The subterranean or underground rivers of London are the tributaries of the River Thames and River Lea that were built over during the growth of the metropolis of London. Since it is difficult to stop water from flowing downhill, the rivers now flow through underground culverts.[1]
Many London localities started their existence as small villages along these rivers, and their place names reflect their origin. In recent years, parts of some London rivers have been restored to their previous above-ground state, and in some cases fish have been reintroduced. In June 2008 outline plans to reinstate some underground rivers were published by the office of Mayor of London,[2] and in January 2009 a partnership between the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Greater London Authority set out a strategy for putting this into effect by creating the River Restoration Centre.[3][4]
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Subterranean rivers in London
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This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
River Thames - north bank from east to west:
- The Langbourne (dubious - see below)
- The Walbrook
- The River Fleet (see Fleet Street)
- The Tyburn
- The Tyburn Brook
- The River Westbourne
- Counter's Creek
- Stamford Brook
River Thames - south bank:
- The River Peck
- The River Neckinger
- The River Effra
- The Falconbrook
River Lea:
Langbourne
An article on London's Lost Rivers[5][6] mentions a Langbourne as running along Fenchurch Street, Lombard Street, and Sherbourn Lane, but gives no further details. This route looks unlikely, running parallel with, but in the opposite direction to, the Thames. Whatever it was, it has given its name to the Langbourn Ward of the City of London. One possibility is that it was a medieval euphemism for the open sewers that ran along these streets.
The article also mentions a St Clement’s (as in the Oranges and Lemons song) stream. This would presumably be in Clement's Lane, which runs south from Lombard Street. This may have been another open sewer. Likewise for the Oldbourne (or Holbourne) cited as alternative names for the Fleet.
The Wandle
On the south bank the next river upstream from the Effra is the Falconbrook, also underground. The next river is the Wandle, which is not subterranean. To quote from an article formerly on the London Borough of Sutton website: "Today most of London’s Thames tributaries flow underground or are imprisoned in concrete. The Wandle remains one of the few that are accessible for most of its length." The River Brent is also above ground for most of its course.
See also
- Subterranean London
- Rivers of the United Kingdom
- London sewerage system
- Subterranean river
- Blue Ribbon Network - the major waterways of London
References
- ^ Nicholas Barton, The Lost Rivers of London, Historical Publications, ISBN 0-948667-15-X
- ^ Boris Johnson to revive London’s lost rivers - Times Online
- ^ Environment Agency plans for river restoration
- ^ The River Restoration Centre
- ^ Stow, Kingsford. Survey of London by John Sotw, ed. by Kingsford, 1908.
- ^ British History report
External links
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