River Lee Navigation - England

The River Lee Navigation - England.

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

The River 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 all the time as it becomes affected by the tides i.e. unuseable during low tides.

Apart from narrowboats the banks of the River Lee Navigation are used extensively by walkers, cyclists and fishermen - the river's tow path is generally quite wide and well surfaced. There are 19 locks on the system with double locks available towards the River Lee Navigation's London end.

Limehouse Cut start Limehouse Cut Bridge Bow Lock footbridge Bow Lock Gas Works Bridge The Mill House
Limehouse Cut starts Limehouse Cut Bridge Footbridge at Bow Lock Bow Lock Gas Works Bridge The Mill House
The Mill House Three Mill Lane Bridge Lee Navigation Bromley Northern Outfall Sewer Bridge Old Ford Lock warehouses Old Ford Lock gates
The Mill House 3 Mills Lane Bridge The Navigation at Bromley Northern Outfall Sewer Bridge Old warehouses by Old Ford Lock Gates at Old Ford Lock
Old Ford Lock Old Ford Lock Junction for the Hertford Union Canal and the Lee Navigation Hertford Union Bottom Lock 1 Hertford Union Middle Lockgates Parnell Roadbridge
Old Ford Lock Old Ford Lock second chamber Hertford Union and the Lee meet Hertford Union Bottom Lock 1 Hertford Union MiddleLock gates Parnell Roadbridge
Hertford Union Canal Toplock Three Colts Bridge Hertford Union Canal Hertford Union Canal Regents end Victoria Park 1862 Victoria Park Lake
Toplock - Hertford Union Three Colts Bridge Hertford Union Canal views Hertford Union - Regents Canal end Victoria Park Victoria Park Lake
Victoria Park Victoria Park Bridge 11 and Pipe Lee Navigation Hackney Wick Cable Bridge Pond Lane Bridge
Victoria Park Victoria Park Bridge 11 and Pipe The Lee at Hackney Wick Cable Bridge Pond Lane Bridge
Lea Bridge weir Clapton railway bridge Markfield Beam Engine House Markfield Beam Engine Markfield Beam Engine flywheel Markfield Beam Engine
Lea Bridge weirs Clapton Railway Bridge Markfield Beam Engine House Markfield Beam Engine Markfield Beam Engine Markfield Beam Engine
Lee Navigation: Tottenham Lock side bridge Bridge 24 - Lee Navigation Tottenham Lock 17 Double Lock - Tottenham Lock 17 Lee Navigation Pipebridge The bridge at Stonebridge Lock
Tottenham Lock Sidebridge Bridge 24 Tottenham Lock 17 Tottenham Lock 17 Pipe Bridge Stonebridge Lock + footbridge
Stonebridge Lock 16 Lee Navigation: Stonebridge double lock Lee Navigation nice green pipebridge Rusty old Lee Navigation pipebridge Chalk Bridge 27 Lee Navigation: Edmonton Wharf
Stonebridge Lock16 Stonebridge Lock Green pipebridge Pipebridge Chalk Bridge 27 Edmonton Wharf
Edmonton Wharf lovely old warehouse building Bridge 28 on the River Lee Navigation Lee Navigation: Bridge 28a Pipebridge and cable bridge on the Lee Navigation: Lee Navigation: Bridge 30 Pickett's Lock 15 - Lee Navigation, England
Wharf warehouse Bridge 28 Bridge 28a Cable Bridge
and Pipe Bridge
Bridge 30 Picketts Lock 15
Lee Navigation: cable carrying bridge Sidebridge 31a - Lee Navigation 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
Cable Bridge Sidebridge 31a Bridge sign Ponders End Footbridge 32 Ponders End canal siding Ponders End Bridge 33
River Lea Navigation - 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
Bridge 34 Ponders End Lock 14 Ponders End lock gates Bridge 35 Navigation Inn former pumphouse Overhanging Canal 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 Lee Navigation: Bridge no.36 plsu pipes
Bridge 35a Brimsdown Wharf Pipebridge King George Reservoir Pumphouse Footbridge 36 and Pipes Footbridge 36 and Pipes
From Walthamstow Marshes to Edmonton the Lee Navigation is accompanied by built up areas and factories on it's left and quite a few small reservoirs on it's right. Just after Edmonton The Lea has on it's right huge embankments containing the massive King George's Reservoir and then the William Girling Reservoir. This all ends just before Enfield Lock where a British Waterways Yard is located. Enfield is famous for it's Royal Small Arms Factory which made swords, muskets, rifles (including the Lee Enfield rifle) and machine guns (including the Bren and Sten) for the Military from 1816 until production ended in 1988. One of the reasons for this location was the ability to move parts, materials and finished products along the adjacent River Lee Navigation. This gave access to The Thames as well as factories on other waterways which produced parts including the London Small Arms Factory situated on the connecting Regents Canal at Gunmakers Wharf.

