Selected article
|
|
Bow Back Rivers or Stratford Back Rivers is a complex of waterways between Bow and Stratford in east London, England, which connect the River Lea to the River Thames. Starting in the twelfth century, works were carried out to drain Stratford Marshes and several of the waterways were constructed to power watermills. Bow Creek provided the final outfall to the Thames, and the other channels were called Abbey Creek, Channelsea River, City Mill River, Prescott Channel, Pudding Mill River, Three Mills Back River, Three Mills Wall River and Waterworks River.
The rivers have been subject to change over centuries, with Alfred the Great diverting the river in 896 to create a second channel, and Queen Matilda bridging both channels around 1110. Because the river system was tidal as far as Hackney Wick, several of the mills were tide mills, including those at Abbey Mills and those at Three Mills, one of which survives. Construction of the New River in the seventeenth century to supply drinking water to London, with subsequent extraction by waterworks companies, led to a lowering of water levels, and the river was gradually canalised to maintain navigation. Significant changes occurred with the creation of the Lee Navigation in 1767, which resulted in the construction of the Hackney Cut and the Limehouse Cut, allowing barges to bypass most of the back rivers. A major reconstruction of the rivers took place in the 1930s, authorised by the River Lee (Flood Relief) Act, but by the 1960s, commercial usage of the waterways had largely ceased. Deteriorating infrastructure led to the rivers dwindling to little more than tidal creeks and they were categorised in 1968 as having no economic or long term future.
However, British Waterways decided that their full restoration was an important aim in 2002, and the construction of the main stadium for the 2012 Summer Olympics on an island formed by the rivers has provided funding to construct a new lock and sluices which have stabilised water levels throughout the Olympic site. It was hoped that significant amounts of materials for the construction of the Olympic facilities would be delivered by barge, but this did not happen. Improvements to the channels which form a central feature of the Olympic Park have included the largest aquatic planting scheme ever carried out in Britain. (Full article...)
All selected articles
|
Selected biography
|
|
Frank Pick (23 November 1878 – 7 November 1941) was managing director of the Underground Group (UERL) from 1928 to 1933 and was chief executive officer and vice-chairman of the London Passenger Transport Board from its creation in 1933 until 1940. Pick began his career with the UERL in 1906 as assistant to the managing director Sir George Gibb, by 1908 he had become publicity officer and became commercial manager in 1912. Pick steered the development of the London Underground's corporate identity by commissioning eye-catching commercial art, graphic design and modern architecture, establishing a highly recognisable brand. Elements of the brand commissioned by Pick included the Underground roundel, the Johnston typeface and Charles Holden's iconic stations of the 1920s and 1930s.
Pick was described by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as "the greatest patron of the arts whom this century has so far produced in England, and indeed the ideal patron of our age." Pick's interest in design extended beyond his own organisation and he was a founding member and later served as President of the Design and Industries Association. He was also the first chairman of the Council for Art and Industry. He is commemorated with a memorial at Piccadilly Circus station, a blue plaque at his home in Highgate and with Frank Pick House, a London Underground engineering facility near Acton Town station. (Full article...)
All Selected biographies
|
Did you know...
|
- ...that the cause of the Moorgate tube crash in February 1975 was never satisfactorily determined?
- ...that an estimated half a million mice live on the Underground system, and can often be seen running around the tracks?
More Did you know...
|
Related portals
|
|
|
|
Selected pictures
|
-
Image 1London Underground Battery-electric locomotive L16 designed to operate over tracks where the traction current is turned off for maintenance work.
-
-
Image 3The newly constructed junction of the Westway ( A40) and the West Cross Route ( A3220) at White City, circa 1970. Continuation of the West Cross Route northwards under the roundabout was cancelled leaving two short unused stubs for the slip roads that would have been provided for traffic joining or leaving the northern section.
-
Image 4Vauxhall Bridge across the River Thames opened in 1906 and features sculptures by F. W. Pomeroy.
-
Image 5The multi-level junction between the M23 and M25 motorways near Merstham in Surrey. The M23 passes over the M25 with bridges carrying interchange slip roads for the two motorways in between.
