Whitelake River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitelake River |
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Cockmill Bridge and ford
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| Country | England |
| State | Somerset |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Pylle 51°08′30″N 2°33′47″W / 51.14167°N 2.56306°W |
| 2nd source | Beard Hill 51°09′43″N 2°32′28″W / 51.16194°N 2.54111°W |
| 3rd source | Worthy Farm, Pilton 51°09′21″N 2°35′24″W / 51.15583°N 2.59000°W |
| River mouth | River Brue Westhay, Somerset, England 51°10′47″N 2°47′41″W / 51.17972°N 2.79472°W |
| Length | 10 km (6.2 mi) |
The Whitelake River is a small river located in Somerset, England. It flows across the Somerset Levels, which is a large area of very flat, low-lying land. This river is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) long.
Contents
Where the Whitelake River Begins
The Whitelake River starts from two small streams. These streams begin between two low hills made of limestone. These hills are part of the southern edge of the Mendip Hills.
The River's Journey
The two small streams meet together at a place called Worthy Farm. This farm is famous because it is where the Glastonbury Festival takes place every year. The farm is located between the villages of Pilton and Pylle. After the streams join, the Whitelake River flows west. It travels for about 10 kilometers (6 miles) until it reaches the River Brue at a village called Westhay.
History of the Whitelake River Area
Long, long ago, around 1,000 BC, the area near where the Whitelake River meets the River Brue was home to a large lake called Meare Pool. This pool was just north of the village of Meare.
Meare Pool and River Changes
The size of Meare Pool changed a lot. It got bigger or smaller depending on the season. Over many years, people also worked to drain the area, which changed the pool's boundaries. In ancient times, Meare Pool collected water from the River Brue and the River Sheppey. The water then flowed north into the Lower River Axe.
Later, in the 1100s, a group of monks from an Abbey changed the path of the River Brue. They made it flow west from Meare Pool to join the River Parrett. More land was drained between 1620 and 1740. During this time, new channels were built, like the "new Cutts" (also known as Decoy Rhyne) around 1660. The rivers Sheppey and Hartlake were also made into canals in the late 1730s.
A New Bridge for the River
In 2010, Michael Eavis, who organizes the Glastonbury Festival, received a special gift. It was timber from old canal gates at Caen Hill Locks in Wiltshire. This wood was used to build a new bridge over the Whitelake River. The bridge was named in memory of Arabella Churchill.
