Lee Navigation - England

The River Lee Navigation, England.

Guide about cycling, walking and enjoying the Lee Navigation waterway which makes it's trip from Hertford to London's East End near Limehouse Basin.

The Lee Navigation is navigable for narrowboats and small craft from the centre of Hertford by the weirs at Hertford Town Mill Bridge on into London's East End. At Hackney there are several routes available for onward progress:-
The Hertford Union Canal heads off right to meet up with the Regents Canal by Old Ford Road Bridge - from there following the Regents Canal into West London gives a connection to the Paddington Arm and then the Grand Union Canal or the River Thames at Kew.
Carry further south on the Lea and at Bow where Abbey Creek joins boats can take the Limehouse Cut down into Limehouse Basin and again connect with The Regents Canal or go on the few 100 metres to reach The Thames.
Also at Bow The River Lea ceases to be fully navigable as it becomes tidal thus unuseable at low tide.

Apart from narrowboats the Lee Navigation is used extensively by both walkers and cyclists - the tow path is generally quite wide and well surfaced. There are 19 locks on the system with double locks available at the London end.

 

Lee Navigation: Tottenham Lock side bridge Bridge 24 - Lee Navigation Tottenham Lock 17 Double Lock - Tottenham Lock 17 Lee Navigation Pipebridge
Tottenham Lock
Sidebridge
Bridge 24 Tottenham Lock 17 Tottenham Lock 17 Pipe Bridge
The bridge at Stonebridge Lock Stonebridge Lock 16 Lee Navigation: Stonebridge double lock Lee Navigation nice green pipebridge Rusty old Lee Navigation pipebridge
Stonebridge Lock
and foot Bridge
Stonebridge Lock16 Stonebridge Lock Green pipebridge Pipebridge
Chalk Bridge 27 Lee Navigation: Edmonton Wharf Edmonton Wharf lovely old warehouse building Bridge 28 on the River Lee Navigation Lee Navigation: Bridge 28a
Chalk Bridge 27 Edmonton Wharf Wharf warehouse Bridge 28 Bridge 28a
Pipebridge and cable bridge on the Lee Navigation: Lee Navigation: Bridge 30 Pickett's Lock 15 - Lee Navigation, England Lee Navigation: cable carrying bridge Sidebridge 31a - Lee Navigation
Cable Bridge
and Pipe Bridge
Bridge 30 Picketts Lock 15 Cable Bridge Sidebridge 31a
One of the old bridge numbering signs on the Lee Navigation Ponders End Footbridge (32) Lee Navigation: Ponder's End river siding Ponder's End Bridge no 33, Lee Navigation River Lea Navigation - Bridge 34
Bridge sign Ponders End
Footbridge 32
Ponders End
canal siding
Ponders End
Bridge 33
Bridge 34
Ponder's End Lock 14 (double) Lock Gates at Ponders End Lock 14 Lee Navigation: Bridge 35 Navigation Inn - originally a pumphouse Overhanging warehouse on the Lee Navigation
Ponders End
Lock 14
Ponders End
lock gates
Bridge 35 Navigation Inn
former pumphouse
Overhanging
Warehouse
Lee Navigation: Bridge 35a Brimsdown Wharf - Lee Navigation Lee Navigation pipebridge at Brimsdown King George Reservoir - huge pumphouse Footbridge 36 and pipes, Lee Navigation in England
Bridge 35a Brimsdown Wharf Pipebridge King George
Reservoir Pumphouse
Footbridge 36
and Pipes
Lee Navigation: Bridge no.36 plsu pipes Enfield Docks area Lee Navigation: Sidebridge 37 at Enfield Dock Lee Navigation: Enfield Dock British Waterways - their Enfield Yard on the Lee Navigation
Footbridge 36
and Pipes
Enfield Dock area Enfieild Dock
Sidebridge
Enfield Dock B.W. Enfield Yard

From Walthamstow Marshes to Edmonton the Navigation is accompanied by built up areas and factories on it's left and quite a few fairly small reservoirs on it's right. Just after Edmonton The Lea has on it's right huge embankments which contain the massive King George's Reservoir and then the equally huge William Girling Reservoir. This all comes to an end just before Enfield Lock where a British Waterways Yard is located.
Enfield. The town is famous as the location of the Royal Small Arms Factory - which produced swords, muskets, rifles (including the Lee Enfield rifle produced from 1895) and machine guns (including the Bren and Sten) for the British Military from 1816 until production ended in 1988. One of the reasons for this location was the ability to move necessary parts, materials and finished products along the adjacent River Lee Navigation - which enabled access to The Thames as well as other factories on other waterways which produced parts including the London Small Arms Factory situated on the connecting Regents Canal at Gunmakers Wharf.

