Lee Navigation

Canalised river in Hertfordshire and London, England

Lee Navigation

Lee Navigation at Bow Creek

Specifications
Length| 27.5 miles (44.3 km)
Maximum boat length| 88 ft 0 in (26.82 m)
Maximum boat beam| 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m)
Locks| 21
Status| Open
Navigation authority| Canal & River Trust
History
Principal engineer| Thomas Yeoman
Other engineer(s)| Edward Rubie
Date of act| 29 June 1767
Date completed| 1771
Geography
Start point| Hertford Castle Weir
End point| River Thames
Branch(es)|

* Stort Navigation
* Hertford Union Canal
* Bow Back Rivers
* Limehouse Cut

* v
* t
* e

Lee Navigation

Legend

|  |  |

|  | Hertford Castle Weir

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|  | Hertford Town Mill Bridge
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|  | Folly Bridge
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|  | Hertford Basin
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|  | River Beane
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|  | Hertford Lock No.1
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|  | River Rib
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|  | New River Gauge House
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|  |  A10
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|  | Ware Weir
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|  | Ware Lock No.2
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|  | Ware Visitor Moorings
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|  |  A1170 Ware Town Bridge
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|  | Hardmead Lock No.3
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|  | River Ash
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|  |  | Stanstead Lock No.4

(swing bridge over lock)
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|  |  B181
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|  |  A414
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|  | Stort Navigation
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|  | Feildes Weir Lock No.5
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|  | New River continues
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|  | flood relief channel
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|  | Dobbs Weir
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|  | flood relief channel sluice
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|  | Dobbs Weir Lock No.6
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|  | Nazeing Mead (lake)
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|  | River Lynch
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|  | boating lakes
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|  | Carthagena Lock No.7
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| New Nazeing Road bridge
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|  | flood relief channel
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|  | Broxbourne Mill
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|  | Kings Weir
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| Slipe Lane bridge
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|  | Holyfield Lake
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|  | Aqueduct Lock No.8
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|  | Small River Lea
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|  | Cheshunt Lock No.9
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|  | Seventy Acres Lake (R)
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|  | Waltham Common Lock No.10
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|  | Powdermill Cut
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|  | Waltham Town Lock No.11
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|  A121 Waltham Town bridge
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|  | Horsemill Stream sluice
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40A

|  M25
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|  | Cobbins Brook
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|  | Rammey Marsh Lock No.12
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| Rammey Marsh bridge
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|  | Cattlegate flood relief channel
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|  | Enfield Lock No.13
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37A

| Enfield Road bridge
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|  | Turkey Brook│Pumping Stn
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|  | King George's Reservoir
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|  | King George's Reservoir
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|  | Ponders End Mill Stream
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|  A110 Lea Valley Road bridge
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|  | Ponder's End Locks No.14
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|  | William Girling Reservoir PS
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|  | River Lee Diversion
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|  | Pickett's Lock No.15
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|  A406 Bleak Hall bridge
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|  | Banbury Reservoir
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|  | Stonebridge Locks No.16
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|  | Lockwood Reservoir
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|  | Maynard Reservoirs
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|  | Tottenham Locks No.17
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|  | River Lee Flood Relief Channel
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|  A503 Ferry Lane bridge
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| Tottenham railway bridge
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| Markfield railway bridge
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19A

| Ferry railway bridge
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|  A104 Lea Bridge Road
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|  | Pond Lane Flood Gates No.18
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|  B112 Cow Bridge
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|  A12 East Cross Route bridge
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| Hackney Wick railway bridge
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|  | White Post

Lane bridge
│Halfway Bridge
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|  | Hertford Union Canal
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|  | Bow Back Rivers
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|  | Old Ford Locks No.19
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|  | London Stadium
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|  | District line bridge
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|  | Bow Back Rivers
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|  |  A11 Bow Bridge
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|  |  | Three Mills

tide mill
│Three Mills Lock
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|  | Bow Locks
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|  | Limehouse Cut│Bow Creek
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|  |  A13 Barking Road bridge
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|  |  | Regent's

Canal
│Limehouse Basin
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|  | Limehouse Lock│ A1020
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|  | River Thames
|  |  |  |  |  |

The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea (also called the River Lee along the sections that are navigable). It flows from Hertford Castle Weir to the River Thames at Bow Creek; its first lock is Hertford Lock and its last Bow Locks.

