Darenth

Darent, Dereuent, Derwent

A river in Britain that was the site of the first battle between Vortimer’s Britons and Hengist’s Saxons. Nennius says that Vortimer won the battle, and pushed on to fight the second at Ryhd yr afael.

Layamon claims that all three of Vortigern’s sons - Vortimer, Pascentius, and Catigern - fought Vortigern, Hengist, and Horsa, and pushed the Saxons back to Thanet. Darenth is an actual stream that gives its name to Dartford in Kent.

Its name is believed to originate from a Celtic word meaning 'river where oak-trees grow'. The name Derwent is derived from a Celtic word for 'oak trees'.