Thomason Foss

With Loftus gracing the BBC news this morning, having recorded the highest rainfall in the UK yesterday at 16.0 mm, it is hardly surprising that Thomason Foss would be in full flow. Earlier, we had abandoned our attempt to reach Mallyan Spout near Goathland, as the path along West Beck, another tributary of the River Murk Esk, was impassable without wet feet.

The region is replete with waterfalls named Foss, a variant of Force, derived from the old Scandinavian word “fos,” meaning waterfall. In the North York Moors, one finds Nelly Ayre Foss, also near Goathland, Falling Foss at Littlebeck, and Foss Mill near Lythe. The North York Moors prefer “foss,” while the Dales favour “force,” as seen with Gayle Force and Hardraw Force near Hawes, and Millgate Force near Askrigg.

Thomason Foss’s notable claim to fame is as a scene location in the 2002 film “Possession.” For further details, visit the IMDb page. A brief glimpse of it can be seen in the trailer at 1:16.