Lee Navigation
Lee Navigation at Bow Creek
Specifications
Length	27.5 miles (44.3 km)
Maximumboat length	88 ft 0 in (26.82 m)
Maximumboat beam	15 ft 9 in (4.80 m)
Locks	21
Status	Open
Navigation authority	Canal & River Trust
History
Principal engineer	Thomas Yeoman
Other engineer(s)	Edward Rubie
Date of act	29 June 1767
Date completed	1771
Geography
Start point	Hertford Castle Weir
End point	River Thames
Branch(es)	Stort Navigation Hertford Union Canal Bow Back Rivers Limehouse Cut

v t e Lee Navigation
Legend
Hertford Castle Weir Hertford Town Mill Bridge Folly Bridge Hertford Basin River Beane Hertford Lock No.1 River Rib New River Gauge House  A10  Ware Weir Ware Lock No.2 Ware Visitor Moorings  A1170  Ware Town Bridge Hardmead Lock No.3 River Ash Stanstead Lock No.4 (Swing Bridge over Lock)  B181   A414  Stort Navigation Feildes Weir Lock No.5 New River continues down Flood Relief Channel Dobbs Weir Flood Relief Channel sluice Dobbs Weir Lock No.6 Nazeing Mead (lake) River Lynch Boating Lakes Carthagena Lock No.7 52 New Nazeing Road Bridge Flood Relief Channel Broxbourne Mill Kings Weir 49 Slipe Lane Bridge Holyfield Lake Aqueduct Lock No.8 Small River Lea Cheshunt Lock No.9 Seventy Acres Lake (R) Waltham Common Lock No.10 Powdermill Cut Waltham Town Lock No.11 42  A121  Waltham Town Bridge Horsemill Stream sluice 40A  M25  Cobbins Brook Rammey Marsh Lock No.12 40 Rammey Marsh Bridge Cattlegate Flood Relief Channel Enfield Lock No.13 37A Enfield Road Bridge Turkey Brook + Pumping Stn King George's Reservoir King George's Reservoir Ponders End Mill Stream 35  A110  Lea Valley Road Bridge Ponder's End Locks No.14 William Girling Reservoir PS River Lee Diversion Pickett's Lock No.15 28  A406  Bleak Hall Bridge Banbury Reservoir Stonebridge Locks No.16 Lockwood Reservoir Maynard Reservoirs Tottenham Locks No.17 River Lee Flood Relief Channel 24  A503  Ferry Lane Bridge 23 Tottenham Railway Bridge 22 Markfield Railway Bridge 19A Ferry Railway Bridge 18  A104 Lea Bridge Road Pond Lane Flood Gates No.18 17  B112  Cow Bridge 14  A12  East Cross Route Bridge 12 Hackney Wick Railway Bridge 11 White Post Lane Bridge + Halfway Bridge Hertford Union Canal Bow Back Rivers Old Ford Locks No.19 London Stadium District line Bridge Bow Back Rivers A11 Bow Bridge Three Mills tide mill +Three Mills Lock Bow Locks Limehouse Cut +Bow Creek  A13  Barking Road Bridge Limehouse Basin Limehouse Lock + A1020  River Thames

TheLee Navigation is acanalised river incorporating theRiver Lea (also called the River Lee along the sections that are navigable). It flows fromHertford Castle Weir to theRiver Thames atBow Creek; its first lock isHertford Lock and its lastBow Locks.

The Lee Navigation is named by acts of Parliament and is so marked onOrdnance Survey maps. Constructed elements and human features are spelled Lee, such as the canal system andLee Valley Park. The un-canalized river is spelled Lea, along with other natural features such asLower Lea Valley.

The River Lea is a major tributary of theRiver Thames. It has a long association with navigation, as the marshes of Walthamstow have produced a dugout canoe from theBronze Age and parts of a Saxon barge. According to theAnglo-Saxon Chronicle, the river was used byViking raiders, andKing Alfred changed the level of the river to strandGuthrum and his fleet.^[1] In more peaceful times, it became important for the transport of grain fromHertfordshire, but navigation of its southernmost tidal reaches ofBow Creek were difficult due to its tortuous meanders.

