London has many more rivers than the Thames, but most of them have been buried, dammed or turned into parts of the sewer system; a few continue to wreak hidden havoc on building foundations and transit tunnels.
Now a walkers’ group, The Ramblers, wants the map of London’s ancient watercourses to become the guide for a network of new green walking routes, complete with signage explaining the history and importance of the subterranean waters. The Ramblers have asked London’s Mayor to support their request.
Several of the rivers, including the Fleet and Tyburn originate on Hamstead Heath and flow down toward the Thames; for centuries they powered London’s mills and carried away its refuse, eventually becoming foul and stagnant. By the middle of the 19th century most had either been covered over or incorporated into the sewer system.
Paul Talling, who guides tours and wrote about 22 of the rivers in his book London’s Lost Rivers points out that they’ve left clues everywhere: “They are forgotten. The average person walking around London doesn’t know about them. People should be aware of what’s beneath their feet. They say look up, but I always say look down, listen to the drains, look at the street names.”
