Stoke Newington and Clissold Park

The stretch through Stoke Newington is a bit odd. When the New River was in existence it touched Stoke Newington twice, and in between veered off westwards on a lengthy detour bringing it virtually into Finsbury Park by the rear of Blackstock Road. Nowadays the sections in Stoke Newington remain watered - one as a ornamental feature in Clissold Park and the other as a functional water supply that brings water southwards from as afar as New Gauge. The 'middle' bit has dissapeared entirely, save for a road with a fairly obvious name which indicates the whereabouts of the original course.

Up until the 1990's the New River's presence was felt very strongly as one travelled along Green Lanes. Four huge reservoirs could be seen and they were a fascinating haven for wildlife. These reservoirs were of the same family as those found at New River Head, being of simliar construction. When the London Water Main Ring was built the reservoirs to the west of Green Lanes were then surplus to needs. They were sold off, levelled and given over to develop modern housing. The entrance road to that new estate, and a wide central pedestrian walk, are clues pertaining to the alignment of the New River as it ran between the reservoirs in a westwards direction towards Finsbury Park.

Side view of the Green Lanes church. Whats interesting is that its built on the course of the New River. There's a path squeezing past the side of the church and this leads to Aden Terrace. The path in fact follows the New River's course and the former line of channel can be made out in many places. The path is a public route that has existed for a long time and is indeed the only bit left from the days when the New River existed

These allotments in Aden Terrace sit on the former channel. The trees either side obviously once lined the New River

Another view of Aden Terrace. The pathway can be seen on the left and the rear gardens here the course of the New River

The end of our stretch through Aden Terrace. Park Lane bridge once stood here. Newington Hall stood a little over to the right and this must have been an attractive stretch of waterway here.
The route carried straight behind the photograph under two roads and into Clissold Park along what was known as Paradise Row.

The road can clearly be seen rising slightly towards the site of the crossing over the New River. Aden Terrace is to the left and Clissold Park is on the right

The raised stones must somehow be a remant of the bridge that once stood here. It was called Paradise Bridge. This view looks southwest towards the Aden Terrace section which is behind the clump of trees in the middle distance

The course ran along what was known as Paradise Row (the road being known as Paradise Road) This is Paradise Row today - minus the New River

Clissold Park was originally known as Newington Park

As we walk along the south perimeter of Clissold Park, just about where the church becomes quite prominent, there's this fence that blocks our route. This point marks the location where the New River route turns to the north into Clissold Park proper, and a short distance away there is a surprise...

So very near the church, and the surprise is that we find a bit of water in the park. This is actually the tail end of the New River section in Clissold Park.

Next: more of the Clissold Park section