TBS Tours: Lost Rivers of London

Next in our TBS Tours event series, we explored the ‘lost’ rivers of London

London has many ‘lost’ rivers that have played a huge role in defining the city’s landscape: the hills, valleys, and shapes of roads.

These rivers are now mostly buried in pipes under the streets of modern London, but for those in the know—and with a torch—you can catch glimpses and hear the sound of the River Fleet.

On last week’s TBS Tours, we retraced the ‘lost’ River Fleet, led by Keri Trimmer and Paul Davis of Elliott Wood’s civils team.

The Tour

We started our walk at the River Fleet’s halfway point in Camden, traversed King’s Cross, and finished at Blackfriars Bridge where the Fleet flows into the Thames. Our trail also included several stops at historic pubs along the way to refuel.

Two of our stop included a glimpse down a drain cover to the river.  With the aid of a torch we were able to see and hear the Fleet running beneath the busy London streets.

A bit of history

Starting up on the heights of Hampstead Heath, the Fleet winds southwards, joining the Thames at Blackfriars Bridge.

In the 18th century, as London’s population grew rapidly, the Fleet became increasingly polluted and fetid. From the 1730s to the 1870s, the Fleet was gradually covered over and incorporated into storm relief drains.