U.K. and Ireland - Exploring the Secret River Flowing Beneath London

Something different in London...the River Fleet. Although I'm not sure how easy a "tour" would be...

:)

Exploring the Secret River Flowing Beneath London (http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-londons-secret-subterranean-river?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=outbrain)

The River Fleet's long and fascinating history goes all the way back to Roman times, when it was a major river and contained one of the oldest tidal mills in the world. Later on, in Anglo-Saxon times, the river was a dock for shipping at the point where it joined the Thames in a marshy tidal basin 100 yards wide. You can still see iron hoops that may have been used to tie up ships to the banks.
...
Nowadays the river is still visited, but mainly by those interested in its history, and in exploration — like the robust and excellent photographer who took these images. If your curiosity has been piqued, it's possible to make arrangements with Thames Water to go down yourself and tour the river.

Or you can stand at Sloane Square station and watch it flow over your head. Check out the large cast iron pipe overhead just where the entrance to the E/B platform is.

EDIT that is the Westbourne instead but still cool.

Sorry to be a pedant but that's not the river Fleet, rather the River Westbourne. I was there on Wednesday evening and pointed it out to a disbelieving colleague.

Sorry to be a pedant but that's not the river Fleet, rather the River Westbourne. I was there on Wednesday evening and pointed it out to a disbelieving colleague.

Thanks...changed it in my post.

:)

Thanks...changed it in my post.

:)
If I may but interject: the OP was originally correct. The river referred to in the OP's link is indeed the River Fleet. The river that flows by Sloane Square is the River Westbourne. They are two different rivers.

If I may but interject: the OP was originally correct. The river referred to in the OP's link is indeed the River Fleet. The river that flows by Sloane Square is the River Westbourne. They are two different rivers.

And...another fix... ;)

Thanks, ajax!

Thanks...changed it in my post.

:)
If I may but interject: the OP was originally correct. The river referred to in the OP's link is indeed the River Fleet. The river that flows by Sloane Square is the River Westbourne. They are two different rivers.


Sorry I was referring to the post made by Swanhunter.

Sorry I was referring to the post made by Swanhunter.
Yes, I think that was quite clear. Now we all agree. ^

Or you can stand at Sloane Square station and watch it flow over your head. Check out the large cast iron pipe overhead just where the entrance to the E/B platform is.

EDIT that is the Westbourne instead but still cool.

Here is that square pipe....although it doesn't look very "cool" to me. Unless you're into pipes I suppose. :D

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGrx2SwpQ4Q/TI6Cs0VJTaI/AAAAAAAAB4E/PZ26h2HjlzA/s400/westbourne.jpg

Here is that square pipe....although it doesn't look very "cool" to me. Unless you're into pipes I suppose. :D[/IMG]

How often have you stood looking at the sky with a river over your head? :p

How often have you stood looking at the sky with a river over your head? :p

Not up there with the Sloane Square station pipe but the Segovia viaduct springs to mind. :cool:

Something different in London...the River Fleet. Although I'm not sure how easy a "tour" would be...


seeing as the photos in said atricle come from an urbex website, I'm inclined to say that chances of a tour are slim. I'd put it as about as likely as getting to visit all of the tube's abandoned stations.

Not up there with the Sloane Square station pipe but the Segovia viaduct springs to mind. :cool:

Countryside. :shudder: ;)

Countryside. :shudder: ;)
Yes, that lack of grime and pollution is scary for the institutionalised ;) :p

I spent part of Saturday on the second longest canal viaduct in the UK :cool: No, I didn't walk under it just to experience that London feeling of having a river flowing over my head :D

Sadly, most of the hidden rivers are 'sewers' now...

River Thames:

The Langbourne (dubious – see below)
The Walbrook
The River Fleet, the largest
The Tyburn
The Tyburn Brook
The River Westbourne
Counter's Creek
Stamford Brook
River Brent (partly underground)
River Rom (partly underground)
The River Peck
The River Neckinger
The River Effra
The Falconbrook
The Graveney River

River Lea:

Hackney Brook
The River Moselle


But here's an interesting little blog entry on them: http://greatwen.com/2011/05/03/londons-lost-rivers/

River Lea:
The Lea/Lee (which bestowed its name upon Leyton and Leytonstone, among others) is very much 100% above ground and has actually been improved tremendously for the Olympics. ^

The Lea/Lee (which bestowed its name upon Leyton and Leytonstone, among others) is very much 100% above ground and has actually been improved tremendously for the Olympics. ^

Only for them to go and close a large section of towpath for most of this summer. (Specifically: the bit that's right next to the 10ft-high electric-topped fence between the Eastway and Stratford High Street. For security reasons (http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/olympics-cycle-routes-to-be-closed-for-months-33649/), natch.)

London has many lost rivers, though. Diamond Geezer walked them all and wrote about them in his excellent blog, and you can read the whole lot here (http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2010/12/lost-rivers-epilogue.html)