Bridge 37a and pipe Lee Navigation: Enfield Lock no13 Enfield Lock Lee Navigation river bridge Views from the River Lee Navigation
Bridge 37a
and Pipe
Enfield Lock 13 Enfield Lock 13
+ Bridge 38
Lee River
Bridge 39
General Views
Ramney Marsh Bridge 40 Ramney Marsh Lock 12 Lee Navigation: Ramney Marsh Lee Navigation Waltham - sidebridge
Ramney Marsh
Bridge 40
Ramney Marsh
Lock 12
Ramney Marsh
Lock 12
A swan Waltham
sidebridges
Bridge 42 - Lee Navigation Waltham Abbey Church Waltham Lock - bridge no43 Waltham Town Lock no11 Lee Navigation - Bridge 44
Waltham
roadbridge 42
Waltham
Abbey Church
Waltham Lock
Bridge 43
Waltham Town
Lock 11
Bridge 44

The Lee Valley Regional Park stretches from near The Thames right up to Ware in Hertfordshire and really comes into it's own from Waltham Abbey - there are woodlands, marshes and lots of water for birdwatchers, for sailing and rowing and on land walking and cycling opportunities on many paths everywhere in the area - it really is a beautiful location to visit. Parking is widely available and as far as could be seen free of charge - another bonus for getting to and around the area is that the railway accompanies the Lee Navigation for nearly all of it's course - and the trains are frequent even on Sundays so train ride and then walk back days-out are easily possible.
Waltham Abbey. Dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1540 there is not a lot to be seen of Waltham Abbey itself apart from some old walls and gates, however Waltham Abbey Church (Holy Cross and St. Lawrence) which was erected in the 12th century has various materials from the original Abbey - for instance the tower built in 1556. The grounds are easily reached by leaving the Lee by footbridge 45 near Waltham Town Lock and along the high street - the grounds are fairly extensive and pleasant for a stroll. Waltham Abbey is also the location of the Royal Gunpowder Mills which are open from the last weekend in April to the end of September (this is their 2010 published times - check their website). The location has been producing gunpowder since at least the 17th century and was finally closed in 1991.

Lee Navigation, sidebridge Lock footbridge Lee Navigation: Waltham Common Lock 10 Firday Lake next to the Lee Navigation Bridge no 46 on the Lee Navigation
Sidebridge Lock Footbridge 45 Waltham Common
Lock 10
Friday Lake Windmill Lane
Bridge 46
Cheshunt Lock no.9 Fishers Green Footbridge (47a) Site of a dismantled railway bridge over the Lea Navigation Footbridge at Aqueduct Lock Lee Navigation: Aqueduct Lock.8
Cheshunt Lock 9
and bridge 47
Fishers Green
Footbridge 47a
Dismantled
railway bridge
Aqueduct Lock
footbridge
Aqueduct Lock 8
Lee Navigation: Lee Navigation: Aqueduct Bridge Bridge 49 - Lee Navigation Side arm bridge and another Lee NavigationPipes and sidearm
Aqueduct Bridge Aqueduct Lock
and Bridge
Bridge 49 Side Bridge Arm
Bridge 50
Side Bridge
Arm pipebridge
Lee Navigation: Lee Valley Boat Centre at Broxbourne New Nazeing Roadbridge . 52 Lee Navigation: Carthagena Lock no:7 Dobbs Weir side arm
Crown Bridge 51 Refuel Centre New Nazeing
Roadbridge 52
Carthagena Lock7
and footbridge 53
Dobbs Weir
Sidearm
Lee Navigation-Bridge 54 Dobbs Weir Lock no6 Dobbs Weir Bridge no55 Lee Navigation: Dobbs Weir Dobbs Weir
Foot Bridge 54 Dobbs Weir
Lock 6
Dobbs Weir
Bridge 55
Dobbs Weir Dobbs Weir

Dobb's Weir. The area around Dobb's Weir is particularly favoured by fishermen - bream, perch, roach, barbel and carp are caught from time to time and in 2003 a record size chub was caught there. A large old public house is right on top of the weir and there is a reasonable amount of parking available in the car park oppposite the pub.
Less than a mile from Dobb's Weir the Lee Navigation meets the River Stort Navigation at Feilde's Weir (Hoddesdon) - The Stort is another very old river navigation and creates a navigable 22km route route to Bishops Stortford.

Lee Navigation: area around Dobb's Weir Dobbs Weir Bridge no55a Lee Navigation: Bridge 55b Bridge 56 - River Lee Navigation Lee Navigation: Feilde Lock sluice
Dobbs Weir area Dobbs Weir
Bridge 55a
Bridge 55b Bridge 56 Feilde Lock
side-sluices
Feildes Lock 5 - Lee Navigation Lee Navigation - Railway Bridge 57 Bridge no58 Pipebridge and Bridge 58 Lee Navigation: Rye House Gatehouse
Feilde's Lock 5 Railway Bridge 57 Bridge 58 Bridge 58
and Pipebridge
Rye House
Gatehouse

Rye House Gatehouse. Just a short distance from the Stort Navigaton junction The Navigation passes all that remains of Sir Andrew Ogard's manor house - Rye House Gatehouse. The Gatehouse was erected around 1443 and is one of the first brick-built buildings in England and now a Grade I listed building. The manor house is infamous for the Rye House Plot of 1683 - a conspiracy to assassinate King Charles II and his brother James, the Duke of York. The Gatehouse is set in the centre of a large grassy area.

