London’s Water… an occasional Wander

It’s a great way to get out in the countryside, as it were.

It’s still my plan to walk or cycle the length of the River Lea and / or the New River, up into Hertfordshire.
 
It's fascinating that pipes were made from bored out tree trunks and the method of joining them was by tapering the ends to fit inside each other.
It's such ashame the steam engine pump house wasn't preserved and at least one of the watermills would have been a nice reminder of past industrial practices.

Thanks for taking the trouble.👍
 
I guess you can’t save everything and, if you do, you then have to maintain it further. Sometimes you have to be content with the information boards they put up, telling what went on and then hope that some yob doesn’t deface them.

The sad thing about the nature reserve is that, when it was first created it was then vandalised and the water pumps (to feed the wet reed beds) were stolen. That then required a heap of additional funding to bring it back to life again.

The modern information centre and cafe is shut, which is a pity. I guess the local authority lacks the funds to keep it open…. Or maybe they have squandered too much on some other ‘Right on’ initiatives? I’m only surprised that hasn’t been vandalised yet, leading to more expense and, who knows, maybe its demolition entirely.

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On a much more positive note, everyone I chatted to during my time there was pleasant and enjoying the area.

What is preserved is the mill area, further downstream at Three Mills, which is the world’s largest surviving tidal mill:

Three Mill Green | Lee Valley Regional Park

Grade 1 listed mill dating back to the Dooms Day book turned film studios with a open space and Wild Kingdom play area so the kids can let their imagination free.
www.visitleevalley.org.uk www.visitleevalley.org.uk

I have walked or cycled past it loads of times, but never stopped. I don’t know why not. I will do it as a part of my London’s water themed wander.
 
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LOLGEOFF said:
The other link where the author of The Mercenary River, on your other thread, talks about the New River. It is very interesting explaining that the average drop is 5" a mile, that's pretty incredible now let alone in the early 17th century!
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that is amazing.
In the 1st century the Roman aquaducts { Segovia, Merida etc } averaged 35 inch drop per mile
 
@Wapping
Richard, thank you for sharing all of this. I am tempted to make my way to Ware with my Brompton and cycle back as I am able.
Fascinating engineering. And the origins of business funding.
 
As a bit of fun, I tapped around in AI, asking it to create me a walking route from the source of the River Fleet (it has two, but reasonably close together) from Hampstead right down to Blackfriars.

I have done the Clerkenwell to Blackfriars section already, with fellow Tosser, The Other PaulG, but it’ll be nice to follow the line of the old ‘lost’ river (it still runs, lost under our feet) from top to bottom.

I have attached the file that AI created for me. It really is very tidy.

AI engages with you as it dishes up its responses, asking if you’d like to add anything or make any adjustments. For example, it asked if I’d like it to add some pubs to stop in along the way. It probably knows me, better than I know myself.

What was also interesting is that it offered to repeat the exercise for two other lost rivers in London, which I’ll take it up on at some point.

Anyway, I now have something for September or October to look forward to.
 

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Kitsilano said:
Fascinating engineering. And the origins of business funding
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Indeed.

The rise of different concepts in shareholding was nicely explained, along with how the trading of shares made and lost fortunes was interesting, too.

The arrival of steam power (described in a satirical article at the time as a dragon) was similarly interesting. I might well go to see the spot where the first water pumping steam engine sat, just off Oxford Street.

As a part of this Wander I will try to see a steam engine or two being run, replicating what it did in the Victorian age. I have seen the old electric pumps (still running) that control water into and out of a dock, just east of me. Adding the steam engines would be great.
 
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There is reputably a steam driven effluent pump in the basement of the House of Commons; get to know your local Member 👍🏾
 
There is one remaining street gas lamp, I think, fuelled by sewer gas from the sewer below.
 
Canals are fascinating

We have a number of canals near where i am

One is still filled, and was in use commercially until 1928 when it was closed

In 1930 it was reopened (as such) and used for lesure purposes, as it still is today its a 6 mile round trip if you feeling up to it

The other drained but you can still walk parts of it it (a failed Napolionic project to move goods inland to Portsmouth navel base without using the channel )

I see in the news today , a number of canals are closing to boat movment due to the low water levels :(
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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