38-691: The Three Mills are former working mills and an island of the same name on the River Lea . It is one of London ’s oldest surviving industrial centres. The mills lie in the London Borough of Newham , but despite lying on the Newham side of the Lea , access is principally from the western, London Borough of Tower Hamlets , side of the river. The River Lea Tidal Mill Trust Ltd owns the House Mill and
76-765: A small woodland to the Cecil Saw Mill. A short stretch of road leads to a bridleway and then the river. The path crosses the river at Holwell Bridge the trail continues through woodland opposite Holwell Court and joins the Cole Green Way. The path has been diverted due to access issues and now follows roads past the New QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City to join the Cole Green Way the disused Welwyn to Hertford railway line at
114-526: A working head of 3.0-3.7m. This produced some 7-9 kW to turn each millstone. River Lea Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 223512974 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:58:07 GMT Lea Valley Walk The Lea Valley Walk
152-523: Is a 50-mile (80 km) long-distance path located between Leagrave , the source of the River Lea near Luton , and the Thames , at Limehouse Basin , Limehouse , east London. From its source much of the walk is rural. At Hertford the path follows the towpath of the River Lee Navigation , and it becomes increasingly urbanised as it approaches London . The walk was opened in 1993 and
190-581: Is crossed to the west bank by bridge. On the opposite bank there are a number of riverside houses. Over a small bridge under which flows the Broxbourne Mill Stream . Above Aqueduct Lock a channel from the river feeds into Kings Weir and a stretch of the Old River Lea can be found. On both sides of the river mature flooded gravel workings can be seen, a legacy of this areas large sand and gravel industry, some of which form part of
228-637: Is estimated for completion in 2024. In 1878 there were seven waterwheels at Three Mills. Most of them were around 20 ft in diameter and 3 ft in width, but one was 8 ft in width. There were four in the House Mill and three in the Clock Mill. They drove fourteen pairs of millstones and produced a total of 150 HP (112KW). The average output of the House Mill was about 2 tons of maize and 5 tons of barley per tide rising to 10 and 14 tons respectively on spring tides. The average weekly throughput of
266-545: Is waymarked throughout using a swan logo. Approximately 19.9 miles (32.0 km) The walk can be accessed close to Leagrave railway station at Leagrave Common where there are a number of springs and ponds from which the Lea forms. The first part of the walk is through the suburbs of Luton . After passing through Wardown Park the path joins the A6 road and goes through the town centre passing St Mary's Church as it heads close to
304-619: The Brimsdown Industrial Estate area. Before the paired lock gates at Ponder's End Lock come into view. The Ponders End Mill Stream leaves the Navigation to flow through the historic Wright's Flour Mill close by to Ponders End railway station . Above Ponders End lock opposite the towpath is the Navigation Inn , a former pumping station built in 1899. The inn offers moorings for passing boats and views of
342-814: The Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre . The towns of Waltham Cross and Waltham Abbey are close by. On the A121 road bridge stands the Old English Gentlemen public house ( closed May 2008 ). Close by are the Royal Gunpowder Mills which are open to the public. The path goes under the M25 motorway to Rammey Marsh Lock . The river splits on the far bank and a section of the Old River Lea flows through
380-677: The Edmonton Incinerator dominates the skyline, and on the horizon the towers of Canary Wharf and the Swiss Re can be clearly seen. Following the towpath under the North Circular Road past the site of the Cooks Ferry Inn public house (well known music venue-demolished late 20th century for road widening). Both sides of the river are industrialised. The river opens up with views of Banbury Reservoir to
418-730: The London Loop a Long-distance path can be joined. Crossing the bridge over the Swan and Pike pool a former barge turning basin . The grassed embankment of the King George V Reservoir is directly in front and is the first in the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain . Turkey Brook joins the Lee on the opposite bank. The far bank now comprises mainly industrial units. At Brimsdown Mossops Bridge connects to Mossops Creek and
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#1732780687481456-921: The London Overground Gospel Oak to Barking line and Lea Valley Lines railway bridges as the towpath skirts the West Warwick Reservoir further to the east are the East Warwick Reservoir and the Walthamstow Reservoirs . The Coppermill Stream joins the Lea close to the Lee Valley Marina.Passing by Springfield Park the path crosses the river at Horseshoe Bridge. Passing under the Lea Valley Lines rail bridge. Walthamstow Marshes and Leyton Marshes are passed as
494-625: The Three Mills Lock on the Prescott Channel and the Three Mills Wall River Weir , for the 2012 Summer Olympics construction work, has created a head of water behind the mill. This may mean that it can be operated again although it has partially removed the tidal benefits of the site. The Clock Mill is the temporary site of Harris Science Academy East London . In 2017, J&W Nicholson re-launched