## Name

[edit]

The Lee Navigation is named by acts of Parliament and is so marked on Ordnance Survey maps. Constructed elements and human features are spelled Lee, such as the canal system and Lee Valley Park. The un-canalized river is spelled Lea, along with other natural features such as Lower Lea Valley.

## History

[edit]

The River Lea is a major tributary of the River Thames. It has a long association with navigation, as the marshes of Walthamstow have produced a dugout canoe from the Bronze Age and parts of a Saxon barge. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the river was used by Viking raiders, and King Alfred changed the level of the river to strand Guthrum and his fleet.[1] In more peaceful times, it became important for the transport of grain from Hertfordshire, but navigation of its southernmost tidal reaches of Bow Creek were difficult due to its tortuous meanders.

United Kingdom legislation

River Lee Navigation Act 1425

Act of Parliament

Parliament of England

Long title| Chancellor may award commissions to reform the River Lee.
Citation| 3 Hen. 6. c. 5
Dates
Royal assent| 14 July 1425
Commencement| 30 April 1425
Other legislation
Repealed by| Statute Law Revision Act 1948

Status: Repealed

United Kingdom legislation

River Lee Navigation Act 1430

Act of Parliament

Parliament of England

Long title| The chancellor of England may grant his commission to certain persons to scour, and amend the river Ley in the counties of Essex, Hertford, and Middlesex.
Citation| 9 Hen. 6. c. 9
Dates
Royal assent| 12 January 1431
Commencement| 20 March 1431
Other legislation
Repealed by| Statute Law Revision Act 1948

Status: Repealed

There is documentary evidence that the river was altered by the Abbot of Waltham to improve navigation in 1190, and in 1221, a pipe was laid across the river, which had to be protected from "the oars or poles of the watermen."[2] The first act of Parliament for improvement of the river, the River Lee Navigation Act 1425} (3 Hen. 6. c. 5), was granted in 1425,[3] this also being the first act granted for navigational improvement in England. A second act was passed in 1430, River Lee Navigation Act 1430 (9 Hen. 6. c. 9), and both authorised local landowners to act as commissioners, who could make improvements to the river including scouring or dredging, and could recoup the cost of the work by levying tolls.[2]

United Kingdom legislation

River Lee Navigation Act 1571

Act of Parliament

Parliament of England

Long title| An Acte for the brynging of the Ryver of Lee to the Northside of the Citie of London.
Citation| 13 Eliz. 1. c. 18
Dates
Royal assent| 29 May 1571
Other legislation
Repealed by| Statute Law Revision Act 1948

Status: Repealed

By 1571, the river was an important route for the carriage of grain to London, and the City of London obtained another act, the River Lee Navigation Act 1571 (13 Eliz. 1. c. 18) to authorise improvements. This included making new cuts, and creating towpaths on both sides of the river. Shoals were removed, and a cut, probably the section which is now called Bow River from Old Ford Locks to Bow Locks, was excavated, which was not subject to any tolls. The plan for a branch from the river to the north of London was not implemented.[4] One innovation was the construction of a pound lock at Waltham Abbey, Essex, in 1577. This had mitred gates at each end,[5] and was probably the second lock to be built in England, although it was the first to be built on a river. It inspired Vallens to write a poem entitled "A tale of Two Swannes" about it in 1590. It was 70 by 24 feet (21.3 by 7.3 m), with wooden sides.[6] The remainder of the control of levels was carried out by "staunches" or "turnpikes", consisting of a single vertically lifting gate in a weir, through which boats were pulled against the current.

The New River was an attempt to supply clean water from near Ware to the citizens of London, which was completed in 1633. However, the springs at Great Amwell soon proved to be inadequate, and water was drawn from the Lea. The increased extraction of water had a detrimental effect on milling and navigation, and by the early 1700s it had become clear that major work would be needed to produce a solution.[7]

### Smeaton's design

[edit]

United Kingdom legislation

River Lee Navigation Act 1738

Act of Parliament

Parliament of Great Britain

Long title| An Act for ascertaining, preserving, and improving, the Navigation of the River Lee, from the Town of Hertford, to the Town of Ware, in the County of Hertford; and for preserving and improving the said River, from the said Town of Ware, to the new Cut, or River, made by the Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of London; and for enabling the Governor and Company of The New River the better to supply the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Liberties and Suburbs thereof, with good and wholesome Water.
Citation| 12 Geo. 2. c. 32
Dates
Royal assent| 13 June 1739

