81-887: Walthamstow Wetlands is a 211-hectare (520-acre; 2.11 km) nature reserve in Walthamstow , east London , adjacent to the River Lea in the London Borough of Waltham Forest . It is focused on the Walthamstow Reservoirs , built by the East London Waterworks Company between 1853 and 1904 as part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain . The site is one of the largest urban wetland nature reserves in Europe and
162-456: A local board district in 1873, an urban district in 1894 and a municipal borough in 1929. Following reform of local government in London in 1965 , it merged with the municipal boroughs of Chingford and Leyton to form the new Waltham Forest local authority district, becoming part of Greater London . The borough council is based at Waltham Forest Town Hall on Forest Road. Walthamstow
243-648: A Davy compound engine (a new and powerful type of steam engine used widely for pumping at waterworks and mines during the late Victorian era) was installed at the Coppermill for use in the fast-expanding reservoirs system. In 1894, the Engine House was built and remained in service until the 1980s—known initially as Ferry Lane Pumping Station, and later, the Marine Engine House, it was designed by East London Water Company’s architect H. Tooley under
324-607: A day (14.996 m /s) no abstraction above Penton Hook was allowed. The maximum abstraction from the river in any one day was limited to 1,200 million gallons (63.140 m /s). The MWB gave a water supply to the Croydon Corporation , Richmond Corporation, Cheshunt Urban District Council, and the Hertfordshire and Essex Water Company. Upon the reorganization of local government in Greater London in 1965,
405-530: A fire in 2019 and fully restored) both of which have large multi-storey car parks. The historic central library on the High Street was one of many built with money donated by the Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie , whose portrait bust can be seen on the exterior of the building. The library was damaged by a fire in 1982 but modernised and expanded in 2006–07. At
486-667: A green wedge, a mile wide at its broadest at the Walthamstow Wetlands, which extends south to include the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park . South of Stratford the green wedge becomes little more than an accessible towpath along the Lea, which links a number of open spaces. The nature reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on account of the reservoirs' national and international importance to breeding, migratory and wintering waterbirds.It
567-462: A high rate of 22.3% from 2013 to 2014, compared to London's average of 17.8%. It has turned Walthamstow into a 'trendy' town similar to Shoreditch . The leafy Walthamstow Village in particular has become sought-after by buyers. On 29 May 2015, a regular local unicyclist was hit and dragged under by a double decker route 212 bus in Hoe Street. Locals numbering up to 100 people helped to pull
648-554: A municipal water supply; with a further eight bills promoted by the London County Council in 1895. During the course of a further series of commissions, set against the backdrop of continuing supply problems, the county councils of Middlesex, Essex, Kent and Surrey indicated they would not accept any scheme which allowed the London County Council authority over their areas in respect of water supply. It
729-551: A new board being nominated every three years thereafter. As local government changes took place, the nominating bodies changed. The board compulsorily acquired the eight major London water companies: Also acquired were the water undertakings of Tottenham and Enfield Urban District Councils, and the Staines Reservoirs Joint Committee . Starting in October 1903 a series of arbitration hearings
810-573: A niece of William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book records 36 villeins , 25 bordars and 4 slaves living in the manor in 1086. Alice, daughter of Earl Waltheof and Countess Judith, inherited Walthamstow. She married the Norman nobleman Ralph de Tosny or Toeni (also known as Raoul IV de Conches) in 1103. When her husband died, c. 1126 , Alice gave the church of Walthamstow to the Priors of
891-662: A team of 50 horses. The East London Waterworks Company was one of eight private water companies in London absorbed by the Metropolitan Water Board in 1904. In 1974, control was transferred to the Thames Water Authority , and then to Thames Water . In 1940, Walthamstow was hit by the first of many German bombs during the Blitz in World War II. Several of the reservoirs were damaged during
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#1732797448380972-400: Is a Sunday farmers' market . The street is lined with shops: a selection of high street chains, but also many independent small shops specialising in food, fabrics, and household goods, as well as cafés. There are two patches of more recent development: Sainsbury's supermarket and the covered shopping centre 17&Central (originally Selborne Walk, then The Mall Walthamstow, badly damaged by
