River Lew

The more northerly of the two rises just south of the village of Beaworthy, and flows east, then turns north to run past Hatherleigh before joining the River Torridge about 1 km north of the town.

The more southerly of the two rises on the northwest corner of Dartmoor, near Sourton, and flows west and somewhat south, through the Lew Valley past Lewtrenchard and south of Lewdown before joining the River Lyd near Marystow.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a battle in 825 in which Devon forces loyal to Egbert of Wessex defeated the Cornish at Gafulford; and this is thought to be Galford on the banks of this river, though some translations render it as Camelford, some 20 miles further west.

Domesday Book mentions a Lew Manor in this area, and it may be that both rivers take their name from it.

The manor cannot have been named any earlier than the Anglo-Saxon period[1] Media related to River Lew (Torridge) at Wikimedia Commons Media related to River Lew (Lyd) at Wikimedia Commons