A petition was presented to Parliament resulting in the River Lee Navigation Act 1738 (12 Geo. 2. c. 32).[3] While recognising the right of the New River Company to extract water, it also enshrined the rights of the millers and bargemen. To resolve a problem where the New River works had blocked the Manifold Ditch, and boats had been forced to use the mill stream to Ware Mill, the mill was bought by the company, and the associated lock became an official right of way. The previous administration by commissioners was replaced by a body of trustees, which it was hoped would be better able to manage the navigation. Although at least two flash locks were built, including one to assist passage past the mill at Broxbourne, there was still friction between the bargemen and the millers, since the use of a flash lock tended to lower the water level above it, to the detriment of the mill. In 1765, the trustees therefore asked John Smeaton to assess the navigation and make recommendations for its improvement.[8]

United Kingdom legislation

River Lee Navigation Act 1767

Act of Parliament

Parliament of Great Britain

Long title| An Act for improving the Navigation of the River Lee, from the Town of Hertford, to the River Thames and for extending the said Navigation to the Flood Gates belonging to the Town Mill in the said Town of Hertford.
Citation| 7 Geo. 3. c. 51
Dates
Royal assent| 29 June 1767

Smeaton made a survey of the river and produced a report in 1766, in which he recorded that there were 18 staunches at the time, with a lock at Ware and tidal gates at Bow. He recommended that the staunches should be replaced by pound locks, and that several new cuts should be made. These recommendations formed the basis for a parliamentary bill, which was opposed by the owners of the Shoreditch to Enfield turnpike road, the West Ham waterworks and the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills, who were all concerned that their rights would be affected. However, the trustees were granted an act, the River Lee Navigation Act 1767 (7 Geo. 3. c. 51), on 29 June and appointed Thomas Yeoman to oversee the work at their first meeting held two days later.[9]

The act authorised the construction of several new stretches of canal, including the Edmonton Cut from Flanders Weir at Chingford to the mill stream at Walthamstow, the Hackney Cut from Lea Bridge to Old Ford, and the Limehouse Cut to bypass the tight bends of Bow Creek near the River Thames. Yeoman was also responsible for setting out towing paths, designing 35 roving bridges, and construction of lock gates. For the Limehouse Cut, Yeoman proposed a cut from Bow tidal gates to Dingley's Wharf at Limehouse, which would shorten the distance to London considerably, since it would avoid the long passage around the Isle of Dogs. Mr Dingley, owner of the wharf and a trustee, was awarded part of the contract, and the cut was expected to open on 2 July 1770, but some brickwork failed and had to be repaired. A bridge collapsed in December, but traffic soon developed, and the cut had to be widened to allow barges to pass one another along its entire length. The widening was completed on 1 September 1777.[10]

United Kingdom legislation

River Lee Navigation Act 1779

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Long title| An Act for preserving the Navigation of the River Lee, in the Counties of Hertford, Essex and Middlesex.
Citation| 19 Geo. 3. c. 58
Dates
Royal assent| 31 May 1779

The trustees decided to finance the work with a loan, and advertisements appeared in the London Gazette and other newspapers, indicating that they wished to raise £35,000. The response was huge, with £161,500 being offered, and subscribers were chosen by ballot. Yeoman was overworked, and Edward Rubie was appointed to assist him in February 1769. New cuts and pound locks were opened at Waltham Abbey, Edmonton and Hackney in 1769. In total, 11 miles (18 km) of new cuts were constructed, with 12 new locks. Some on the locks, such as Homerton Lock and Pickett's Lock, were built on new sections, while others, such as Stanstead Lock, replaced an existing flash-lock. The works were completed to a tight schedule, and with most of it finished, Yeoman resigned in July 1771, although the reasons for his resignation were not recorded.[11]

### Development

[edit]

United Kingdom legislation

Lee Navigation Improvement Act 1805

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Citation| 45 Geo. 3. c. lxix

United Kingdom legislation

Lee Navigation Improvement Act 1850

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Long title| An Act to alter and amend the Acts relating to the Navigation of the River Lee in the Counties of Hertford, Essex, and Middlesex; and to enable the Trustees further to improve the Navigation and to dispose of the surplus Water; and for other Purposes.
Citation| 13 & 14 Vict. c. cix
Dates
Royal assent| 14 August 1850
Text of statute as originally enacted

United Kingdom legislation

River Lee Water Act 1855

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Long title| An Act for transferring Part of the Property and Powers of the Trustees of the River Lee; and for the Amendment of the Acts of the New River Company, the East London Waterworks Company, and the said Trustees; and for other Purposes.
Citation| 18 & 19 Vict. c. cxcvi
Dates
Royal assent| 14 August 1855
Text of statute as originally enacted

