 The river was stocked with around 3,000 grayling in September 2006.Legend has it that following his defeat at Neville's Cross in 1346, King David II of Scotland was captured having sought shelter under a bridge over the Browney at Bearpark, close by where his Scottish soldiers had camped overnight beneath Beaurepaire Priory.Andrew Breeze has argued that the river name forms the first element of 'Brunanburh', in the Battle of Brunanburh.