1053-519: Is a mix of statutory (raised) reservoirs and non-statutory (in ground) reservoirs, owned and managed by Thames Water in order to supply drinking water to London . The complex comprises ten water bodies: There are two Victorian industrial structures on the site, including the Coppermill which gives its name to nearby Coppermill Lane, Coppermill Stream , and the Coppermills Water Treatment Works . Constructed in 1894,
1134-435: Is a quiet thoroughfare by the standards of London. The village has a small selection of specialist shops, pubs and restaurants, and house prices tend to be higher in the streets of this neighbourhood. It was voted best urban village in London by Time Out magazine in 2004. Upper Walthamstow is to the east of Walthamstow Village . The area's main thoroughfare is Wood Street, which has several shops and local businesses, and
1215-426: Is constructed throughout in brick and architecturally is in the simplified Italianate style much used for Victorian industrial buildings, with semi-circular heads to all of the principal door and window openings. Roofs are generally finished in plain clay tiles with extensive use of patent glazed roof-lights and ridge lights in the single storey sections. The roof of the Engine House is pitched at around 45 degrees, and
1296-631: Is current refurbishment of the town square and new homes adjacent to the 17&Central shopping centre which is being extended. The Walthamstow Beer Mile , also known as the Blackhorse Beer Mile , is an attraction consisting of a growing number of micro-breweries, and their associated tap-rooms, in and around Blackhorse Road and Blackhorse Lane. Walthamstow is served by trains on the London Underground , London Overground and National Rail networks. Walthamstow Central
1377-413: Is half-hipped at its northern and southern ends. Doors and window frames are in painted softwood. Despite the missing chimney, and some external alterations, the building is still an imposing piece of Victorian industrial architecture. The Engine House is now a visitor centre with a café, shop, and exhibition space. The Coppermill building is Grade II Listed and has undergone a number of alterations over
1458-544: Is now the western end of Queens Road. Both open spaces were lost in the 19th century, when the land was sold to property developers. Lloyd Park has been open to the public since 1900 and is located on Forest Road behind the William Morris Gallery . It has a formal garden with a pond, and the adjacent Aveling Field has facilities for bowling, tennis, basketball, an outdoor gym, a skate park and a children's play area. Walthamstow roughly approximates to seven of
1539-641: Is on the London Overground between Gospel Oak and Barking . Blackhorse Road is located to the west of Walthamstow; it is also served by Victoria line trains and London Overground trains between Gospel Oak and Barking . Other stations include St James Street and Wood Street , on the London Overground between Liverpool Street and Chingford. Lea Bridge is also nearby, served by Greater Anglia trains between Stratford and Bishop's Stortford , via Tottenham Hale and Harlow , with onward connections to Stansted Airport . All railway stations in
1620-476: Is part of a larger Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation . In 1852, the East London Waterworks Company was granted permission to develop the Walthamstow reservoirs on marshland adjoining the River Lea , with construction taking place between 1863 and 1904, growing in scale and height as the needs of London grew. By 1863, the first stage of the reservoirs development was completed with
1701-498: Is particularly important for wildlife due to its position within the Lee Valley . It serves as a byway for migrating, wintering and breeding birds. Visitors can freely access the site's natural, industrial and social heritage in one of the capital's most densely populated urban areas. The reservoirs, under the ownership of Thames Water , also form part of a larger Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation , noted for
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#17327974483801782-605: Is recorded c. 1075 as Wilcumestowe ("the Place of Welcome") and in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Wilcumestou . The Domesday Book describes Wilcumestou as a manor owned by the Anglo-Saxon nobleman Earl Waltheof of Huntingdon and Northumbria before the Norman conquest of 1066. After the execution of Earl Waltheof, the property of the land passed to his wife, Countess Judith, also known as Judith of Lens ,
1863-684: Is served by the London Overground at Wood Street station on the Liverpool Street to Chingford line. One of the Great Trees of London , the Wood Street Horse Chestnut , is located next to the former Jones's Butchers Shop, a grade II listed, late 18th century weatherboarded building. The tree is thought to be upwards of 175 years old. Wood Street is home to Wood Street Indoor Market. The market
1944-489: Is situated south of the North Circular Road . Walthamstow Central is the main transport hub. Walthamstow Village conservation area is a district to the east of what has become the commercial centre of Walthamstow. The area is roughly defined as being south of Church Hill, west of Shernhall Street, north of Grove Road, and east of Hoe Street. Orford Road is the main route through the district, though even this
