The Bow Back Rivers (London's Olympic Waterways)
2) The City Mill River
The City Mill River is the widest watercourse, at least north of the railway, on the navigable network of the Bow Backs. It heads in a mainly northwards direction towards the junction with the Old River Lea at Carpenters Road. The first part as far as the bridges carrying the Docklands line and the Great Eastern lines out of Liverpool Street, and the Northern Outfall Sewer, is narrower than the remainder. A winding hole, which can be quite easily restored, once existed between the Northern Outfall Sewer and the Docklands Rail bridge. The purpose of this winding hole was to facilitate the turning of boats if the water levels were too high to allow them safe passage under the restricted Northern Outfall aqueduct. However, with the changes of recent years tken into consideraton, the tides that affected the Bow Back Rivers (and were a major cause of silting) have now ceased and water levels stay at an optimal level al year round, so most narrowboats can get under the aqueduct, but obviously this is not the case for most cruisers or large pleasure barges
After the Great eastern crossing, the City Mill River widens substantially and much industry is encountered on the west side. Unfortunatley most of this is to be swept away by the Olympics and the most prominent feature on this stretch will be the main Olympic stadium by the northern end of the City Mill route. The walls on both sides of the City Mill are the highest of all those on the Bow Back Rivers - it would take some effort to moor and climb up to the towpath which follows the east side of the route. However, there are a couple of ladders near to the Carpenters Road junction, this being the easiest spot to moor on the entire City Mill River
By the junction with City Mill Lock are two abandoned boats, that have stood here for decades. One wonders
what will become of them as the new housing developments encroach
The City Mill River beyond the junction with St Thomas' Creek and City Mill Lock. In the distance are the Nortern Outfall Sewer aqueduct and the railway bridges
Unusally for a river towpath, the one on the City Mill River drops below the level of the river itself as it traverses the arches that run under the Northern Outfall Sewer
Immediately after the Northern Outfall Sewer is this silted up winding hole and the railway bridges carrying the Docklands and the Great Eastern lines
The City Mill River on the north side of the railway bridges. Most of the Bow Back Rivers were furnished with substantial bollards that would have done sea-going ships proud!
During 2002 Land & Water undertook a contract to dredge the City Mill River (and St Thomas Creek) this is a view of the work underway by the railway bridges
Typical scene on the City Mill River - scrap yards and abandoned boats. The area in the background
will soon be dominated by a new Olympic skyline. The red boat now resides at a factory near Old Ford locks
Looking southwestwards a grand view of the Canary Wharf skyline can be had
Its very difficult to see whats happening on the City Mill River these days with the 2012 construction going on. However here's a shot taken in April 2008 of the river showing that the contractors are using the waterway
A typical northern Bow Back River scene. This is at the point where the City Mill River nears the junction with the Old River Lea at Carpenters Road. The land on the right will be the site of the main Olympic Stadium. The block of flats inthe distance are located just off the main A12 road in Stratford
The northern end of the City Mill River. The bridge carries Marshgate Lane (which crosses St
Thomas' Creek at the southern end of the network) and beyond is the Old River Lea route
Bow Back Pages: [ Bow Back ] [ City Mills ] [ Old Lea ] [ Pudding Mill ] [ City/Carpenters ] [ Waterworks ] [ 3 Mills ] [ Prescott ] [ Channelsea ]
