It is hard to believe that Haringey was once covered by The Forest of Middlesex, which stretched from Brent to Waltham Forest.
Against the current: work on a diversion of the Moselle Brook, which was referred to as Haringey's river', near Lordship Lane, Wood Green, in 1906
Back in the 13th Century, the clearing of the forest exposed many of the borough's streams, which flowed down from the heights of Highgate and Muswell Hill, through what is now the borough of Haringey, and on towards the River Lea.
Today most of the streams are hidden from view and only brought to our attention by flooding and dampness. A new book launched last week by the Hornsey Historical Society explores the original routes of many of these hidden streams.
The book, by Albert Pinching and David Dell, is based on walks along routes devised by the late David Harrison.
It contains information from local historians, maps dating back to 1619, illustrations of watercolour paintings depicting views from the past, and present-day photographs that detail where these streams once flowed.
By the mid-19th Century, increasing urban development meant that streams began to disappear underground into culverts.
One such water feature that now lies hidden underground is the source of the Muswell Stream the Mus Well', which gave rise to the area of Muswell Hill.
The well, now capped and located beneath 40 Muswell Road, was proclaimed as having special curative powers by a papal edict in the 12th Century, following an alleged cure of a Scottish king, Malcolm the Maiden.
Two of Haringey's watercourses, Bounds Green Brook and Muswell Stream, are tributaries of the larger Pymmes Brook, which is a major tributary to the River Lea.
Probably the best known of Haringey's natural streams, Moselle Brook, which has been referred to as Hornsey's river', once flowed the distance of 10km across the centre of the borough. The channels created by the Moselle can be seen in Queen's Wood.
The book also contains memories of the late local historian Fred Fisk, who recalled paddling in the Moselle as a boy, hunting for water-rats.
Despite the book's descriptive accounts, reading its pages brings with it a tinge of sadness. Many of these once pretty freshwater streams are now little more than common sewers'.
The authors hope that the book will raise awareness of Haringey's watercourses and contribute to their appreciation and preservation.
u Haringey's Hidden Streams Revealed can be purchased from the Hornsey Historical Society at The Old Schoolhouse, in Tottenham Lane, Hornsey.
Flooding_worries_are_dispelled/
According to the Environment Agency, Enfield is particularly vulnerable to flooding from its four watercourses - the River Lea, Salmons Brook, Turkey Brook and Pymmes Brook - which all react rapidly to heavy rainfall.
Dairy fined over leak
MD Foods dairy in Edmonton has been fined £5,000 for polluting Pymmes Brook with milk effluent.
The discharge from the dairy on the Oakthorpe Estate turned the water white and could be seen a mile upstream.
At Enfield Magistrates Court on March 11 the company admitted causing pollution under the Water Resources Act 1991.
The court heard how milk effluent leaking from the firm's pipes discharged into the brook after a pump failed.
The company was also ordered to pay £1,000 in court costs.
Toxic_lake_exceeds_limit/
Wildlife_lovers_call_for_action_over_lake_of_death/
Too_little_too_late_for_park_s_wildlife_/
The source of the pollution is thought to be a pipe owned by Thames Water which usually discharges storm water into the lake.
The_real_rat_run/
Householders in Ecclesbourne Gardens, whose homes back on to Pymmes Brook, claim that rats are coming up from the stream and invading gardens and homes.
Police_seek_owner_of_jewellery_haul/
Officers are now appealing for help in finding the owner of the items, which were discovered in Pymmes Brook by a resident.
The pieces include a number of necklaces, including a thick gold neck chain and a silver necklace with a large octagonal pendant studded with a green stone.
Seventy years ago the most devastating plane crash in the country at the time struck in Edmonton. The incident, on September 4, 1938, left 12 people dead and 15 others injured. Then 14, Joyce escaped because she was visiting her grandmother. An RAF Audax two-seater plane, manned by a lone 19-year-old trainee pilot, crashed and burst into flames over their house, taking off the roof.
The pilot, SR Morris, was aiming for Pymmes Park, but found he was struggling to keep the plane above the roofs of nearby houses. He was unable to reach the park in time and crashed into houses in Dunholme Road, Edmonton, taking the roof off the house at number 28, where the Saunders family were having Sunday lunch.
As fire raged and the plane lay in tatters across the road, people rushed to try to save those who had been hurt. Brothers Edward, 20, and James Letch, 22, were both awarded the OBE posthumously after trying to unstrap the pilot from his cockpit. The fuel tank exploded and all three died from their injuries.
Members of the Callaghan family in number 30 also died. And seven-year-old Jimmy Tant, who was playing outside in adjoining Dunholme Lane, was reportedly sitting on a gate frozen in shock and was decapitated by part of the plane. His three-year-old sister Jean escaped.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment