Subterranean rivers of London

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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 placenames reflect their origin. In recent years, with the restoration of the UK's waterways network gathering pace, parts of some London rivers have been restored to their previous above-ground state, and in some cases fish have been reintroduced.

Contents 1 Subterranean rivers in London 1.1 Langbourne 1.2 The Wandle 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Subterranean rivers in London

Incomplete List

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 Neckinger
• The River Effra
• The Falconbrook
• The River Peck

River Lea:

• The Hackney Brook
• The River Moselle

[edit] Langbourne

An article on London's Lost Rivers^[2][3] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] See also

• Subterranean London
• Rivers of the United Kingdom
• London sewerage system
• Subterranean river
• Blue Ribbon Network - the major waterways of London

[edit] References

1. ^ Nicholas Barton, The Lost Rivers of London, Historical Publications, ISBN 0-948667-15-X
2. ^ Stow, Kingsford. Survey of London by John Sotw, ed. by Kingsford, 1908.
3. ^ British History report

[edit] External links

• Map of London's Underground Rivers
• Wayback Machine Snapshot from January 2004
• Wayback Machine snapshot from December 2002
• Wayback Machine snapshot March 2000
• Strange Maps: London's Lost Rivers