The Bow Back Rivers (London's Olympic Waterways)
3) The Old River Lea
The River Lea's course runs from Bow Locks past Three Mills and under the A12 roundabout at Bow, then alognside the A102(M) Blackwall Tunnel approach road, and under the docklands/Great eastern lines, and lastly the Northern outfall Sewer before reaching the foot of Old Ford Locks. The section from Bow to Old Ford is used by the Lee Navigation. The River Lea then heads north eastwards past the Big Brother house (built for the first ever series of Big Brother), past the junction with the Pudding Mill River and the site of Old Ford Flood gates. The course is fairly sinous and it takes one to the former Carpenters Road Lock and the junction with the City Mill River. The 'Old' River Lea then becomes the proper River Lea at the junction with the Waterworks River and heads northwards to Lea Bridge where it once again is used by the Lee Navigation. Its the second narrowest course on the network and probably the most prettiest of all in character. Ironically this will all be changed by 2012, as the main Olympic Stadium will be a most prominent feature as one heads northeastwards (either walking or boating) to Carpenters Road. There will be many roads and walkways too, which will spoil the rural essence that the Old River Lea currently offers
Views at Old Ford Junction. This is the point at which the River Lea (Lee) diverges from the Lee Navigation to make its own separate way northwards. Above Left: Old Ford Locks on the Lee Navigation, with the Old River Lea heading off to the right. Above Right: The former house that featured in the Big Breakfast Show stands on the north bank of the Old River Lea. Below left: A Land & Water tug and dredger making their way up the Old River Lea in 2003
Right: The Old River Lea at its junction with the Pudding Mill River. The new Olympics Stadium will be straight ahead, and will dominate this view in a couple of years time
Just past the Pudding Mill River is the remains of Old Ford Flood Gates. One of the few pre-1930's improvements relics, the purpose of the flood gates was to keep the tides from affecting the nearby Lee Navigation. They were made redundant in the 1930's improvements when the nearby Carpenters Lock was built
The Old River Lea at Bow Business Park, on its way to Carpenters Road. Both sides of the waterway will be affected by new developments for the Olympics in 2012
The attractive junction at Carpenters Road. The unusual lock is to the left. For more information on it see this feature about City Mills and Carpenters Locks. Although Marshgate Lane runs parallel to the Old River Lea for most of its length, Marshgate lane is synonymous with most of the Bow Back Rivers network, hence it has always been easier to describe the area as Carpenters Road. The iron lattice footbridge is one of the most attractive features of the Bow Back Rivers - along with Carpenters Lock, it was the best feature of the 1930's redevelopments
Bow Back Pages: [ Bow Back ] [ City Mills ] [ Old Lea ] [ Pudding Mill ] [ City/Carpenters ] [ Waterworks ] [ 3 Mills ] [ Prescott ] [ Channelsea ]
