Dollis Brook

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Looking south from Totteridge Lane
Looking south from Totteridge Lane

The Dollis Brook is a river running through North London. It rises on Moat Mount Open Space in Mill Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. After flowing under Hendon Wood Lane (B552) its course is eastwards through areas of open space. It forms the northern boundary of Totteridge. Following a further 1.5 miles (2.4km), at Totteridge Park Open Space, the Dollis Valley Greenwalk, part of the London Outer Orbital Path, goes beside it. Here the Brook's course takes it between Chipping Barnet and Totteridge, although there are still large playing fields and other open spaces immediately along its banks.

The Brook now turns southwards and forms the eastern boundary of Totteridge. It flows under Totteridge Lane (A5109) near Totteridge and Whetstone tube station, and continues south through Woodside Park (where it merges with the Folly Brook) and West Finchley, before passing under the Northern Line between Finchley Central and Mill Hill East tube stations. Dollis Road (B1462) follows; and shortly after the Windsor Road Open Space, Finchley (see here for details).

The Brook now flows through built-up land. It passes under the Great North Way (A1) and thereafter runs adjacent to the North Circular Road, with Brent Park on its eastern bank. Dollis Brook flows beneath the Brent Cross Flyover on Hendon Way (A41) (Brent Cross Shopping Centre lies to the north-west) and then under another large intersection at Staples Corner with the M1 and A5. Finally, the Brook enters Brent Reservoir ("Welsh Harp"). The Reservoir now covers the spot where Dollis Brook, following the merger of the Silk Stream and other smaller tributaries, became the River Brent.