2025-547: Is the area's busiest interchange. It is the northern terminus of the London Underground Victoria line , which provides the area with a direct connection to Tottenham , the West End and Brixton . The station is also served by London Overground services between London Liverpool Street and Chingford , via Hackney Downs . There is an out-of-station interchange with Walthamstow Queen's Road , which
2106-596: The Blitz , and the level of the Lockwood Reservoir was lowered in order to mitigate potential damage if its banks were breached by bombs. In 1951, the Ferry Boat Inn and Coppermill were designated Grade II Listed Buildings for their architectural features and unique place in local history. Historically the reservoirs were used purely as an operational site for London's water supply, but in recent decade
2187-591: The River Thames ; the River Lea ; from springs and wells in the Lea valley, Kent, and in the southern district; from the Hanworth gravel beds; and from Hampstead and Highgate ponds . The daily and total volume of water supplied by the MWB in 1912–13 and 1920–21 was as follows: Note: 1 million gallons is 4546.1 m . The Thames Conservancy placed limits on the abstraction of water. The average daily abstraction
2268-550: The Second World War and urban redevelopment projects in the 1960s and 1970s have left areas with more modern housing, mostly in the shape of low-rise concrete blocks. The northern continuation of Markhouse Road is St James's Street to which Blackhorse Road follows, served by underground and railway stations, which in turn becomes Blackhorse Lane. This is bound on its western side by industrial units and warehouses. The London Borough of Waltham Forest has proposed developing
2349-684: The Thames Conservancy and the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board all appointed one member each. While there were a number of local authorities wholly or partly within the board’s area which were not directly represented on the board, they were indirectly represented through either the Greater London Council or appropriate county council . The term of office of members of the board was three years. The chairman and vice-chairman were elected by
2430-681: The Victoria line of the London Underground . Walthamstow was a civil parish , originally part of the Becontree Hundred of Essex. As part of the suburban growth of London, the town expanded rapidly in the 19th century, becoming part of the urban area of the city. It has formed part of the Metropolitan Police District since 1840, and the London postal district since its inception in 1856. The parish became
2511-468: The electoral wards within the London Borough of Waltham Forest: Chapel End (northeastern part), Higham Hill (northwestern part), High Street (western), Hoe Street (inner-eastern and Walthamstow Village ), Markhouse (southwestern), William Morris (northern), and Wood Street (eastern and Upper Walthamstow ). The 2011 census counted a total population of 109,424 of all these wards combined. As of
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2592-404: The marshes . Shernhall Street is an ancient route, as is Wood Street, to the east. With the advent of the railways and the ensuing suburbanisation in the late 19th century, Walthamstow experienced a large growth in population and speculative building. The Lighthouse Methodist Church which dates from 1893 is situated on Markhouse Road, on the corner of Downsfield Road. There is a lantern at
2673-680: The 2011 census, White British is the largest ethnicity in all wards. Other White is the second largest in all wards except Markhouse. The other double-digit ethnicities are Pakistani and Black African. The minority ethnic proportion ranges from 48.5% in Chapel End to 58.2% in Markhouse. The male life expectancy ranged from 77.2 years in Hoe Street to 82.1 years in Chapel End; the female life expectancy ranged from 82.1 years in both Higham Hill and Hoe Street to 84.8 years in High Street. This data covers 2009–2013. The median house price as of 2014
2754-552: The British Copper Company in 1808. Smelted copper was brought to the mill from Landore , Swansea , Wales by barge via the Thames . The copper ingots were used to produce penny and halfpenny coins . Production of copper ceased in 1857, and in 1859 the mill was purchased by the East London Waterworks Company and modified to drive a water pump to assist in the building of the reservoirs. At present,
2835-471: The Coppermill serves as an operational hub for Thames Water . The Walthamstow Reservoirs support the most notable variety of breeding wetland birds among all of London's drinking water reservoirs. Supporting a significant wintering population of pochard , shoveler and gadwall , Walthamstow Wetlands is regionally important to breeding populations of grey heron , tufted duck , little egret , cormorant and other waterfowl . Because of its location in
2916-829: The Holy Trinity based in Aldgate, London. King John stayed in Walthamstow for two nights in February 1208. In the 1660s Sir William Batten , Surveyor of the Navy, and his wife Elizabeth Woodcocke had a house in Wood Street where, according to Samuel Pepys , Batten lived "like a prince" and cultivated a vineyard . The Vestry House, now the Vestry House Museum , was used as the first town hall . The influential textile designer and craftsman William Morris