River Lee Navigation Act 1425
Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	Chancellor may award commissions to reform the River Lee.
Citation	3 Hen. 6. c. 5
Dates
Royal assent	14 July 1425
Commencement	30 April 1425
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1948
Status: Repealed

River Lee Navigation Act 1430
Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	The chancellor of England may grant his commission to certain persons to scour, and amend the river Ley in the counties of Essex, Hertford, and Middlesex.
Citation	9 Hen. 6. c. 9
Dates
Royal assent	12 January 1431
Commencement	20 March 1431
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1948
Status: Repealed

There is documentary evidence that the river was altered by the Abbot of Waltham to improve navigation in 1190, and in 1221, a pipe was laid across the river, which had to be protected from "the oars or poles of the watermen."^[2] The firstact of Parliament for improvement of the river, theRiver Lee Navigation Act 1425} (3 Hen. 6. c. 5), was granted in 1425,^[3] this also being the first act granted for navigational improvement inEngland. A second act was passed in 1430,River Lee Navigation Act 1430 (9 Hen. 6. c. 9), and both authorised local landowners to act as commissioners, who could make improvements to the river including scouring or dredging, and could recoup the cost of the work by levying tolls.^[2]

River Lee Navigation Act 1571
Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	An Acte for the brynging of the Ryver of Lee to the Northside of the Citie of London.
Citation	13 Eliz. 1. c. 18
Dates
Royal assent	29 May 1571
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1948
Status: Repealed

By 1571, the river was an important route for the carriage of grain to London, and theCity of London obtained another act, theRiver Lee Navigation Act 1571 (13 Eliz. 1. c. 18) to authorise improvements. This included making new cuts, and creating towpaths on both sides of the river. Shoals were removed, and a cut, probably the section which is now called Bow River fromOld Ford Locks toBow Locks, was excavated, which was not subject to any tolls. The plan for a branch from the river to the north of London was not implemented.^[4] One innovation was the construction of apound lock atWaltham Abbey, Essex, in 1577. This had mitred gates at each end,^[5] and was probably the second lock to be built in England, although it was the first to be built on a river. It inspired Vallens to write a poem entitled "A tale of Two Swannes" about it in 1590. It was 70 by 24 feet (21.3 by 7.3 m), with wooden sides.^[6] The remainder of the control of levels was carried out by "staunches" or "turnpikes", consisting of a single vertically lifting gate in a weir, through which boats were pulled against the current.

TheNew River was an attempt to supply clean water from near Ware to the citizens of London, which was completed in 1633. However, the springs atGreat Amwell soon proved to be inadequate, and water was drawn from the Lea. The increased extraction of water had a detrimental effect on milling and navigation, and by the early 1700s it had become clear that major work would be needed to produce a solution.^[7]

River Lee Navigation Act 1738
Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Long title	An Act for ascertaining, preserving, and improving, the Navigation of the River Lee, from the Town of Hertford, to the Town of Ware, in the County of Hertford; and for preserving and improving the said River, from the said Town of Ware, to the new Cut, or River, made by the Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of London; and for enabling the Governor and Company of The New River the better to supply the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Liberties and Suburbs thereof, with good and wholesome Water.
Citation	12 Geo. 2. c. 32
Dates
Royal assent	13 June 1739

A petition was presented toParliament resulting in theRiver Lee Navigation Act 1738 (12 Geo. 2. c. 32).^[3] While recognising the right of theNew River Company to extract water, it also enshrined the rights of the millers and bargemen. To resolve a problem where the New River works had blocked the Manifold Ditch, and boats had been forced to use the mill stream to Ware Mill, the mill was bought by the company, and the associated lock became an official right of way. The previous administration by commissioners was replaced by a body of trustees, which it was hoped would be better able to manage the navigation. Although at least twoflash locks were built, including one to assist passage past the mill at Broxbourne, there was still friction between the bargemen and the millers, since the use of a flash lock tended to lower the water level above it, to the detriment of the mill. In 1765, the trustees therefore askedJohn Smeaton to assess the navigation and make recommendations for its improvement.^[8]

River Lee Navigation Act 1767
Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Long title	An Act for improving the Navigation of the River Lee, from the Town of Hertford, to the River Thames and for extending the said Navigation to the Flood Gates belonging to the Town Mill in the said Town of Hertford.
Citation	7 Geo. 3. c. 51
Dates
Royal assent	29 June 1767

Smeaton made a survey of the river and produced a report in 1766, in which he recorded that there were 18 staunches at the time, with a lock at Ware and tidal gates atBow. He recommended that the staunches should be replaced by pound locks, and that several new cuts should be made. These recommendations formed the basis for a parliamentarybill, which was opposed by the owners of theShoreditch toEnfield turnpike road, theWest Ham waterworks and theWaltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills, who were all concerned that their rights would be affected. However, the trustees were granted an act, theRiver Lee Navigation Act 1767 (7 Geo. 3. c. 51), on 29 June and appointedThomas Yeoman to oversee the work at their first meeting held two days later.^[9]

