Markeaton Brook

Markeaton Brook
Confluence of the Markeaton Brook with the River Derwent in Derby
Country	England
Counties	Derbyshire
Villages	Mercaston, Kedleston, Markeaton
Tributaries
- left	Black Brook (Derbyshire)
- right	Mackworth Brook
City	Derby
Source
- location	Hulland, Derbyshire
- coordinates	53°00′00″N 1°37′01″W / 53.000°N 1.617°W / 53.000; -1.617
Mouth
- location	Derby, Derbyshire
- coordinates	52°55′12″N 1°27′54″W / 52.920°N 1.465°W / 52.920; -1.465Coordinates: 52°55′12″N 1°27′54″W / 52.920°N 1.465°W / 52.920; -1.465
Length	17 km (11 mi)
Basin	64 km2 (25 sq mi)
Progression : Markeaton Brook—Derwent—Trent—Humber

The Markeaton Brook is an 11-mile-long (17 km) tributary of the River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. The brook rises from its source south of Hulland Ward, and flows for most of its length through the countryside north-west of Derby before entering a culvert to the north of the city centre; it reappears from this culvert and runs through a short section of open channel on the other side of the city before joining the Derwent.

The brook is closely associated with the historical development and the early industrial heritage of Derby. Originally the course of the brook passed through the city in an open channel, but it was successively bridged and piped over the years, and by Victorian times it was almost completely covered. It is now hidden from view in a series of culverts as it flows beneath the centre of the city.

Although concealed, its presence could not be ignored, with a number of notable floods occurring in Derby before significant changes, including diversions and relief culverts were deemed necessary to prevent further inundations.

From its source south of Hulland Ward, the brook flows south-east where it is joined by the Black Brook, at Mercaston and is initially named after this village. To the south of Weston Underwood the name changes to the Cutler Brook, from where it flows through the parkland of Kedleston Hall. The channel through the park has been modified as part of the landscaping of the grounds in the 18th century into a series of lakes. Beside the upper lake is a neoclassical style boathouse and fishing room, beyond is a “very handsome stone bridge”, where beneath the three arches, the brook also falls over a cascade.

Continuing in a south-east direction, the Cutler brook meets a minor tributary that flows from Quarndon and the name changes to become the Markeaton brook. The larger brook then flows into Markeaton Park, where it is joined by its largest tributary the Mackworth Brook which drains the area around Mackworth and Kirk Langley.

Various channels exist within the park; the brook takes the northern channel with flow also being diverted into Markeaton Lake. The channels rejoin at Britannia Mill and continue through the West End of Derby, until the brook reaches the start of the Markeaton Brook Culvert at Ford Street. This culvert takes the brook beneath the centre of Derby, where it flows under the Strand, Victoria and Albert Street, to an unseen confluence of the Bramble brook. It crosses beneath the Morledge, before if finally re-emerges from the culvert into the Mill Fleam at the Cockpit island, and then runs alongside the Bass recreation ground, until it reaches the River Derwent.