United Kingdom legislation

Lee Conservancy Act 1868

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Citation| 31 & 32 Vict. c. cliv

There were further improvements throughout the 19th century, including the Lee Navigation Improvement Act 1850 (13 & 14 Vict. c. cix) to authorise new lock cuts at Hoddesdon, Carthagena Lock (Broxbourne), Waltham Marsh, Tottenham, Walthamstow, Hackney, Leyton and Bromley-by-Bow and new locks at Hunter's Gate (Bow Bridge) and Old Ford. The River Lee Water Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. cxcvi) authorised a new lock at Amwell Marsh and the removal of Stanstead Lock. Edmonton Lock was to be removed and Pickett's Lock rebuilt. In 1868 the Lee Conservancy Act 1868 (31 & 32 Vict. c. cliv) formed the Lee Conservancy Board to take over control of the river from the former trustees. They established the Lee Conservancy Police, who policed the Lee until merged with the British Transport Police in 1948.[12]

The Lee Navigation bought the Stort Navigation in 1911,[5] and instituted further improvements, including reconstruction of the locks between Enfield and Hertford, the width being increased from 13 to 16 feet (4.0 to 4.9 m): by the 1930s, 130-ton barges could reach Enfield, and 100-ton barges to Ware and Hertford.[5]

The navigation was nationalised in 1948, and control passed to the British Transport Commission. Where possible the locks from Bow Locks through to Ponder's End Lock were duplicated and mechanised - the only exception being Pickett's Lock. In 1962, the British Transport Commission was wound up, and control passed to the British Waterways Board. Commercial traffic effectively ended in the 1980s.

During the 1950s horse-drawn lighters were still journeying as far as Hertford. By 1980 commercial traffic extended no higher than the Enfield Rolling Mills at Brimsdown, with just one tug, the Vassal, regularly at work on the river. Powered by a 120 hp Gardner diesel engine, she would typically tow a train of two lighters loaded with timber from Bow to Hahn's Wharf at Edmonton. There are efforts currently underway to revive commercial traffic on the canal with a plan to transport rubbish for incineration at the Edmonton Incinerator.[13]

### Governance

[edit]

United Kingdom legislation

Lee Conservancy Act 1874

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Citation| 37 & 38 Vict. c. xcvi

United Kingdom legislation

Lee Conservancy Act 1900

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Citation| 63 & 64 Vict. c. cxvii
Dates
Royal assent| 30 July 1900
Text of statute as originally enacted

United Kingdom legislation

Lee Conservancy Act 1921

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Citation| 11 & 12 Geo. 5. c. lxxviii
Dates
Royal assent| 17 August 1921

United Kingdom legislation

Lee Conservancy Catchment Board Act 1936

Act of Parliament

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Citation| 26 Geo. 5 & 1 Edw. 8. c. lxviii
Dates
Royal assent| 14 July 1936
Text of statute as originally enacted

With the passing of the Land Drainage Act 1930 (20 & 21 Geo. 5. c. 44), the Lee Conservancy area was treated as a special case, with details laid out in section 80 of that act. The Lee Conservancy Catchment Board was created, which inherited some of the powers conferred by the Lee Conservancy Acts, dating from 1870 to 1921, and gave it additional powers in common with other catchment boards, the most important of which was that they could levy rates on county councils and county borough councils throughout their catchment area, to fund drainage works.[14] The members of the catchment board consisted of all the members of the Lee Conservancy Board, together with six additional members.[15] The board were given additional powers, enabling them to hold land without a licence in mortmain, as a result of the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board Act 1936 (26 Geo. 5 & 1 Edw. 8. c. lxviii). Further change occurred on 1 January 1948, as a result of the Transport Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 49). Some of the functions of the conservancy board were taken over by the British Transport Commission, when most of the operational canals and waterways were nationalised, and the board was then disbanded. However, where the board had responsibilities for water supply, fisheries, the control of pollution and land drainage, these functions were transferred to the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board. This was authorised by the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board (Additional Functions) Regulations 1947 (SR&O 1947/2797).[16]

The River Boards Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 32) saw the formation of river boards to replace catchment boards throughout England and Wales, but the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board, together with the Thames Conservancy Catchment Board, were excluded from this.[17] River boards were replaced by river authorities as a result of the Water Resources Act 1963 (c. 38), but again the Lee Conservancy was treated as a special case. It made provision that the responsibilities for water conservation outlined in that act could be given to the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board by the joint decision of the Minister of Housing and Local Government, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Minister of Transport. Those provisions, somewhat modified for the special circumstances of the catchment area, were conferred by the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board (New Functions of River Authorities) Order 1965 (SI 1965/701).[16]