The act authorised the construction of several new stretches of canal, including theEdmonton Cut from Flanders Weir atChingford to the mill stream atWalthamstow, theHackney Cut fromLea Bridge toOld Ford, and theLimehouse Cut to bypass the tight bends ofBow Creek near theRiver Thames. Yeoman was also responsible for setting out towing paths, designing 35 roving bridges, and construction of lock gates. For the Limehouse Cut, Yeoman proposed a cut from Bow tidal gates to Dingley's Wharf atLimehouse, which would shorten the distance to London considerably, since it would avoid the long passage around theIsle of Dogs. Mr Dingley, owner of the wharf and a trustee, was awarded part of the contract, and the cut was expected to open on 2 July 1770, but some brickwork failed and had to be repaired. A bridge collapsed in December, but traffic soon developed, and the cut had to be widened to allow barges to pass one another along its entire length. The widening was completed on 1 September 1777.^[10]

River Lee Navigation Act 1779
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for preserving the Navigation of the River Lee, in the Counties of Hertford, Essex and Middlesex.
Citation	19 Geo. 3. c. 58
Dates
Royal assent	31 May 1779

The trustees decided to finance the work with a loan, and advertisements appeared in theLondon Gazette and other newspapers, indicating that they wished to raise £35,000. The response was huge, with £161,500 being offered, and subscribers were chosen by ballot. Yeoman was overworked, and Edward Rubie was appointed to assist him in February 1769. New cuts and pound locks were opened atWaltham Abbey,Edmonton andHackney in 1769. In total, 11 miles (18 km) of new cuts were constructed, with 12 new locks. Some on the locks, such asHomerton Lock andPickett's Lock, were built on new sections, while others, such asStanstead Lock, replaced an existing flash-lock. The works were completed to a tight schedule, and with most of it finished, Yeoman resigned in July 1771, although the reasons for his resignation were not recorded.^[11]

Lee Navigation Improvement Act 1805
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	45 Geo. 3. c. lxix

Lee Navigation Improvement Act 1850
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to alter and amend the Acts relating to the Navigation of the River Lee in the Counties of Hertford, Essex, and Middlesex; and to enable the Trustees further to improve the Navigation and to dispose of the surplus Water; and for other Purposes.
Citation	13 & 14 Vict. c. cix
Dates
Royal assent	14 August 1850
Text of statute as originally enacted

River Lee Water Act 1855
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for transferring Part of the Property and Powers of the Trustees of the River Lee; and for the Amendment of the Acts of the New River Company, the East London Waterworks Company, and the said Trustees; and for other Purposes.
Citation	18 & 19 Vict. c. cxcvi
Dates
Royal assent	14 August 1855
Text of statute as originally enacted

Lee Conservancy Act 1868
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	31 & 32 Vict. c. cliv

There were further improvements throughout the 19th century, including theLee Navigation Improvement Act 1850 (13 & 14 Vict. c. cix) to authorise new lock cuts atHoddesdon,Carthagena Lock (Broxbourne), Waltham Marsh,Tottenham,Walthamstow,Hackney,Leyton andBromley-by-Bow and new locks at Hunter's Gate (Bow Bridge) and Old Ford. TheRiver Lee Water Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. cxcvi) authorised a new lock at Amwell Marsh and the removal ofStanstead Lock.Edmonton Lock was to be removed andPickett's Lock rebuilt. In 1868 theLee Conservancy Act 1868 (31 & 32 Vict. c. cliv) formed the Lee Conservancy Board to take over control of the river from the former trustees. They established theLee Conservancy Police, who policed the Lee until merged with theBritish Transport Police in 1948.^[12]

The Lee Navigation bought theStort Navigation in 1911,^[5] and instituted further improvements, including reconstruction of the locks between Enfield and Hertford, the width being increased from 13 to 16 feet (4.0 to 4.9 m): by the 1930s, 130-ton barges could reachEnfield, and 100-ton barges toWare andHertford.^[5]

The navigation was nationalised in 1948, and control passed to theBritish Transport Commission. Where possible the locks fromBow Locks through toPonder's End Lock were duplicated and mechanised - the only exception beingPickett's Lock. In 1962, theBritish Transport Commission was wound up, and control passed to theBritish Waterways Board. Commercial traffic effectively ended in the 1980s.

