

There are four main streams on Dartmoor that are called Walla Brook. Each one starts in a different place and flows in a different direction.

Walla Brook near Babeny

One Walla Brook starts near a famous old building called the Warren House Inn. It flows south for about 6 kilometers (4 miles). This stream eventually joins a larger river, the East Dart River, close to a small village called Babeny. This particular Walla Brook also helps mark the border between two areas: Teignbridge to the east and West Devon to the west.

This is one of the Walla Brooks, flowing peacefully near the village of Babeny.

North Walla Brook

Another stream, called the North Walla Brook, also begins close to the Warren House Inn. However, instead of flowing south, this one flows north and then turns east. It eventually meets the River Bovey.

Walla Brook near Cranmere Pool

A third Walla Brook starts near a place called Hangingstone Hill. This is about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) east of Cranmere Pool, which is a well-known spot on Dartmoor. This stream flows north and then east, heading towards the North Teign River. Sometimes, local people also call this stream the Headon River.

Walla Brook near Doe Tor

The fourth Walla Brook begins at a spot called Wallabrook Head. This is just south of a place known as Doe Tor. This stream flows west for about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) across an area called Doetor Common. It then joins the River Lyd.

Other Streams with Similar Names

Besides the four main Walla Brooks, there are two other streams in the area with similar names:

Western Wella Brook

The Western Wella Brook is a smaller stream that flows into the River Avon.

River Wallabrook

The River Wallabrook is a stream that flows into the River Tavy. It's just outside the main Dartmoor National Park area. This river flows south for about 6 kilometers (4 miles) from near Brent Tor and joins the River Tavy close to the town of Tavistock.

What Does "Walla Brook" Mean?

The name "Walla Brook" is very old, and its exact meaning is a bit of a mystery! Some people think the name might mean "the stream of the Welsh." In the past, "Welsh" was sometimes used to describe people who were seen as "foreigners" or different from the main group, like the Iron Age farmers who lived in the area a very long time ago.

However, another idea is that "wella" is an old English word that simply means "stream." So, "Walla Brook" could just mean "stream stream," which might sound a bit funny, but it was common for names to be repeated in old languages.