Subterranean rivers of London

A sketch map of some lost rivers

The Effra is one of the subterranean rivers of London. It empties into the Thames by Vauxhall Bridge, from which this photograph was taken.

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. The rivers now flow through underground culverts.^[1]

Subterranean rivers in London

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

The Moselle is visible above ground flowing through Tottenham Cemetery on its way to the Lea.

North of the River Thames

• The Walbrook
• The River Fleet, the largest; see Fleet Street
• The Tyburn
• The Tyburn Brook
• Hackney Brook
• The River Moselle^[2]
• Muswell Stream^[2]
• The River Westbourne
• Counter's Creek
• Stamford Brook
• River Brent (partly underground)
• River Rom (partly underground)

The culverted mouth of the Earl's Sluice at Deptford Wharf

South of the River Thames

• Earl's Sluice
• The River Peck
• The River Neckinger
• The River Effra
• The Falconbrook
• The Graveney River
• The River Quaggy
• The Beverley Brook (part subterranean)
• Sudbrook

Development

In June 2008 outline plans to reinstate some underground rivers were published by the office of Mayor of London,^[3] and in January 2009 a partnership between the Environment Agency, Natural England, The River Restoration Centre and the Greater London Authority set out a strategy for putting this into effect by creating the London Rivers Action Plan.^[4][5]

See also

• Subterranean London
• Subterranean river
• Blue Ribbon Network – the major waterways of London
• List of rivers of England
• London sewerage system
• Tributaries of the River Thames

References

1. Nicholas Barton, The Lost Rivers of London, Historical Publications, ISBN 0-948667-15-X
2. London's Lost Rivers (2011) Paul Talling, Random House, pp148-150 ISBN 9781847945976
3. Boris Johnson to revive London’s lost rivers – Times Online Archived 26 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Environment Agency plans for river restoration". Environment-agency.gov.uk. 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-07-25.
5. "The River Restoration Centre". Therrc.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-07-25.

External links

• Map of London's Underground Rivers
• London Rivers Action Plan
• Gordon Mackie: London’s Lost Rivers: Wayback Machine Snapshot from January 2004
• Photographs from inside London's "Lost" Rivers
• Heritage Magazine: The Underground City: Wayback Machine snapshot from December 2002
• Strange Maps: London's Lost Rivers
• Deep Topographical site with special emphasis on London's lost watercourses
• The lost rivers that lie beneath London