2997-697: The Lee Valley, Walthamstow Wetlands attracts a range of wading birds that stop off during their often long-distance journeys. The wooded islands on No. 1 reservoir are the location of the famous heronry , at which the numbers of breeding pairs reach a level placing it in the country's top five sites. Formerly also a heronry, the two islands in No. 5 reservoir are now home to large numbers of cormorants . Great crested grebe , pochard , tufted duck , coot , yellow wagtail , sedge warbler and reed warbler are all regular breeding visitors, whilst other regular visitors to
3078-459: The London area was regulated by local acts and royal charters on a piecemeal basis from 1543. Through amalgamation, by 1830 there were six companies supplying water north of the Thames: and four to the south of the river Following complaints, a royal commission was set up in 1827 to investigate the quality of supply. The commission found that the water was of poor quality and cleanliness, and
3159-546: The Lower Lee Valley , suggesting that the mill may have been used as such during this time. Accounts from 1703, 1710, 1712 and 1718 record the mill being used as a leather mill, with Pierre Montier, a skin-dresser, first referred to as 'the Miller' in 1703 to be followed in turn by Peter Lefevre in 1711 and Daniel Lefevre in 1713. The mill was described as an 'oyl mill' until 1806 when it was rebuilt and purchased by
3240-527: The Marine Engine House, previously named the Ferry Lane Pumping Station, was built during the development of the reservoir complex. The structure is relatively complex in form, but consists primarily of a two-storey building with a single storey building attached to its northern side. To the west of this is a further single storey building which includes, on its western side, the base of a now-demolished chimney stack. The Marine Engine House
3321-495: The UK National Air Quality Objective, with one diffusion tube on Selborne Road recording an annual average NO 2 concentration of 61.0μg/m3. Metropolitan Water Board The Metropolitan Water Board was a municipal body formed in 1903 to manage the water supply in London , UK. The members of the board were nominated by the local authorities within its area of supply. In 1904 it took over
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3402-643: The air from Walthamstow Marshes. It was the first all-British aircraft and was given the ominous nickname of the "Yellow Terror" but officially carried the name Avro1. Roe later founded the Avro aircraft company, which later built the acclaimed Avro Lancaster . Walthamstow Borough Corporation had been authorised in 1904 to supply electricity to the Borough. The power station in Exeter Street had three brick chimneys and an array of wooden cooling towers. In 1923
3483-467: The area are in London fare zone 3 , except for Wood Street which is in zone 4 . London Buses routes 20 , 34 , 55 , 58 , 69 , 97 , 123 , 158 , 212 , 215 , 230 , 257 , 275 , 357 , 675 , SL1 , SL2 , W11 , W12 , W15 , W16 , W19 and night routes N26 , N38 and N73 serve the area. Walthamstow bus station is next to Walthamstow Central station, along Selborne Road. Several arterial routes pass through Walthamstow which link
3564-476: The area around Blackhorse Road railway station to become a gateway to the town. Although bounded by the marshes to the west and parts of Epping Forest to the east, there is little open space in the actual town. There used to be two commons in the town, Church Common, adjacent to St. Mary's Church in Walthamstow Village and Markhouse Common, located off Markhouse Lane (now Markhouse Road) and what
3645-591: The board on an annual basis. The various public water boards and local authority water undertakings in England and Wales were reorganised by the Water Act 1973 . Ten large water authorities were established based on river basins and catchment areas. Accordingly, in 1974, the assets of the Metropolitan Water Board passed to the Thames Water Authority governed by a 60-person board, and covering
3726-618: The board’s constitution was amended by the London Government Order 1965 (SI 1965/654) and from 1 November 1965 until its abolition on 1 April 1974, the board had 39 members, appointed by the constituent authorities: The Greater London Council appointed six members, while the Common Council of the City of London , 26 of the London borough councils , the county councils of Essex , Kent , Surrey and Hertfordshire ,
3807-406: The bus off the unicyclist. The MP for Walthamstow, Stella Creasy , later said she was "proud" of the community for saving the unicyclist's life. Walthamstow elects councillors to Waltham Forest London Borough Council . It is within the Walthamstow parliamentary constituency . Walthamstow is bordered to the north by Chingford and to the south by Leyton and Leytonstone . Woodford lies to
