Cock Beck is a stream in the outlying areas of East Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, which runs from its source due to a runoff north-west of Whinmoor, skirting east of Swarcliffe and Manston (where a public house has been named 'The Cock Beck'), past Pendas Fields, Scholes, Barwick-in-Elmet, Aberford, Towton, Stutton, and Tadcaster, where it flows into the River Wharfe. Butchers Creek, Omeo, Victoria A stream, brook, beck, burn or creek, is a body of water with a detectable current, confined within a bed and banks. ... Leeds is a major city in West Yorkshire, England. ... West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... Run-off, composed of a mixture of water and soil along with any other organic or inorganic substances that may exist in the land, is the product of precipitation, snowmelt, over-irrigation, or other water coming in contact with the earth and carrying matter to streams, rivers, lakes, and other... Whinmoor is an area of some council houses but mainly affluent private estates on the outer edge of north-east Leeds, West Yorkshire. ... Swarcliffe is an district of east Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. ... Manston is a small area of Cross Gates, that lies 6 km (4 miles) to the east of Leeds City Centre Manston is a residential part of Cross Gates. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Pendas Fields is a private housing estate in Leeds, West Yorkshire. ... Scholes is a village on the outskirts of Leeds, West Yorkshire. ... Barwick-in-Elmet is a village on the outskirts of Leeds, West Yorkshire. ... Aberford is a village on the eastern outskirts of the Metropolitan Borough of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. ... Towton could refer to Towton, North Yorkshire the Battle of Towton Category: ... Stutton can refer to: Stutton, North Yorkshire Stutton, Suffolk Category: ... Map sources for Tadcaster at grid reference SE4843 Tadcaster is a town in North Yorkshire, England, lying on the River Wharfe and the Great North Road. ... The River Wharfe is a river in Yorkshire, England. ...

In the past the beck was known as Cock River, even though it was only a tributary of the River Wharfe. In places the beck was relatively narrow, but too deep to cross unaided; a feature which can still be seen today at many points. Ogilby's 1675 map indicates the major crossing for the Cock was sited along the Tadcaster-Ferrybridge road. Look up tributary in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Ferrybridge is a village situated on the A1 in West Yorkshire, England beside the River Aire. ...

In the aftermath of the 1461 Battle of Towton remnants of the Lancastrian forces fleeing the victorious Yorkists were forced to cross the Cock Beck. According to observers, the bridge at Tadcaster collapsed under the weight of those crossing, plunging many into the icy waters where they drowned, and trapping many on the wrong bank leaving them to face the enemy - having already disposed of most of their arms. The ensuing massacre is said to have been of such force that the beck ran crimson with blood. The Battle of Towton in the Wars of the Roses was the bloodiest ever fought on British soil, with casualties believed to have been in excess of 20,000 (perhaps as many as 30,000) men. ... Lancastrian is an adjective describing: A resident of one of the many places named Lancaster. ... The House of York was a dynasty of English kings. ... The bayonet is used as both knife and spear. ...

External links

• Account of the Cock River turning crimson
• Another account of the flight across Cock River

Local legend tells how the Cock Beck has twice run red with blood. Once after the defeat of the last pagan king of England, Penda, at the battle of Whinmoor, and after the battle of Towton, on Palm Sunday. The fields of Towton were later supposed to have grown wild roses with petals streaked with red.