Navigation Devices along the River Lea, 1600–1767

NOTES AND REFERENCES

• There is some debate about the proper spelling of the name of the river. I prefer Lea, and have used this spelling except when it is necessary to use Lee for legal reasons. Thus the river Lea, but the Lee Trustees, for that was the spelling adopted in Acts of Parliament in 1739 and 1767. It should be born in mind that during the period under discussion the river was as often known as Ware river as the river Lea.
   Google Scholar
• Commons Journals, vol. 31,pp.308–11.
   Google Scholar
• J. G. L. Bumby, M. Parker, The Navigation of the River Lee(1190–1790), Edmonton Hundred Historical Society, Occasional Papers N.S. no.36 (1978); Victoria County History, Hertfordshire, vol. 3,pp.380,383, 499, vol. 4,pp.I73–4.
   Google Scholar
• K. Fairclough, 'A successful Elizabethan project: the River Lea improvement scheme,' Journal of Transport History, 3rd ser., vol. 11 no.2 (September 1990), pp.54-65; K. Fairclough, 'The Waltham Pound Lock', History of Technology, vol. 4 (1979), pp.31–44. Please note that Waltham pound lock was built during the summer/autumn of 1576 not the spring/summer of 1577 as stated in the last article. Another addition, the gates of Waltham pound lock were opened by a mechanism known as a trundle, for one document notes that 4Ib of soap was purchased 'for the trundles Cogges & gates': P.R.O., SP 13/27 no.6
   Google Scholar
• Reports of the late John Smeaton ( 4 vol., London, 1812–14), vol. 2, pp.155–63. Maps accompanying Smeaton's survey show 21 flash locks. This discrepancy has not been accounted for: B.L., 1240(18); E.R.O., D/DU 567/2.
   Google Scholar
• K. Fairclough, 'The River Lea before 1767: an adequate flash lock navigation', Journal of Transport History, 3rd ser., vol. 10 no.2 (September 1989), pp.128–44.
   Google Scholar
• M. J. Lewis, W. N. Slatcher, P. N. Jarvis, 'Flashlocks on English Waterways', Industrial Archeology, vol. 6 (1969), pp.209-53; ibid, 'Flashlocks: an Addendum', Industrial Archeology, vol. 7 (1970), pp.190–94. See also R. H. Clark, 'The Staunches and Navigation of the Little Ouse River', Transactions of the Newcomen Society, vol. 30 (1955–57), pp.207–19.
   Google Scholar
• H.R.O., B.H.R., vol. 39 fos.61–62
   Google Scholar
• H.R.O., B.H.R., vol. 20 fos.394,395,396-8, vol. 39 fo.21. For a discussion of this municipal improvement scheme: Fairclough, 'The River Lea 1571–1767: a river navigation prior to canalisation' (unpublished PhD. thesis, University of London, 1986), pp.161–69.
   Google Scholar
• Geo II, c.14PR; 12 Geo 11, c.32; Fairclough, 'The River Lea 1571-1767', pp.291–307.
   Google Scholar
• Henry Mill was surveyor to the Company from 1720 to 1762. For brief detail of his career: Dictionary of National Biography; H. W. Dickinson, Water Supply of Greater London (London, 954), p.40.
   Google Scholar
• G.L.R.O., Acc 2558/NR13/10/2-3,5-10, Acc 2558/NRI3n, Folder 4, sheet 276; P.R.O., RAIL 845/1, Trustees, 3 October 1739. The damaged minute reads `useing the Materials now of. . . two foot long, that is, 14 foot longer. . . that a barge may pass with the rud . . . '.The dots mark where the rest of the line is missing
   Google Scholar
• K. Fairclough, 'Hackney Waterworks', East London Record, vol. 7 (1985), pp.7–21. In this article I mistakenly situate an earlier waterworks at Hackney (c.1707-c.1723) above Lea Bridge, it was in fact on the same site as the venture started in 1760.
   Google Scholar
• G.L.R.O., Acc 2558/NR13/188, Robert Mylne's Commonplace Book, part, questions put to Smeaton by Mylne when former was a parliamentary witness in favour of the canalisation scheme in 1767.
   Google Scholar
• H.R.O., B.H.R., vol. 20 fo.394, vol. 39 fo.21; PRO., C6 263/25. It can be noted that pound locks built on the Thames between Oxford and Burcot in the early 17th century were called turnpikes: T. S. Willan, River Navigation in England 1600–1750 (Manchester, 1964 ed.), pp.89-92; M. Prior, Fisher Row: Fishermen, Bargemen & Canal Boatmen in Oxford 1500–1900 (Clarendon Press,Oxford, 1982), p.122.