3888-530: The centuries, including the addition of an Italianate tower in 1864. The mill at Walthamstow has been mentioned several times throughout historical records. It was noted that in the 14th century, the mill was powered by the Coppermill Stream that diverted from the River Lea for use in grinding corn. In 1611, four mills are mentioned in association with the Manor of Walthamstow. From 1659 until 1703,
3969-537: The construction of Reservoir Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Collectively they occupied just under 18 hectares of land and were all laboriously hand-dug by teams of 'navvies'. In 1866, a drought in London and serious problems with water quality resulting in a cholera epidemic drove the second phase of construction—Reservoir Nos. 4 and 5 were now added. With London's fast-growing populating, the High and Low Maynard Reservoirs were completed in 1870 for additional water storage whilst in 1887,
4050-418: The county of Essex, such as Ilford and Romford were placed into London Boroughs along with Walthamstow. None of the postal district names or codes was changed at this time (e.g. Ilford remained Ilford, Essex IG1-IG6 and Walthamstow remained London E17 ). Since the 2012 Summer Olympics , the town has become increasingly popular mostly as a result of gentrification . Local property prices increased at
4131-719: The district to other areas in London and the East of England . To the north, the A406 (North Circular) runs east–west around Walthamstow. The road links the district to Ilford , the M11 (for Stansted Airport ) and London City Airport to the east. To the west, the North Circular passes through Edmonton , Finchley and Brent Cross en route to Chiswick . The route meets the M1 and M4 motorways (for Luton and Heathrow airports). To
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#17327974483804212-539: The east with a boundary running through Epping Forest , Hackney lies to the south-west beyond the Walthamstow Marshes and the Lea, while Tottenham is situated westward on the far side of the River Lea and the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain . The A112 (Leyton High Road, Hoe Street, Chingford Road, Chingford Mount Rd) passes south–north through Walthamstow and its neighbouring towns forming part of an ancient route from London to Waltham Abbey . Walthamstow
4293-456: The first British motorcar in a workshop in his garden, at Connaught Road. The vehicle is on display at the Vestry House Museum in Walthamstow. The LGOC X-type and B-type buses were built at Blackhorse Lane from October 1908 onwards. The B-type is considered one of the first mass-production buses. The manufacturing operation later became AEC , famous as the manufacturer of many of London's buses. On 13 June 1909, A. V. Roe's aircraft took to
4374-525: The first time. A further Royal commission reported in 1869 and recommended that the supply should be taken into public management. The Metropolis Water Act 1871 introduced further regulation, but fell short of taking the supply into public control. In the meantime the corporations of major provincial towns such as Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds began operating their own municipal supplies. The Metropolitan Board of Works promoted several unsuccessful bills between 1878 and 1886 which would have allowed them to offer
4455-411: The late 19th century Walthamstow was largely rural, with a small village centre (now Walthamstow Village ) and a number of large estates. The main route through the district was Hoe Street. There were various smaller lanes crossing the town. The road now known as Forest Road was originally called Clay Street. Further south, the High Street was named Marsh Street, and led from the original settlement out to
4536-546: The mill was known to have been used as a paper mill with the adjacent stream being referred to as the Paper-mill River. However, in 1699 the adjacent marshes are noted to have been referred to as Powder Mill Marsh which questions the use of the mill and suggests that it may have been used in the production of gunpowder for the English Civil War between 1642 and 1651. A number of gunpowder mills operated in
4617-406: The mixture of aquatic and terrestrial habitats on site, and for their London-wide importance (especially for birds). The Wetlands, and the rest of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain , are part of the Lee Valley Park , an area stretching from Ware in Hertfordshire (9 miles north of London) to the confluence of the Lea and Thames at Blackwall . The part of the Lee Valley Park within London forms
4698-456: The north of Walthamstow, at the Crooked Billet Roundabout (North Circular), there is an automatic monitoring site which recorded an average NO 2 concentration of 61.1μg/m3 ( micrograms per cubic metre ) in 2017. This fails to meet the UK National Air Quality Objective set by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at 40μg/m3. Alternative roadside monitoring sites along Hoe Street and Selborne Road also failed to meet
4779-401: The north, Snaresbrook and South Woodford to the east, Leyton and Leytonstone to the south, and Tottenham to the west. At the 2011 census, Walthamstow had a population of approximately 109,424 and is around 7.5 miles (12 km) north-east of Central London . Occupying most of the town's east-to-west High Street, Walthamstow Market is the longest outdoor market in Europe. East of