The transport functions of the waterway were transferred to the British Waterways Board, subsequently known as British Waterways, from 1 January 1963, as part of the breakup of the British Transport Commission authorised by the Transport Act 1962. These functions are now managed by the Canal and River Trust, a charitable organisation that took over the role of British Waterways from 2 July 2012. There have been three further changes in the environmental management of the waterway. The Water Act 1973 (c. 37) abolished river authorities, and created ten regional water authorities. The Lee Conservancy was no longer a special case, and became part of the Thames Water Authority. This structure lasted until the passing of the Water Act 1989 (c. 15), which split the water authorities apart, privatising the water supply, sewerage and sewage disposal functions, and transferring the environmental management of river systems including the Lee to the National Rivers Authority. The final change was a result of the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25), which abolished the National Rivers Authority and replaced it by the Environment Agency.[15]

## Recreation

[edit]

Much of the Lee Navigation is within Lee Valley Park, a multi-county regional park and open space preserve. Local jurisdictions also maintain parks on the canals in Lee Valley Park.

The Lea Valley Walk, a 50-mile (80 km) long-distance public walking path and bicycle trail from the headwaters to the Thames confluence, follows the canal towpaths in the Lee Navigation section.

## Photo gallery

[edit]

* Old Ford Lock, Lee Navigation

* Hertford Basin, the first marina on the Navigation

* Looking west from the North Circular Road at Edmonton

* Carthagena Lock

* Fish and Eels pub at Dobbs Weir

* Workboat Enfield on the river at Tottenham

* Lock-keeper's cottages at Old Ford Lock, used for filming The Big Breakfast

* Ware Welcome Station

## See also

[edit]

* United Kingdom portal
* Transport portal

* Bow Back Rivers
* Canals of Great Britain
* History of the British canal system

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Boyes, John; Russell, Ronald (1977). The Canals of Eastern England. David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-7415-3.
* Cumberlidge, Jane (2009). Inland Waterways of Great Britain (8th Ed.). Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson. ISBN 978-1-84623-010-3.
* Nicholson (2006). Nicholson Guides Vol 1: Grand Union, Oxford & the South East. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-721109-8.
* Paget-Tomlinson, Edward (1994). The Illustrated History of Canal & River Navigations. Sheffield Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-85075-277-6.
* Priestley, Joseph (1831). Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals and Railways of Great Britain. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green.
* Wisdom, A S (1966). Land Drainage. London: Sweet & Maxwell.

### References

[edit]

1. ^ Boyes & Russell 1977, p. 13.
2. ^ a b Boyes & Russell 1977, p. 14
3. ^ a b Priestley 1831, p. 379
4. ^ Boyes & Russell 1977, p. 16.
5. ^ a b c Nicholson 2006, p. 100
6. ^ Boyes & Russell 1977, pp. 16–17.
7. ^ Boyes & Russell 1977, p. 17.
8. ^ Boyes & Russell 1977, pp. 18–20.
9. ^ Boyes & Russell 1977, pp. 20–21
10. ^ Boyes & Russell 1977, pp. 21–22.
11. ^ Boyes & Russell 1977, pp. 22–23.
12. ^ Major, Graham (29 July 2013). "Canal Policing after 1948". Website of the British Transport Police History Group. British Transport Police History Group. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
13. ^ "Canal report". Times on line. Retrieved 7 January 2008.[dead link]
14. ^ Wisdom 1966, pp. 2, 93.
15. ^ a b "History of managing the Lea". Lea Bridge heritage. Archived from the original on 5 January 2020.
16. ^ a b Wisdom 1966, p. 93.
17. ^ Wisdom 1966, p. 2.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lee Navigation.

