Agill orghyll is aravine or narrow valley in theNorth of England and parts of Scotland. The word originates from theOld Norsegil.[1] Examples includeDufton Ghyll Wood,Dungeon Ghyll,Troller's Gill andTrow Ghyll. As a related usage,Gaping Gill is the name of a cave, not the associatedstream, andCowgill,Masongill andHalton Gill are derived names of villages.[2]
InSouth East England, theHigh Weald gills are deeply cut ravines, usually with a stream in the base[3] which eroded the ravine. These gills may be up to 200 feet (61 m) deep, which represents a significant physiographic feature in lowland England.[4]
The stream flowing through a gill is often referred to as abeck: for example inSwaledale, Gunnerside Beck flows through Gunnerside Ghyll.Beckis also used as a more general term for streams in Yorkshire, Cumbria, south Durham and north Lancashire – examples includeAis Gill Beck,Arkle Beck andPeasey Beck. There are also examples inNorfolk, includingHagon Beck,Scarrow Beck andGur Beck.
In theNorth Pennines, the wordsike orsyke[5] is found in similar circumstances. This is particularly common in theAppleby Fells area where sikes significantly outnumber the becks and gills; it can also be seen in the name ofEden Sike Cave inMallerstang.
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