London`s hidden
- or lost
- rivers are a source of fascination. This book concentrates on seven North London rivers
- the Fleet, the Walbrook, the Tyburn, the Westbourne, Counter`s Creek, Stamford Brook & the Black Ditch. The author, a professional water engineer, describes their sources & traces their individual histories, setting out their influence on the development of London & their use & abuse by society, eventually leading to their disappearance. The original watercourses of each of the seven rivers are shown on London street maps to a detail never previously attempted. Research to enable this included extensive on-site analysis of their river catchment topographies & desk-top studies of numerous old maps & literary references. Walking on Water ends on an optimistic note. Drawing on his professional experience, the author proposes a practical, affordable & exciting approach to recreating riverside parks & walks in the London boroughs through which the hidden rivers passed, which uses their source waters to refresh the lakes of the Royal Parks.