* River Lee Navigation
* Photographs of Edmonton timber wharves (1983)
* Photo of the last horse-drawn barge (1955)
* History of the locks on the Lee & Stort Navigation
* History of the Lee Navigation (1190–1790)
* Love the Lea project
* images & map of mile markers seen along the Lee & Stort Navigations

* v
* t
* e

Locks and weirs on the River Lea, England

Counties|

* Bedfordshire
* Hertfordshire
* Essex
* Greater London

Locks|

* Hertford Lock
* Ware Lock
* Hardmead Lock
* Stanstead Lock
* Feildes Weir Lock
* Dobbs Weir Lock
* Carthagena Lock
* Aqueduct Lock
* Cheshunt Lock
* Waltham Common Lock
* Waltham Town Lock
* Rammey Marsh Lock
* Enfield Lock
* Ponder's End Lock
* Pickett's Lock
* Stonebridge Lock
* Tottenham Lock
* Pond Lane Flood Gates
* Old Ford Lock
* Bow Locks

Weirs|

* Horns Mill Weir
* Hertford Castle Weir
* Hartham Weir
* Ware Weir
* Feildes Weir
* Dobbs Weir
* Carthagena Weir
* Kings Weir
* Newmans Weir
* Middlesex Filter Beds Weir

Hertford Union Canal
(branch from Hackney Cut)|

* Hertford Union Bottom Lock No. 3
* Hertford Union Middle Lock No. 2
* Hertford Union Top Lock No. 1
* Regent's Canal

Limehouse Cut
(branch, at Bow Locks)|

* Bromley Stop Lock
* Britannia Stop Lock
* Limehouse Basin

Bow Back Rivers
(branches of the
Old River Lea)|

* Three Mills Lock
* City Mill Lock
* Carpenter's Road Lock
* Marshgate Lane Lock (defunct)
* Three Mills Wall River Weir
(These rivers form the waterways within the 2012 Olympic Park \- they flow into Bow Creek)

* v
* t
* e

Navigable canals of the United Kingdom

England|

* Aire and Calder1
* Ashby-de-la-Zouch2
* Ashton
* Basingstoke Canal
* Beverley Beck
* Birmingham Canal Navigations3
* Bridgewater
* Bridgwater and Taunton
* Buckingham Arm2
* Bude2
* Calder and Hebble1
* Cambridgeshire Lodes3
* Chelmer and Blackwater1
* Chesterfield2
* Chichester2
* Coventry
* Driffield
* Droitwich
* Erewash
* Foss Dyke
* Gloucester and Sharpness
* Grand Union3
* Grand Western2
* Grantham2
* Herefordshire and Gloucestershire2
* Hollinwood Branch2
* Huddersfield Broad
* Huddersfield Narrow
* Ipswich and Stowmarket12
* Kennet and Avon1
* Lancaster2
* Leeds and Liverpool3
* Lee Navigation1
* Limehouse
* Llangollen
* Lydney
* Macclesfield
* Maidenhead Waterways
* Manchester Bolton & Bury2
* Manchester Ship Canal
* Market Weighton2
* Middle Level Navigations3
* Montgomery2
* North Walsham and Dilham12
* Nottingham2
* Oxford1
* Peak Forest
* Pocklington2
* Regent's Canal
* Ribble Link1
* Ripon
* Rochdale
* Royal Military Canal
* Sankey2
* Selby
* Sheffield and South Yorkshire13
* Shropshire Union3
* Sleaford12
* South Forty-Foot Drain
* Staffordshire and Worcestershire
* Stort1
* Stourbridge
* Stratford-upon-Avon
* Stroudwater2
* Thames and Medway2
* Thames and Severn2
* Trent and Mersey3
* Weaver1
* Wardle
* Wey and Arun2
* Wey and Godalming1
* Wilts & Berks2
* Witham Navigable Drains3
* Worcester and Birmingham
* Wyrley and Essington

Northern Ireland|

* Coalisland Canal
* Lagan Canal
* Newry Canal
* Shannon–Erne Waterway
* Strabane Canal
* Ulster Canal

Scotland|

* Caledonian Canal1
* Crinan Canal
* Forth and Clyde
* Union Canal

Wales|

* Llangollen Canal
* Monmouthshire and Brecon2
* Montgomery Canal2
* Neath and Tennant2
* Swansea Canal2

Features|

* Aqueducts (list)
* Basins
* Locks
* Rings
* Tunnels (list)
* Winding holes

Related topics|

* British Waterways
* Canal & River Trust
* Scottish Canals
* History of the British canal system
* London Canal Museum
* Manchester Pusher
* Narrowboats
* National Waterways Museum
* Navigable aqueduct
* Waterways Ireland

Notes: 1 Contains canalised river. 2 Partly or mostly navigable, and/or under restoration. 3 A system of canals. Canals which form part of this system are not listed here individually.

51°37′33″N 0°01′57″W﻿ / ﻿51.6258°N 0.0325°W﻿ / 51.6258; -0.0325
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