Gill (stream)

For other uses of "Gill", see Gill (disambiguation).

Gill or Ghyll is used for a ravine or narrow valley in the North of England and other parts of the United Kingdom. The word originates from the Old Norse Gil. Examples include Dufton Ghyll Wood, Dungeon Ghyll, Troller's Gill, Brockma Gill and Trow Ghyll. As a related usage, Gaping Gill is the name of a cave, not the associated stream, and Cowgill, Masongill and Halton Gill are derived names of villages.

Where the word Gill refers to a valley, the stream flowing through it is often referred to as a Beck: for example in Swaledale, Gunnerside Beck flows through Gunnerside Ghyll. Beck is also used as a more general term for streams in the north of England – examples include Ais Gill Beck and Arkle Beck. In the North Pennines, the word Sike is found in similar circumstances. This is particularly common in the Appleby Fells area where sikes significantly outnumber the becks and gills; it can also be seen in the name of Eden Sike Cave in Mallerstang.

In the High Weald Gills are deeply cut ravines, usually with a stream in the base which historically eroded the ravine. These Gills may be up to 200 ft (60 metres) deep, which represents a significant physiographic feature in lowland England.

See also

• List of generic forms in British place names
• Cumbrian placename etymology