4860-457: The reservoirs are variously stocked with fish, providing both coarse fishing and fly fishing . Carp over 40 pounds have been recorded, and rainbow trout up to 5 pounds. An inexpensive day permit is required to fish at the site. Walthamstow Walthamstow ( / ˈ w ɔː l θ əm s t oʊ / or / ˈ w ɒ l θ əm s t oʊ / ) is a town within the London Borough of Waltham Forest in east London . The town borders Chingford to
4941-443: The reservoirs include green sandpiper , common sandpiper , dunlin , redshank and lapwing , while less common species include ringed plover , little ringed plover , curlew , ruff , common snipe , Eurasian oystercatcher , wood sandpiper , whimbrel , European golden plover and little stint . Zebra mussels , native to southern Russia and Ukraine, have become naturalised in the reservoirs and present an ongoing challenge to
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#17327974483805022-423: The revenue to the Borough from sales of electricity was £109,909. Upon nationalisation of the electricity industry in 1948 ownership of the station passed to the British Electricity Authority and later to the Central Electricity Generating Board . The CEGB closed the station in 1967 when the thermal efficiency was 9.30 per cent. It was subsequently demolished. From 1894 the Municipal Borough of Walthamstow
5103-442: The same time, a large plot at the corner of High Street and Hoe Street was set for substantial redevelopment as a retail space. This site was previously the location of the town's central post office and a shopping arcade built in the 1960s. Plans for the redevelopment of this site initially fell through in 2005, but work on a new cinema, flats and restaurants started in April 2013 and was completed in December 2014. As of 2024, there
5184-623: The site has been recognised for its ecological, landscape and amenity value. A £10.6m scheme to renovate the site was carried out by the London Wildlife Trust , in partnership with Thames Water and Waltham Forest Council , and in October 2017 the site was opened to the public for the first time in 150 years as the Walthamstow Wetlands. The Greater London Authority also funded the Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway , improving 3 km (1.9 mi) of cycle links between Woodberry Wetlands in Manor House and Walthamstow Wetlands to encourage visitors to visit both sites. The Walthamstow Reservoirs complex
5265-415: The southeast of nearby Leytonstone , the A12 ( Eastern Avenue ) carries traffic northeast towards the M25 , Romford , and destinations in Essex and Suffolk . Southwest, the A12 passes around Stratford and Hackney Wick before terminating in Poplar . Other routes include: The London Borough of Waltham Forest monitors kerbside and roadside Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) levels in Walthamstow. To
5346-458: The top of the tower, which also contains a spiral staircase. The church was erected because of the generosity of Captain David King of the shipbuilding firm of Bullard King & Co which also ran the Natal Direct Shipping Line, which ran ships direct from London to Durban without stopping at the Cape . In 1885, John Kemp Starley , originally from Church Hill in Walthamstow, designed the first modern bicycle, and in 1892, Frederick Bremer built
5427-510: The town centre is Walthamstow Village , the oldest part of Walthamstow, and the location of St Mary's Church , the town's parish church. To the north of the town is the former Walthamstow Stadium , which was considered an East End landmark. The William Morris Gallery in Forest Road, a museum that was once the family home of William Morris , is a Grade II* listed building. The town is served by five railway stations, including Walthamstow Central and Blackhorse Road —interchange stations on
5508-426: The watchful eye of Chief Engineer W. B. Bryan. Underneath the building was a network of underground reservoirs, chambers and pipes that linked the reservoirs and reached as far as Stoke Newington . In 1895, the East and West Warwick Reservoirs were completed and named after the Countess of Warwick, heiress of the local Maynard family, who sold the land to East London Waterworks Company. In 1897, Lockwood Reservoir
5589-508: The water companies, as over time, their colonies can build up and cause blockages to the pipes leading from the reservoirs. Nearly 300 species of plant have been recorded in the wooded areas, grass banks, fen and open water habitats of the reservoirs. The ten reservoirs, grounds and the Coppermill Stream form an extensive enclave of natural habitats, albeit within a man made and securely fenced infrastructure. They are visited by birdwatchers and naturalists but especially by anglers . All
5670-456: The water supply functions from the eight private water companies which had previously supplied water to residents of London. The board oversaw a significant expansion of London's water supply infrastructure, building several new reservoirs and water treatment works. The Metropolitan Water Board was abolished in 1974 when control was transferred to the Thames Water Authority , which was subsequently re-privatised as Thames Water . Water supply in
