sentences:  Why this association with the Derwent was used when the river is about a mile away is possibly because, at the time, this was the nearest clear feature by which it could be identified.Note that the name is Newton upon Derwent (from the Latin iuxta meaning near to or super meaning above) and not like Newton on Ouse, where the "on" is used because it is actually on the river.. Later, the Derwent became important to the village as a means of water transport.The fields on which the village have depended, stretch to the river.