532-688: The Turnford and Cheshunt Pits (SSSI). Continuing past Cheshunt Lock . Close to Cheshunt railway station is the Lee Valley Youth Hostel. A glimpse of the Small River Lea can be seen which flows nearby under Windmill Lane. Past Waltham Common Lock and then Waltham Town Lock which is adjacent to the Showground Site the chosen venue to host the 2012 Summer Olympics canoeing and kayak slalom events will be known as
570-409: The 17th to the late 19th centuries, until 1872 when it was purchased by gin distillers J&W Nicholson & Co of Clerkenwell . Initially producing Lamplighter Gin on site, the company eventually moved production of all of their brands to the site. Distilling ceased in 1941 during the rationing shortages of World War II . The Nicholson family, headed by Sir Richard Nicholson, sold the business to
608-646: The Distillers Company . Three Mills sustained severe air-raid damage during the Second World War . The Miller's House was destroyed in 1941 and rebuilt in 1995 with a modern interior and rear part, but retaining the original facade . Three Mills was used for bottling and warehousing by Bass Charrington and Hedges & Butler. The latter, one of the oldest wine merchants in Britain located their main working offices at Three Mills. Here, Bacardi
646-650: The East and Tottenham Marshes . Under a small footbridge known locally as Chalk Bridge. Walking towards Stonebridge Lock with Lockwood Reservoir to the east. Crossing the river here it is less than 1 mile to Tottenham Lock . Pymmes Brook joins the Lee here. To the East are the High Maynard and Low Maynard reservoirs. Passing under Ferry Lane A503 road bridge. Close by is the Ferry Boat Inn public house and Tottenham Hale station . The path passes under
684-747: The Lee Navigation joining the tidal section of the river known as the Bow Back Rivers through Bow Creek to its confluence with the Thames. The path now follows the Limehouse Cut and passing the disused Bromley and Britannia Stop Locks to Limehouse Basin where the walk ends. Close by is the Thames Path . The towpath section of the river is popular with cyclists, and much of it forms part of National Cycle Route 1 . Angling
722-630: The Miller's House buildings, which are used for educational projects and as conference spaces. The Lower Lea Project is also based at Three Mills in The Miller's House. It is thought that there were eight or possibly nine mills on the River Lea in Stratford at the time of the Domesday Book , though this number may refer to the number of pairs of millstones rather than buildings. These are
760-406: The earliest recorded examples of a tidal mill system. In the clock mill there were 16 workers. Stratford Langthorne Abbey , founded in 1135, acquired Three Mills some time in the 12th or 13th centuries, and the local area became known by the name. By the time Henry VIII dissolved the abbey in the 1530s, the mills were grinding flour for the bakers of Stratford-atte-Bow , who were celebrated for
798-544: The edge of the town. The route is shared with the Hertfordshire Chain Walk as it approaches the outskirts of Hertford . The path continues to Hertford town centre passing Hertford Town F.C and Hertford Castle before following Maidenhead Street and Bull Plain to rejoin the River Lea. At this point the Lea becomes the canalised River Lee Navigation . For the remainder of its length, the walk follows
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#1732780687481836-644: The far bank is Amwell Quarry , an SSSI . Stanstead Lock is next before continuing under the A414 road towards Rye House , in Hoddesdon . Attractions nearby include Rye House Stadium , the gatehouse of Rye House and RSPB Rye Meads nature reserve . Close to the confluence of the River Stort and Lea is Feildes Weir . Passing Feildes Weir Lock , the Rye House Power Station dominates
874-539: The former Royal Small Arms Factory now a housing development known as Enfield Island Village . The Victorian Terraced houses on the east bank are former Small Arms factory workers' houses known as Government Row. Above Enfield Lock a new bridge leads to the housing estate. Passing the Greyhound public house and the lock. Adjacent to the Rifles public house ( closed May 2008 ) is the Old River Lea and section 13 of
912-586: The gin brand which was launched in 1736 as Nicholson Gin. Three Mills Island is in Bromley-by-Bow in east London. It forms part of the 50-mile Lea Valley Walk . The Prescott Channel , a former flood relief channel passes to the east, making the land an island. The mills share Three Mills Island with the 3 Mills Studios , a 10-acre film and TV studio, which makes a large number of major films and television programmes and an open green and play area called Three Mills Green. The 26-acre area of land opposite
950-694: The grassed embankment of the King George V reservoir. Past the lock and under a road bridge the mill stream merges with the Lee on the far bank. To the east is the start of the William Girling Reservoir . The west bank opens up with views of the golf course– part of the Lee Valley Leisure Complex . At Pickett's Lock the Pymmes Brook Trail can be joined. From the lock the 100 metre chimney of
988-591: The lock the tail end of the weir pool joins the main river. The path carries on under the Broxbourne to the Nazeing road bridge, close to Broxbourne railway station . Approximately 13.1 miles (21.1 km) The Crown public house is located adjacent to towpath. Attractions in this area include a boat centre and Broxbourne Mill . Adjacent to the walk, the Lee Valley leisure pool closed in 2008. The river