5751-438: Was an urban district and from 1929 a municipal borough in Essex . In 1931 the population of the borough, covering an area of 4,342 acres (1,757 hectares), peaked at 132,972. In 1965 the borough was abolished and its former area merged with that of the Municipal Borough of Chingford and the Municipal Borough of Leyton to form the London Borough of Waltham Forest in Greater London . Other places in east London formerly of
5832-529: Was born in Walthamstow in 1834. The Georgian mansion where he lived as a teenager houses the William Morris Gallery . By 1870 Walthamstow had grown to the size of a small suburb and a new town hall was built in Orford Road from which affairs of the village were run. A new town hall designed by architect Philip Dalton Hepworth in the Nordic Classical style was built between 1938 and 1942. Until
5913-476: Was built in the early 20th century. From Coppermill Lane in the west (next to the marshes), to Wood Street in the east, there are thousands of terraced streets dating to the Edwardian era and the 1920s. The area along Markhouse Road and St James Street has many examples of Warner properties. These were developed as affordable housing for the working classes in the early part of the 20th century. Bombing raids in
5994-486: Was convened to determine the amount of compensation payable to the water companies. The eventual amount paid to the shareholders of the water companies was £46,939,258 (equivalent to £6.39 billion in 2023) in "water stock", which paid a 3% annual dividend for 80 years. The Metropolitan Water Board officially took over from the private water companies on 24 June 1904, except for the New River Company which
6075-411: Was highest in Wood Street ward (£387,500) and lowest in Markhouse ward (£324,000). The High Street is dominated by Walthamstow Market , which began in 1885, and occupies all but the last 100 yards of the street. It is reputed to be a mile long , but in fact measures approximately ⅔ of a mile. It is the longest street market in Europe. The market is open five days a week (not Sunday or Monday), and there
6156-490: Was in need of improvement. A select committee endorsed this view in 1828 and recommended that a scheme should be devised by Thomas Telford , to supply the whole metropolis with clean water. Telford reported in 1834, and despite several outbreaks of cholera , little action was taken until the Metropolis Water Act 1852 introduced regulation of the supply companies; including minimum standards of water quality for
6237-535: Was limited to 300 million gallons per day (15.785 m /s). When the flow of the Thames over Teddington Weir was less than 170 million gallons a day (8.945 m /s) no abstraction was authorised except with the permission of the Local Government Board . If the flow was less than 140 million gallons (7.366 m /s) no abstraction was allowed. If the flow over Penton Hook weir was less than 285 million gallons
6318-494: Was the last reservoir to be created and also the largest—covering 30 hectares and excavated to a depth of around 8 metres. Named after one of the East London Water Company’s directors, it was a major engineering feat for its day—requiring a huge labour force of 1,250 men. Unlike the first reservoirs, which were dug mainly by hand, Lockwood was constructed with plenty of steam-powered pumps, engines and cranes—as well as
6399-558: Was the site of a cinema from 1912 to 1955, operated by the Penny Picture Theatre Co. It re-opened under new independent management in 1953 as the Rio Cinema, but this was short lived and it closed in 1955. Now the market is filled with quirky market traders, and was documented in a short documentary made by Mark Windows. Walthamstow has a wide variety of housing stock, but the vast majority of residential property
6480-543: Was therefore decided that the Metropolitan Water Bill would create an entirely new body to supply water to the greater London area. The board was created by the provisions of the Metropolis Water Act 1902 . The board, which first met on 2 April 1903, had 67 members; 65 of these were nominated by local authorities, who appointed a paid chairman and vice-chairman. The nominating bodies were: The first Metropolitan Water Board retired on 1 June 1907, with
6561-1108: Was transferred on 25 July. At 559 square miles (1,450 km ), the board's area, or "limits of supply", was considerably larger than the 116-square-mile (300 km ) administrative County of London. The limits were to be the same as the area supplied by the various undertakings acquired with the addition of the parishes of Sunbury , Middlesex and Chessington , Surrey . It comprised the entire county of London and much of Middlesex, with outer boundaries at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire , Loughton and East Ham in Essex , Dartford and Foots Cray in Kent, and Malden , Surbiton , Esher and Kingston upon Thames in Surrey . The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica described "Water London" as "an irregular area extending from Ware in Hertfordshire to Sevenoaks in Kent, and westward as far as Ealing and Sunbury." The Metropolitan Water Board abstracted water from
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