british waterways

..LOCAL INFORMATION..
| <<< No Menu on Left Click Here | Back To The Welcome Page |
BRITISH WATERWAYS

......ATTRACTIONS AND PLACES TO SEE.
Three Mills: Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of East End life lies one of London's finest treasures. Situated by the Lee Navigation, amidst a complicated network of tidal channels, Three Mills boasts hundreds of years of industrial heritage dating back to the 11th century. Built in 1776, the House Mill is Britain's oldest standing tidal mill and with the Clock Mill, built in 1817, they remain two of the most elegant waterside buildings in London.
Bow Back Rivers: The Bow Back Rivers are a complicated group of tidal channels off the lower end of the River Lee Navigation. At one time they carried a considerable amount of commercial freight to and from the Thames. A wealth of heritage can be discovered at Three Mills, just north of Bow Locks, with the Clock Mill built in 1817 and House Mill built in 1776 amongst the oldest and finest waterside buildings still standing in London. A tour of the Bow Back Rivers either by boat or on foot provides excellent viewing opportunities of the newly created wildlife areas and vast improvement works that have been carried out in this fascinating area..
Springfield: The Lee Navigation between Tottenham and Lea Bridge, known as Springfield, is a particularly well used stretch of water by boaters, rowers and canoeists alike. To the left of the navigation heading upstream is Springfield Park with its popular riverside café whilst to the right lies Walthamstow Marsh Nature Reserve - one of the last surviving marshlands in the London area.
Waltham Abbey: The distinctive Abbey Church, parts of which date back to the 14th century, provides the central focus of this fine old town which lies just five minutes' walk from the navigation. To the north lie several former gravel pits which now provide excellent opportunities for nature watching, fishing and sailing. The Lee Valley Park Information Centre in the Waltham Abbey Gardens is a good starting point for any visit to the Lee Valley Park.
Hertford: Hertford is the upper limit of the Lee Navigation and the town is in fact the meeting place for three other rivers - the Mimram, Rib and Beane. Its long history, dating back to Saxon times, can be viewed at the local museum. The Castle, which was built by the Normans after the Conquest still has its 15th Century Gatehouse intact and is currently home of the Tourist Information Centre. Hertford is well provided with pubs and shops, being a paradise for antique lovers, as well as hosting a general market on Saturdays.
Bishop Stortford: Near the Hertfordshire-Essex border lies the ancient market town of Bishop's Stortford at the head of the Stort Navigation. You can see signs of the first Roman settlement that grew up around the river. The remains of Waytemore Castle, built in 1065, medieval buildings such as St. Michael's Church and several 16th & 17th century pubs offer a rich heritage to explore. Excellent shopping and restaurants are an added attraction for boaters wishing to cruise right into the heart of the town..

......A BRIEF HISTORY
The Lee & Stort Navigations link Hertford and Bishop's Stortford along the Lee Valley to the Thames. Nowadays, with some 42 miles of water, the Lee & Stort offer a variety of recreational opportunities for boating, walking, cycling, angling, and offer a wealth of scenery from rich industrial heritage to rural countryside and wildlife habitats.

Circa 1000 AD: Viking longships are know to have sailed up the River Lee, or Lea, and remains of even earlier boats have been found at Walthamstow Marshes.
1424 and 1430: Acts of Parliament were passed 'to scour and amend' the river to allow passage between the Thames and Ware. Tolls were later charged for craft plying the navigation to reimburse it's production, possibly for the first time.
1571: An Act authorised the creation of a new cut and locks 'for bringing the River Lea to the north side of the City of London', to carry agricultural produce from Hertfordshire and Essex to London.
1660's: Ware bargemen were honoured after the Plague of 1665 for risking their health to supply the capital with grain.
1756: The Act of Parliament authorising the construction of the Stort Canal was passed. It was intended to extend beyond its terminus at Bishop's Stortford to Suffolk via Cambridge, to connect the Stort to the River Cam. Unfortunately, trade on the River Stort has never prospered. Without heavy industry to generate traffic, it relied on wheat, barley malt and flour for cargoes.
1767: The Navigation was improved and extended by a series of cuts, and subsequent Acts authorised further improvements, including the construction of The Hertford Union Canal in 1830 by Sir George Duckett, to link the Regent's Canal and the Navigation at Hackney, via three locks.
1960's: Trade was in decline as more and more cargoes were transported by road and rail. Even though most commercial traffic ceased in the early 1980's, some products continue to travel by water and a new operation started in Bow Creek in 1996.