Bradford Beck

Bradford Beck
The Cathedral arches beneath Centenary Square
EtymologyBroad Ford Beck
Location
CountryEngland
CityBradford, West Yorkshire
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationClayton Beck, Cemetery Road, Lidget Green
  coordinates53°47′42″N 1°47′31″W / 53.79513°N 1.79189°W / 53.79513; -1.79189
  elevation390 feet (120 m)
Mouth 
  location
Dockfield, Shipley, West Yorkshire
  coordinates
53°50′15″N 1°46′20″W / 53.83744°N 1.77212°W / 53.83744; -1.77212
  elevation
230 feet (70 m)
Length6.8 mi (10.9 km)
Basin size22 sq mi (57 km2)
Discharge 
  locationShipley
  average21 cubic feet per second (0.6 m3/s)
  maximum1,210 cubic feet per second (34.3 m3/s) (1984)
Basin features
River systemRiver Aire
Tributaries 
  leftRed Beck
  rightWestbrook, Bowling Beck, Eastbrook, Trap Sike
Bradford Beck
Clayton Beck
Cemetery Road
A6177 Bradford Ring Road
Underneath Listerhills area
Goitside millrace branch
Westbrook
Underneath city centre
Bowling Beck
Eastbrook
Valley Road
Under eastern A6177
Trap Sike
Gaisby Lane
Poplar Road
Red Beck
B6149 Briggate
Bradford to Ilkley & Leeds line
Skipton to Leeds line
A657 Saltaire to Bramley road
Leeds Liverpool Canal
Dockfield Road
Dockfield (into the River Aire)

Bradford Beck is a river that flows through Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, (then Bradford Dale) and on to the River Aire at Shipley. As it reaches Bradford city centre it runs underground after being built over in the 19th century. It is culverted as it runs from Bradford city centre to Queen's Road after which it runs mostly in an open channel to Shipley. The beck used to be known as the filthiest river in England.

Bradford itself is so named after a crossing on Bradford Beck (the Broad Ford) which was located near to what is present day Church Street in the city centre, with a crossing named as Broadstones. The beck is formed from a number of smaller watercourses, namely Pinch Beck, Pitty Beck, Middlebrook, Clayton Beck, Bull Greave Beck, Chellow Dene Beck, Westbrook, Dirkhill Beck, Bowling Beck, Eastbrook, Bolton Beck, Trap Sike, Northcliffe Beck and Red Beck.