1026-514: The mills, shown in historical surveys as the Three Mills District, once housed a large cooperage producing barrels to support the mills, as well as a wide range of industries, from the manufacture of innovative inks to sugar refining. Called Sugar House Island , the development is being delivered by Vastint and is expected bring 2,500 jobs to the area, with a new business district as well as waterside homes and amenities. Construction
1064-654: The navigation which is known as the Hackney Cut at this point, the path passes the site of the redundant Pond Lane Flood Gates . The walk crosses a small footbridge to the east bank adjacent to Hackney Marshes . Passing under A106 road Eastway and then the East Cross Route . The path passes nearby Hackney Wick Stadium . The walk passes under the North London Line (now London Overground ) railway and Rothbury Road. The Hertford Union Canal joins
1102-788: The path heads towards Lea Bridge Road . Approximately 4.9 miles (7.9 km) Amenities in Lea Bridge Road area include the Lee Valley Ice Centre , riding stables and two nature reserves; the Middlesex Filter Beds and the Waterworks Nature Reserve. The river splits at the Middlesex Filter Beds Weir where a section of the River Lea's natural channel flows in an easterly direction can be found. Still following
1140-512: The quality of their bread and who supplied the huge City of London market. In 1588, one of the mills was described as a "gunpowder mill". During the 16th century the three mills were reduced to two (which today are the House Mill and the Clock Mill). In the 17th century, the mills were used to grind grain, which was then used to distill alcohol; the mills became a major supplier to the alcohol trade and gin palaces of London. The House Mill
1178-690: The river on the west bank before crossing Victoria Park . Heading towards Old Ford Lock the path links to the Capital Ring walk and then passing under The Greenway and the Docklands Light Railway close to Pudding Mill Lane station. Crossing to the opposite bank at Bow Road and crossing the river at Three Mills Bridge close to Three Mills . The walk continues under the District line and Hammersmith and City line close to Bromley-by-Bow . The river forks at Bow Locks with
Three Mills - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-567: The runways of Luton Airport . The A505 road is crossed as the trail makes its way through open countryside towards Harpenden . The path descends into the Lea Valley , passing under the railway lines before crossing the B653 road. The route now follows the track of a disused railway, the former Luton, Dunstable and Welwyn Junction line . After Harpenden the path leaves the railway track and heads uphill into Wheathampstead , then it goes through
1254-521: The skyline. Crossing the river opposite the Fish and Eels public house which is above Dobbs Weir and then over the Hoddesdon to Nazeing road close to the Lee Valley Camping site (Permanently closed 2010) where a stretch of the Old River Lea can be seen. With the canal to the right the path passes Dobbs Weir Lock and then onto Carthagena Lock behind the lock is Carthagena Weir . Below
1292-574: The towpath all the way to the Thames. The first lock located at the edge of the town is Hertford Lock . The rivers Beane and Rib enter the Lea on the opposite bank. The walk passes through the town of Ware which is the start of Lee Valley Park . Passing Ware Lock , Victorian gazebos can be seen in some of the far bank riverside gardens. The path goes under the A1170 road opposite the Saracen's Head public house and then passing Hardmead Lock . On
1330-447: The two mills was 125 tons per week. Clock Mill was powered by three iron undershot water wheels, two of 6.1m diameter and one of 5.9m diameter. These wheels drove six pairs of millstones at 130 revolutions per minute. This mill operated until 1952. When the mills were both operating in 1938, the site employed one millwright and four carpenters. During the daily 7–8 hours of tidal power, the water wheels ran at 16 revolutions per minute with
1368-448: The village, past the church, and crosses over to the other bank of the river. The path now follows the river towards Water End Lane and the grounds of Brocket Hall where it crosses the middle of a golf course on its way towards Lemsford . The path goes under the A1 road to Stanborough Park . Approximately 16.1 miles (25.9 km) The original path runs alongside the A414 road in the grounds of Home Park Hatfield cutting through
1406-413: Was bottled and a large portfolio of wines and spirits was marketed. The House Mill remains the largest tidal mill in the world, although the water wheels are currently not in operation. The building is owned by The River Lea Tidal Mill Trust Ltd and is open to visitors on Sunday afternoons during the summer. It is one of only four Grade I listed buildings in the London Borough of Newham . The creation of
1444-426: Was built in 1776 (and after a fire destroyed it, quickly rebuilt) by Daniel Bisson. It is a grade I listed building . The Clock Mill was rebuilt by Philip Metcalfe between 1815 and 1817 incorporating the old clock, and an older bell. There was also a windmill which survived until about 1840. The House Mill continued to operate until 1940 and the Clock Mill until 1952. Ownership changed relatively frequently during
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