Editing Subterranean rivers of London

{{short description|Geographical feature of England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
[[File:London natural watercourses.jpg|thumb|A sketch map of some lost rivers]]
[[File:LondonBeforeHouses.jpg|thumb|"London Before the Houses", map of pre-urban London from 1884<ref>{{cite book |title=A History of London |edition=2nd |last=Loftie |first=William John |year=1884 |location=London |publisher=Edward Stanford}}</ref>]]
[[File:Effra vauxhall 2.jpg|thumb|The position of a mouth of the [[River Effra|Effra]] in the 13th century]]
The '''subterranean''' or '''underground rivers of London''' are or were the direct or indirect [[tributary|tributaries]] of the upper estuary of the [[River Thames|Thames]] (the [[Tideway]]) that were [[Subterranean river|built over]] during the growth of the metropolis of [[London]]. They now flow through [[culvert]]s,<ref>Nicholas Barton, ''The Lost Rivers of London'', Historical Publications, {{ISBN|0-948667-15-X}}</ref> with some of them integral parts of London's [[London sewer system|sewerage system]] and diverted accordingly.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Humphreys |first1=Sir George W. |title=Main Drainage of London |date=November 1930 |publisher=London County Council |location=London |page=5 |url=http://www.sewerhistory.org/articles/whregion/1930_abm1/article.pdf |access-date=2 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502202624/http://www.sewerhistory.org/articles/whregion/1930_abm1/article.pdf |archive-date=2 May 2019 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

==North of the Thames==
''From west to east - sub-tributaries are shown indented''
* [[River Brent]] (partially underground)
* [[Stamford Brook]]
*Parrs Ditch
* [[Counter's Creek]]
* [[River Westbourne]]
** [[Tyburn Brook]]
* [[River Tyburn]]
* [[River Fleet]], (following Farringdon Street, New Bridge Street and other roads).
** [[River Fleet#Lamb's Conduit|Lamb's Conduit]]
** [[River Fleet#Fagswell Brook|Fagswell Brook]] (Follows the course of [[Charterhouse Street]])
* [[River Walbrook]]
* [[Lorteburn]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bentley  |first1=David |date=1984 |title=A recently identified valley in the City |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-457-1/dissemination/pdf/vol05/vol05_01/05_01_013_016.pdf |journal=London Archaeologist |volume= 05|issue=1 |pages=13–16 |access-date=2022-12-27}}</ref> or Langbourne (now dry)
* [[Sir Thomas More Street#The brook|Brook at Nightingale Lane]]
* Black Ditch
* [[Muswell Stream]]<ref Name=river>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PNe5ZBe53HYC&dq=%22Muswell+Stream%22+london&pg=PA148 ''London's Lost Rivers''] (2011) Paul Talling, Random House, pp148-150
{{ISBN|9781847945976}}</ref> (sub-sub-tributary via [[Pymmes Brook]] and the River Lea)
* [[River Moselle (London)|River Moselle]]<ref Name=river/> (subtributary via the [[River Lea|Lea]])
* [[Hackney Brook]] (subtributary via the [[River Lea|Lea]])
* [[London Borough of Newham#Manor of Ham|Ham Creek]]
* [[River Rom]] (partially underground)
[[File:Culverted_mouth_of_the_Earl's_Sluice_at_Deptford_Wharf.jpg|thumb|right|The culverted mouth of the Earl's Sluice at [[Deptford Wharf]]]]

== South of the Thames ==
''From west to east - sub-tributaries are shown indented''
* [[Sudbrook (stream)|Sudbrook]] (partially underground)
* [[Beverley Brook]] (partially underground)
* [[Norbury Brook|Graveney]] (sub tributary of [[River Wandle]])
**[[Norbury Brook]]
* [[Falconbrook]]
* [[River Effra]]
* [[River Neckinger]]
* [[Earl's Sluice]]
** [[River Peck]]
* [[River Quaggy]] (partially underground) (sub tributary of [[River Ravensbourne]])
* [[Heathwall Ditch]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://londonist.com/london/books-and-poetry/lost-rivers-heathwall-battersea|title=The Lost River of London You've Never Heard Of: The Heathwall|work=Londonist}}</ref>

==Development==
In June 2008, the office of [[Mayor of London]] published outline plans to [[Daylighting (streams)|reinstate]] some underground rivers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Boris Johnson to revive London's lost rivers|newspaper= The Times|location=London, UK|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4138268.ece |date=5 September 2008 |archive-date=5 September 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905000647/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4138268.ece}}</ref> In January 2009, a partnership among the [[Environment Agency]], [[Natural England]], The River Restoration Centre, and the [[Greater London Authority]] set out a strategy for putting this into effect by creating the London Rivers Action Plan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/100997.aspx?month=1&year=2009&coverage=National&sector=Agriculture%2cClimatechange%2cConstruction%2cConsultations%2cDrought%2cEnergy%2cFishingandaquaculture%2cFlood%2cPollution%2cRegulation%2cReports%2cWaste%2cWater%2cWildlifeandconservation&persona=Business%2cEvent%2cHome%2cProsecution%2cScience |title=Environment Agency plans for river restoration |website=Environment-agency.gov.uk |date=2010-03-02 |location=UK |access-date=2010-07-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626222801/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/100997.aspx?month=1&year=2009&coverage=National&sector=Agriculture%2CClimatechange%2CConstruction%2CConsultations%2CDrought%2CEnergy%2CFishingandaquaculture%2CFlood%2CPollution%2CRegulation%2CReports%2CWaste%2CWater%2CWildlifeandconservation&persona=Business%2CEvent%2CHome%2CProsecution%2CScience |archive-date=26 June 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.therrc.co.uk/lrap.php|publisher=The River Restoration Centre|location=UK|access-date=2010-07-25|title=London Rivers Action Plan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815172653/http://www.therrc.co.uk/lrap.php|archive-date=15 August 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==See also==
[[File:Tottenham moselle 1.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[River Moselle (London)|Moselle]] on the surface flows through [[Tottenham Cemetery]] on its way to the [[River Lea|Lea]]]]

*[[Blue Ribbon Network]]—the major waterways of London
*[[List of rivers of England]]
*[[Subterranean London]]
*[[Subterranean river]]
*[[Tributaries of the River Thames]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news|date=4 October 2015|author=Dangerfield, Andy|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29551351 |title=The lost rivers that lie beneath London|publisher=BBC News|location=London, UK}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.heritagemagazine.co.uk/underground.html |work= Heritage Magazine | date = April–May 2000 |title=The Underground City: Beneath the streets of London's capital city is a world of tunnels, rivers and hidden history |access-date=2002-12-10  |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021210040357/http://www.heritagemagazine.co.uk/underground.html |archive-date=2002-12-10 }}

==External links==
* {{cite web|url=http://www.wildtrout.org/WTT/library/features/lostLondon.asp |author=Mackie, Gordon |title=London's Lost Rivers: Wayback Machine Snapshot |date=January 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040107230402/http://www.wildtrout.org/WTT/library/features/lostLondon.asp |archive-date=2004-01-07 }}
* {{cite web|url=http://london.openguides.org/pictures/lost_rivers.jpg |title=Map of London's Underground Rivers|website=OpenGuides.org|location=London, UK}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130428023509/http://bigthink.com/strange-maps/285-londons-lost-rivers Strange Maps - London's Lost Rivers]


[[Category:Subterranean rivers of London| ]]
[[Category:Subterranean London]]
[[Category:Rivers of London]]