Rye House Gate House Gatehouse gargoyle Area around Rye House Gatehouse by the Lee Navigation a414 roadbridge no59 Lee Navigation: Stanstead Abbot sidearm
Rye House Gatehouse Gatehouse
gargoyle
Rye Gatehouse
area
a414 Roadbridge 59 Stanstead Abbot Sidearm
Lee Navigation: Stanstead Abbots Bridge 59a Stanstead Lock 4 and bridge Stanstead Lock 4 and swingbridge 60b Lee Navigation: footbridge no61
Stanstead
Abbots area
Bridge 59a Stanstead Lock4
+footbridge 60
Stanstead Lock
swingbridge 60b
Footbridge 61
Lee Navigation: Footbridge 62 Lee Navigation: Footbridge 63 Hardmead Lock no23, Lee Navigation Footbridge 64 Weirs by footbridge 64
Footbridge 62 Footbridge 63 Hardmead
Lock 23
Footbridge 64 Weirs
Ware Town Bridge no65 Lee Navigation - footbridge Lee Navigation: Church of St Mary the Virgin - Ware St Mary the Virgin, Ware, near The Lee Navigation
Ware Town
Bridge 65
Footbridge 66 Ware Town
Footbridge
St Marys, Ware St Mary
the Virgin
Ware Town footbridge Lee Navigation: Ware Lock footbridge Ware Lock no2 - Lee Navigation Lee Navigation: Bridge no.68 Ware Weir Bridge - Lee Navigation
Ware Town
Footbridge
Ware Lock
footbridge
Ware Lock 2 Bridge 68 Ware Weir Bridge
Ware Weir Bridge Lee Navigation: Bridge 68a Lee Navigation: Bridge 68b Lee Navigation: New Guage Intake House New Gauge Intake House
Ware Weir
bridge
Bridge 68a Bridge 68b New Gauge
Intake House
New Gauge
Intake House

Small bridge over the New River near Ware The New River. The 20 mile long New River was designed to provide London with drinking water which it mostly took from The River Lee but also from various springs - it was opened in 1613. New River starts just over a mile from Hertford at New Gauge Intake House - it initially goes at right angles away from The Lee Navigation crossing Meads Nature Reserve then turns sharp left and follows the contours on down via Ware, Stanstead Abbots, Broxbourne and eventually ends up at Stoke Newington.
Reflections of New River, England Various water control items along New River Large really nice pump house on New Riiver, England View along New River - Southern England New River Bridge - England Small New River Pump House (Southern England)
There is generally a good path alongside New River and several nice circular walks are possible particularly between Hertford and Broxbourne by using The Lee Navigation and New River. Built in 1856 to control the water flow allowed into New River, New Gauge Intake House is a really beautiful building and there are also several pump houses and so on to be seen along this part of the route. Lots of ducks, swans, coots, moorhen etc. live on New River so if going for a walk don't forget to take them some bread. One other inhabitant of interest particularly on the stretch between the start and Ware are the quite large crayfish living in the river.


Bridge 69 - The Lee Navigation Lee Navigation: Hertford Deep Lock no1 Lee Navigation: Bridge 70 Lee Navigation: Bridge 71 Lee Navigation: Park sidebridge
Foot Bridge 69 Hertford
Deeplock 1
Bridge 70 Bridge 71 Park sidebridge
Lee Navigation: sidebridge and weir Pipe Bridge - Lea Navigation Lee Navigation: Folly Bridge no74 One end of the Lee Navigation Hertford Castle - Postern Gate
Sidebridge
+ Weir
Pipe Bridge Folly Bridge 74 End of
Lee Navigation
Hertford Castle
Postern Gate

Hertford Castle, England Narrowboats over 40 feet long need to do their winding above Folly Bridge by the Basin - under 40 footers need to turn just before Mill Bridge and much smaller craft can turn at Mill Bridge. Hertford Castle (Norman) no longer hardly exists - the Gatehouse is sort of known as Hertford Castle these days and is used by the Town Council for offices. There are however some parts of the old castle walls as well as a nice Castle Gate still to be seen in the grounds (which are mostly grassed but do have some flower beds and also a few bench seats).

 

Please see our Home Page for many other items about England including 100s of English Church Photos, wildflowers, toadstools and quite a few walks to try some of which involve using canal towpaths. Also take a look towards the bottom of our Home Page where there are links to our other travel sites about The Canary Islands, Cyprus, Portugal's Algarve, The Greek Islands and Athens, Egypt, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangkok, Bali and several other Indonesian Holiday Islands.   Visit our Resources topic if you wish to Email Us and/or to see our site privacy policy.

www.foxysislandwalks.co.uk