Enfield Docks area Lee Navigation: Sidebridge 37 at Enfield Dock Lee Navigation: Enfield Dock
Enfield Dock area
Enfieild Dock Sidebridge
Enfield Dock


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

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 - Bridge 44 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
Bridge 44 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 Lee Navigation:
Cheshunt Lock 9
and bridge 47
Fishers Green
Footbridge 47a
Dismantled
railway bridge
Aqueduct Lock
footbridge
Aqueduct Lock 8 Aqueduct Bridge
Lee Navigation: Aqueduct Bridge Bridge 49 - Lee Navigation Side arm bridge and another Lee NavigationPipes and sidearm Lee Navigation: Lee Valley Boat Centre at Broxbourne
Aqueduct Lock+ Bridge Bridge 49 Side Bridge Arm Bridge 50 Side Bridge Arm pipebridge Crown Bridge 51 Refuel Centre
New Nazeing Roadbridge . 52 Lee Navigation: Carthagena Lock no:7 Dobbs Weir side arm Lee Navigation-Bridge 54 Dobbs Weir Lock no6 Dobbs Weir Bridge no55
New Nazeing Roadbridge 52 Carthagena Lock7+footbridge Dobbs Weir Sidearm Foot Bridge 54 Dobbs Weir Lock 6 Dobbs Weir Bridge 55
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 - The Stort is another river navigation and creates a navigable 22km route to Bishops Stortford. Rye House Gatehouse. Just a short distance from the Weir the Lee passes the remains of Sir Andrew Ogard's Rye House Gatehouse. This Grade 1 listed building was built around 1443 and is one of the first brick-built buildings in England. The manor house is famous for the Rye House Plot of 1683 - a conspiracy to assassinate King Charles II and his brother the Duke of York.
Lee Navigation: Dobbs Weir Dobbs Weir Lee Navigation: area around Dobb's Weir
Dobbs Weir
Dobbs Weir
Dobbs Weir area


Dobbs Weir Bridge no55a Lee Navigation: Bridge 55b Bridge 56 - River Lee Navigation
Dobbs Weir Bridge 55a
Bridge 55b
Bridge 56
Lee Navigation: Feilde Lock sluice Feildes Lock 5 - Lee Navigation Lee Navigation - Railway Bridge 57 Bridge no58 Pipebridge and Bridge 58 Lee Navigation: Rye House Gatehouse
Feilde Lock side-sluices Feilde's Lock 5 Railway Bridge 57 Bridge 58 Bridge 58 + Pipebridge Rye House Gatehouse
Rye House Gate House Gatehouse gargoyle Area around Rye House Gatehouse by the Lee Navigation a414 roadbridge no59 Lee Navigation: Stanstead Abbot sidearm Lee Navigation: Stanstead Abbots
Rye House Gatehouse Gatehouse gargoyle Rye Gatehouse area a414 Roadbridge 59 Stanstead Abbot Sidearm Stanstead Abbots area
Bridge 59a Stanstead Lock 4 and bridge Stanstead Lock 4 and swingbridge 60b Lee Navigation: footbridge no61 Lee Navigation: Footbridge 62 Lee Navigation: Footbridge 63
Bridge 59a Stanstead Lock4+footbridge 60 Stanstead Lock swingbridge 60b Footbridge 61 Footbridge 62 Footbridge 63
Hardmead Lock no23, Lee Navigation Footbridge 64 Weirs by footbridge 64 Ware Town Bridge no65 Lee Navigation - footbridge Lee Navigation:
Hardmead Lock 23 Footbridge 64 Weirs Ware Town Bridge 65 Footbridge 66 Ware Town Footbridge
Church of St Mary the Virgin - Ware St Mary the Virgin, Ware, near The Lee Navigation Ware Town footbridge Lee Navigation: Ware Lock footbridge Ware Lock no2 - Lee Navigation Lee Navigation: Bridge no.68
St Marys, Ware St Mary the Virgin Ware Town Footbridge Ware Lock footbridge Ware Lock 2 Bridge 68
Ware Weir Bridge - Lee Navigation Ware Weir Bridge Lee Navigation: Bridge 68a Lee Navigation: Bridge 68b Lee Navigation: New Guage Intake House New Gauge Intake House
Ware Weir Bridge Ware Weir bridge Bridge 68a Bridge 68b New Gauge Intake House New Gauge Intake House

 

Small New River Pump House (Southern England) The Lee Navigation - 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 - New River was opened in 1613. New River starts just over a mile away from Hertford at New Gauge Intake House and initially goes at right angles away from The Lee Navigation crossing Meads Nature Reserve and then turns sharp left and follows the contours (and the railway line for a while) as it sets off via Ware, Stanstead Abbots and Broxbourne before eventually ending up at Stoke Newington. There is generally a good path alongside New River and several nice circular walks are possible particularly between Hertford and Broxbourne by using both The Lee Navigation and New River.
Small bridge over the New River near Ware Reflections of New River, England Various water control items along New River
A New River Bridge
New River reflections
Various workings on New River


Large really nice pump house on New Riiver, England View along New River - Southern England New River Bridge - England
New River Pumphouse
A New River Swan
New River Bridge

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 and there are often quite a few people with their bits of spam tied to string trying to get them.

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

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).
Incidentally if either walking, cycling or narrow-boating along river navigations is of interest the fairly long Kennet and Avon Canal which goes from Reading in Berkshire to Bristol might be of interest too - with quite a lot of it's route being on the two rivers rather than "cut" canal.

 

We have picked out a few Books about England - Churches, Canals and Rivers as well as walks in England and English Nature. The Nicholsons Waterways Guides are a "must take" for anyone going on a Canal Barge or Narrowboat holiday (as well as anyone visiting the canals) as they are packed with really useful information. If the development and history of our Canals is of particular interest consider the Anatomy of Canals series - really good reading!. (The relevant Nicholoson Guide covering The Lee Navigation is BOOK 1.)

 

Visitor Guide to The River Lee Navigation - created by www.foxysislandwalks.co.uk

 

 

 

 

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