During the 1950s horse-drawnlighters were still journeying as far asHertford. By 1980 commercial traffic extended no higher than theEnfield Rolling Mills atBrimsdown, with just one tug, theVassal, regularly at work on the river. Powered by a 120 hpGardner diesel engine, she would typically tow a train of two lighters loaded with timber fromBow to Hahn's Wharf atEdmonton. There are efforts currently underway to revive commercial traffic on the canal with a plan to transport rubbish for incineration at theEdmonton Incinerator.^[13]

Lee Conservancy Act 1874
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	37 & 38 Vict. c. xcvi

Lee Conservancy Act 1900
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	63 & 64 Vict. c. cxvii
Dates
Royal assent	30 July 1900
Text of statute as originally enacted

Lee Conservancy Act 1921
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	11 & 12 Geo. 5. c. lxxviii
Dates
Royal assent	17 August 1921

Lee Conservancy Catchment Board Act 1936
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	26 Geo. 5 & 1 Edw. 8. c. lxviii
Dates
Royal assent	14 July 1936
Text of statute as originally enacted

With the passing of theLand Drainage Act 1930 (20 & 21 Geo. 5. c. 44), the Lee Conservancy area was treated as a special case, with details laid out in section 80 of that act. The Lee Conservancy Catchment Board was created, which inherited some of the powers conferred by the Lee Conservancy Acts, dating from 1870 to 1921, and gave it additional powers in common with other catchment boards, the most important of which was that they could levy rates on county councils and county borough councils throughout their catchment area, to fund drainage works.^[14] The members of the catchment board consisted of all the members of the Lee Conservancy Board, together with six additional members.^[15] The board were given additional powers, enabling them to hold land without a licence inmortmain, as a result of theLee Conservancy Catchment Board Act 1936 (26 Geo. 5 & 1 Edw. 8. c. lxviii). Further change occurred on 1 January 1948, as a result of theTransport Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 49). Some of the functions of the conservancy board were taken over by theBritish Transport Commission, when most of the operational canals and waterways were nationalised, and the board was then disbanded. However, where the board had responsibilities for water supply, fisheries, the control of pollution and land drainage, these functions were transferred to the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board. This was authorised by the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board (Additional Functions) Regulations 1947 (SR&O 1947/2797).^[16]

TheRiver Boards Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 32) saw the formation ofriver boards to replacecatchment boards throughout England and Wales, but the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board, together with the Thames Conservancy Catchment Board, were excluded from this.^[17] River boards were replaced byriver authorities as a result of theWater Resources Act 1963 (c. 38), but again the Lee Conservancy was treated as a special case. It made provision that the responsibilities for water conservation outlined in that act could be given to the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board by the joint decision of theMinister of Housing and Local Government, theMinister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and theMinister of Transport. Those provisions, somewhat modified for the special circumstances of the catchment area, were conferred by the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board (New Functions of River Authorities) Order 1965 (SI 1965/701).^[16]

The transport functions of the waterway were transferred to the British Waterways Board, subsequently known asBritish Waterways, from 1 January 1963, as part of the breakup of the British Transport Commission authorised by theTransport Act 1962. These functions are now managed by theCanal and River Trust, a charitable organisation that took over the role of British Waterways from 2 July 2012. There have been three further changes in the environmental management of the waterway. TheWater Act 1973 (c. 37) abolished river authorities, and created tenregional water authorities. The Lee Conservancy was no longer a special case, and became part of the Thames Water Authority. This structure lasted until the passing of theWater Act 1989 (c. 15), which split the water authorities apart, privatising the water supply, sewerage and sewage disposal functions, and transferring the environmental management of river systems including the Lee to theNational Rivers Authority. The final change was a result of theEnvironment Act 1995 (c. 25), which abolished the National Rivers Authority and replaced it by theEnvironment Agency.^[15]

Much of the Lee Navigation is withinLee Valley Park, a multi-countyregional park andopen space preserve. Local jurisdictions also maintain parks on the canals in Lee Valley Park.

TheLea Valley Walk, a 50-mile (80 km)long-distancepublic walking path andbicycle trail from theheadwaters to the Thamesconfluence, follows the canaltowpaths in the Lee Navigation section.

• 
  Old Ford Lock, Lee Navigation
• 
  Hertford Basin, the first marina on the Navigation
• 
  Looking west from theNorth Circular Road at Edmonton
• 
  Carthagena Lock
• 
  Fish and Eelspub atDobbs Weir
• 
  WorkboatEnfield on the river at Tottenham
• 
  Lock-keeper's cottages atOld Ford Lock, used for filmingThe Big Breakfast
• 
  Ware Welcome Station

• Bow Back Rivers
• Canals of Great Britain
• History of the British canal system

Wikimedia Commons has media related toLee Navigation.

• River Lee Navigation
• Photographs of Edmonton timber wharves (1983)
• Photo of the last horse-drawn barge (1955)
• History of the locks on the Lee & Stort Navigation
• History of the Lee Navigation (1190–1790)
• Love the Lea project
• images & map of mile markers seen along the Lee & Stort Navigations

51°37′33″N0°01′57″W / 51.6258°N 0.0325°W /51.6258; -0.0325

• Lee Navigation
• Canals opened in 1777

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