Last weekend, I set off the find the source of the River Fleet - London’s most famous subterranean waterway
It rises in separate springs on Hampstead Heath & flows underground along two brooks which meet in Kentish Town & eventually join the River Thames.
It rises in separate springs on Hampstead Heath & flows underground along two brooks which meet in Kentish Town & eventually join the River Thames.
The sources of the Fleet are springs in the Vale of Health (see other THREAD) & this one in Kenwood, (‘Caen’ meaning green).
Of all London’s lost rivers, the Fleet was the largest & most important providing water for drinking, washing, powering mills & transportation & sewerage.
Of all London’s lost rivers, the Fleet was the largest & most important providing water for drinking, washing, powering mills & transportation & sewerage.
In Roman, Anglo Saxon & Medieval times the Fleet was a major river
As London’s population grew, its flow was reduced &, over the centuries, it became clogged with waste & sewerage
In 1870, the last stretch of the Fleet was covered up but on the Heath it still runs above ground
As London’s population grew, its flow was reduced &, over the centuries, it became clogged with waste & sewerage
In 1870, the last stretch of the Fleet was covered up but on the Heath it still runs above ground
In 1290, some monks in Blackfriars filed a complaint about the appalling stench of the Fleet saying even their most pungent incense failed to mask it
The river was cleaned out in 1502 & in 1606 but rubbish & sewerage meant it was blocked up again by 1652
Disease was inevitable.
The river was cleaned out in 1502 & in 1606 but rubbish & sewerage meant it was blocked up again by 1652
Disease was inevitable.
The waters of the spring are high in iron & minerals & drinking or bathing them were thought to to having health-giving properties
In Kenwood House, there is a marble plunge pool where built by Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice
& whose nephew impregnated a slave, born Dido.
In Kenwood House, there is a marble plunge pool where built by Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice
& whose nephew impregnated a slave, born Dido.
In the 13th century the Fleet was called River of Wells.
But in 1728 Alexander Pope wrote:
“To where Fleet-ditch with disemboguing streams,
Rolls the large tribute of dead dogs to Thames.
The king of dykes! Than whom no sluice of mud,
With deeper sable blots the silver flood."
But in 1728 Alexander Pope wrote:
“To where Fleet-ditch with disemboguing streams,
Rolls the large tribute of dead dogs to Thames.
The king of dykes! Than whom no sluice of mud,
With deeper sable blots the silver flood."
Hampstead was popular with highwaymen who preyed on wealthy travellers
Dick Turpin was born in the nearby Spaniard’s Inn in 1705 where his father was landlord
If caught, highway were often hung on trees in the Heath & left dangling until their skins were “cracking in the sun”.
Dick Turpin was born in the nearby Spaniard’s Inn in 1705 where his father was landlord
If caught, highway were often hung on trees in the Heath & left dangling until their skins were “cracking in the sun”.
Our journey to uncover this hidden river also uncovers a hidden ‘radical history’
From Boudicea in AD60 to the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt
From the Chartists to the Fleet Street radicals & the Spafield Riots
From Orwell to the anti-fascist 43 Group, it all happened beside the Fleet.
From Boudicea in AD60 to the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt
From the Chartists to the Fleet Street radicals & the Spafield Riots
From Orwell to the anti-fascist 43 Group, it all happened beside the Fleet.
The Sham Bridge is a ‘trompe l’oeil’ & a reminder that we shouldn’t take everything at face value
It’s easy to be seduced by the Downton-like beauty & stories of Lord Mansfield’s role in the abolition of the slave trade
But Kenwood House is still built on the profits of slavery
It’s easy to be seduced by the Downton-like beauty & stories of Lord Mansfield’s role in the abolition of the slave trade
But Kenwood House is still built on the profits of slavery
One out of two children born in early 18th century London died before they were 2, usually due to malnutrition, bad water & poor hygiene
The average life expectancy in 18th century Britain was about 40
The rich lived much longer
Lord Mansfield, for example, was 88 when he died
The average life expectancy in 18th century Britain was about 40
The rich lived much longer
Lord Mansfield, for example, was 88 when he died
The Heath has 32 bodies of water including two chains of ponds - the Hampstead Chain & the Highgate Chain - fed by the River Fleet
Swimming in the ponds is a long tradition, but only became formally permitted at the Men’s Pond in the 1890 s & at the Ladies’ Bathing Pond in 1926.
Swimming in the ponds is a long tradition, but only became formally permitted at the Men’s Pond in the 1890 s & at the Ladies’ Bathing Pond in 1926.
The lower part of the Fleet was navigable for large ships
There are records of stone being shipped for the construction of old St Paul's Cathedral in 1110-1133
But the discovery of an anchor as far north as Kentish Town shows the Fleet’s importance for transport in north London
There are records of stone being shipped for the construction of old St Paul's Cathedral in 1110-1133
But the discovery of an anchor as far north as Kentish Town shows the Fleet’s importance for transport in north London
About 25 years ago, someone released some Red Swamp Crayfish - also known as Louisiana crawfish or mudbugs - into the ponds
With few natural predators they have become ubiquitous, damaging the ecosystem & occasionally give nude swimmers a unexpected nip.
With few natural predators they have become ubiquitous, damaging the ecosystem & occasionally give nude swimmers a unexpected nip.
At the summit of Hampstead Heath, the highest point in London (135m) lies Whitestone Pond, the source of another of London’s ‘lost rivers’, the River Westbourne
It is also the site of Jack Straw’s Castle where the leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt addressed an angry crowd in 1381.
It is also the site of Jack Straw’s Castle where the leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt addressed an angry crowd in 1381.
Passing Whitestone Pond in 1946, four Jewish ex-servicemen saw Oswald Mosley’s right-hand man, Jeffrey Hamm, addressing a small crowd
They rushed his soapbox & beat up Hamm & his henchmen
Soon after the 43 Group was formed to infiltrate fascist groups & break-up their meetings.
They rushed his soapbox & beat up Hamm & his henchmen
Soon after the 43 Group was formed to infiltrate fascist groups & break-up their meetings.
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