-
Image 6A tram of the London United Tramways at Boston Road, Hanwell, circa 1910.
-
-
Image 8View of Old London Bridge, circa 1632 by Claude de Jongh.
-
Image 9Ruislip Lido Railway's 12-inch (300 mm) gauge locomotive "Mad Bess" hauling a passenger train.
-
Image 10Central London Railway poster, published in 1905.
-
Image 11Rail, road and river traffic, seen from the London Eye.
-
-
Image 13Tram 2548 calls at Arena tram stop. This is one of the trams on the Tramlink network centred on Croydon in south London.
-
-
Image 15Qantas Boeing 747-400 about to land at Heathrow Airport, seen beyond the roofs of Myrtle Avenue, Hounslow.
-
Image 16Helicopter landing at London Heliport, a jetty constructed in the River Thames in Battersea.
-
-
Image 18The New Routemaster built by Wrightbus has three entrances, two staircases and is designed to be reminiscent of the Routemaster.
-
Image 19Original stations on the Metropolitan Railway from The Illustrated London News, 27 December 1862.
-
Image 20Clapham Common Underground station north and south-bound platforms on the Northern line.
-
Image 21"Boris Bikes" from the Santander Cycles hire scheme waiting for use at a docking station in Victoria.
-
-
Image 23The western departures concourse of King's Cross railway station.
-
Image 24Planes waiting at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4.
-
Image 25The original Hampton Court Bridge in 1753, the first of four on the site.
-
-
Image 27TX4 London Taxi at Heathrow Airport.
-
-
Image 29Southern approach to the Rotherhithe Tunnel that runs under the River Thames in east London between Rotherhithe and Limehouse.
-
-
Image 31Arguably the best-preserved disused station building in London, this is the former Alexandra Palace station on the GNR Highgate branch (closed in 1954). It is now in use as a community centre (CUFOS).
-
Image 32The south façade of King's Cross railway station London terminus of the East Coast Main Line.
-
-
-
Image 35The Circle routes of Victorian London, comprising the Inner Circle, Middle Circle, Outer Circle and Super Outer Circle.
-
Image 36Archer statue by Eric Aumonier at East Finchley Underground station.
-
Image 37Early style tube roundel in mosaic at Maida Vale Underground station.
-
Image 38Hornsey Lane Bridge, Archway, more commonly known as "Suicide Bridge".
-
Image 39Escalators at Westminster Underground station descend between beams and columns of the station box to reach the deep-level Jubilee line platforms.
-
-
Image 41Hammersmith Bridge, opened in 1887, crosses the River Thames in west London.
-
Image 42Albert Bridge, opened in 1873, crosses the River Thames between Chelsea and Battersea.
-
Image 43Preserved AEC Routemaster coaches in London Transport Green Line livery.
-
Image 44Woolwich Ferry boats "John Burns" and "James Newman" on the River Thames, 2012.
-
Image 45London General Omnibus Company B-type bus B340 built in 1911 by AEC. One of a number of London buses purchased by the British military during World War I, this vehicle was operated on the Western Front.
-
Image 46London Underground A60 Stock (left) and 1938 Stock (right) trains showing the difference in the sizes of the two types of rolling stock operated on the system. A60 stock trains operated on the surface and sub-surface sections of the Metropolitan line from 1961 to 2012 and 1938 Stock operated on various deep level tube lines from 1938 to 1988.
-
Image 47Sailing ships at West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs in 1810. The docks opened in 1802 and closed in 1980 and have since been redeveloped as the Canary Wharf development.
-
Image 48Day (left) and Night (right) sculptures by Sir Jacob Epstein on the London Underground's headquarters at 55 Broadway.
-
Image 4955 Broadway, headquarters of the UERL and its successors, is a Grade I listed building in Westminster designed by Charles Holden.
All Selected pictures
|
Anniversaries
|
|
|
Maps
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
_Railway_Poster,_1905.png)
_2011_New_Bus_for_London,_Victoria,_route_38,_27_February_2012.jpg)
.jpg)
_engraving.jpg)
_building.JPG)
_(geograph_4758436).jpg)
.jpg)
,_Showbus_2012_rally.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
