Counter's Creek

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Counter's Creek is a largely subterranean stream that arises in Kensal Green, west London.

The stream flows south through Little Wormwood Scrubs, Olympia and Earl's Court into the River Thames at Sands End. It can be seen (particularly after heavy rainfall) from the Westbound platform (trains to Earl's Court) of West Brompton Underground Station. It passes Brompton Cemetery and Chelsea FC ground at Stamford Bridge. On the left bank where the creek meets the Thames is the former Lots Road Power Station.

The upper reaches have been variously known as Billingswell Ditch, Pools Creek and Counters Creek. The tidal mouth is shown on modern maps as Chelsea Creek.

Part of the creek was developed into the Kensington Canal in the 1820s. This was taken over by the Bristol Birmingham & Thames Junction Railway in the 1830s and subsequently much was culverted to provide a railway route, the West London Line, linking the important junctions of Clapham and Willesden. Only the lower reach remained in use, supplying coal to Sands End gas works and later to the power station.

[edit] References

Tim Bradford 2004, 'The Groundwater Diaries', Flamingo, London, ISBN 0-00-713083-X
Ed Glinert 2003, 'The London Compendium', Allen Lane, London, ISBN 0-713-99688-9