The Bow Back Rivers (London's Olympic Waterways)

1) The Bow Back River (St Thomas' Creek)

There are five main entrances into the Bow Back River network. Currently only two can be used. These are the junction with the Old River Lea adjacent to Old Ford locks on the Lee Navigation, whilst further south the connection into St Thomas' (aka the Bow Back River) can be found by the A12 Bow roundabout. The other connections are at City Mills and Carpenters Road lock, which link into the waterworks River. Both locks of course currently disused and either undergoing or pending restoration. The fifth is Bow locks themselves, which allow access to the Three Mills Wall River, the Prescott Channel and the Waterworks River

The Bow Back River/St Thomas' is the bit leading from the A12 Bow roundabout bridge towards the former junction with the Pudding Mill River and City Mill Lock. Before the 1930's, this stretch had a severe dog leg that led to a junction that comprised of the City Mill River and Marshgate Lock. This double bend was taken out and the junction with the City Mill River/Waterworks River moved eastwards, so the Bow Back/St Thomas stretch is actually longer than it once was, whilst the City Mill River is shortened

Of the many channels in the area, the Bow Back/St Thomas' is the most industrialised section remaining, though new housing developments have sprung up in several places on the south side that fronts onto the main A12 route. Naturally the profelaration of industry along this stretch was of course due to the ease of access to the main road, and of course the vastly improved 1930's waterway didnt really serve any further purpose

Boaters heading eastwards along the Bow Back/St Thomas' stretch run parallel with the A12 dual carriageway as far as the junction at City Mills Lock. There are four bridges along this stretch in quick succession, compared to the rest of the network which has a dearth of crossings

The Bow Back River junction - the A12 bridges, part of the Bow interchange complex, are on the Lee Navigation - the Bow Back River entrance is under the bridge on the left. In the trees on the right is a Routemaster on the No.8 route. This page is actually being written on the last day of Routemasters in London - 9 Dec 2005 - as the last route, the 159, sees these buses ousted in favour of modern and more accessible buses

Effronte, a wide beam boat, passing the junction with the Bow Back River in the summer of 2005

The Bow Back River/St Thomas' Creek looking eastwards. Weed can be a problem at all times of the year - it certainly was bad in a couple of places during a boating trip in Nov 2005. The bridge in view is at Cooks Road

A bit further eastwards between Cooks Rd and Marshgate Lane bridges

Marshgate Bridge and site of junction with the Pudding Mill River. The Pudding Mill's remains can be found at the rear of these buildings, but no sign of the junction remains. Before the remodelling in the 1930's there used to be a severe dog-leg in the river and the original Marshgate

A summer 2005 view looking from Marshgate Lane towards City Mill lock. The lock is being restored in conjunction with the new development on the lefthand side

The junction with City Mill lock and River. This picture was taken in 2002 and shows a dumb barge anchored in midstream, waiting to be taken up the City Mill River for dredging works

NEXT: City Mills River

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