River Darent

The Darent is a Kentish tributary of the River Thames. Bartholomew's Gazetteer (1951) demonstrates that Darent means "clear water". Considering that it runs on a bed of chalk (calcium carbonate) and its springs rise through chalk, this is not surprising. The word 'Darenth' is frequently found in older books and maps [incorrectly] describing the river. Darenth Parish (through which the river flows) derives its name from a Celtic phrase 'stream where oak-trees grow'. (Irish: "dair" = 'oak-tree', "abha" = river ) (compare e.g."Derwent")