   Google Scholar
• PRO., RAIL 845/2, Trustees, 27 February 1758
   Google Scholar
• G.L.R.O., Acc 2558/NRI3/188, Robert Mylne's Commonplace Book, part, survey by Sir Christopher Wren. For a complete copy of this report and a discussion of it: Fairclough, 'A survey of the river Lea by Sir Christopher Wren', Journal of the Railway and Canal Historical Society, vol.31 (1993), pp.10–17, 107–11.
   Google Scholar
• P.R.O., PC 2/59, 11 September 1667, PC 2/60, 16 October 1667, 28 August 1669, PC 2/61, 22 September 1669; B.L., Extracts from the Books of the Mayor and Aldermen of Hertford. . . relating to the Navigation on the River Lea between Hertford and Ware (London, 1734), pp.21–22
   Google Scholar
• PRO., C10 368/3; N.R.O., Additional Wake Papers 1965/129 Book D; Smeaton, op cit, vol. 1,pp.282–83
   Google Scholar
• B.L., Add Mss 5506, fos.23–24
   Google Scholar
• For a discussion of these disputes over the toll: Fairclough, 'The River Lea 1571-1767',pp.201–10
   Google Scholar
• Geo III, c.51; Commons Journals, vol. 31, pp.308–11; Smeaton, op cit, vol. 1, pp.279–81.
   Google Scholar
• Bodleian Library, Gough, Hertford Papers, 1 (12).
   Google Scholar
• H.R.O., B.H.R., vol. 20 fos.396–98, vol. 48 fo.54; P.R.O., RAIL 845/1, Trustees, 2 January 1740
   Google Scholar
• Fairclough, 'The River Lea 1571-1767', pp.161–71, 180-86, 332–37.
   Google Scholar
• London Borough of Enfield Library Services, 'River Lee, Book of Sewers in the Years 1719 & 1720' (hereafter Enfield), Court of Sewers, 23 September 1719, 15 October 1719,6 November 1719,6 April 1720; H.R.O., B190; G.L.R.O., Acc 2558/MW/C/15/354; PRO., RAIL 845/53, Court of Sewers, 10 June 1741, 1 July 1741
   Google Scholar
• For fuller discussion of the events noted in this section: Fairclough, 'The River Lea 1571-1767', pp.332–33, 345–60.
   Google Scholar
• P.R.O., RAIL 845/1, Trustees, 6 June 1746,7 July 1746,4 August 1746,3 September 1746, 10 October 1746, 17 October 1748, 23 November 1748, RAIL 845/53, Court of Sewers, 6 June 1746, 7 July 1746
   Google Scholar
• H.R.O., B.H.R., vol. 39 fos.73–77, vol. 38 fos.510-11; P.R.O., RAIL 845/1, Trustees, 26 September 1750.
   Google Scholar
• B.L., Maps, K. TOP VI.6.11; E.R.O., D/DU 567/2; P.R.O., RAIL 845/3, Trustees, March 17 1767. For further details of this ferry and fishery: K. Fairclough, 'Mills and Ferries along the lower Lea', Essex Archeology and History, vol. 23 (1992), pp.57–66.
   Google Scholar
• For a discussion of early legislation pertaining to fishing weirs and navigation: G. Boyes, 'The Legislative History of River Navigation and Canals, 1275-1603', Journal of the Railway and Canal Historical Society, vol. 29 (1987–89), pp.65–78,136. For a discusssion of medieval fisheries: M. Aston, ed., Medieval Fish, Fisheries and Fishponds in England (2 vol., B.A.R. no.182, Oxford, 1982).
   Google Scholar
• E.R.O., DfDQT 125, D/DB T74, D/DHt T317/1; P.R.O., RAIL 845/3, Trustees, 1 April 1767
   Google Scholar
• Enfield, Court of Sewers, 15 October 1719; P.R.O., RAIL 845/53, Court of Sewers, 14 September 1743; Commons Journals, vol. 31,p.308; P.R.O., MR593
   Google Scholar
• P.R.O., RAIL 845/2, Trustees, 14 November 1749
   Google Scholar
• Evidence of definite existence at the turn of the century has been found for only three weirs. In 1616 a weir in the manor of Netherhall (later Archers Weir) was described as 'the newe Ware'; whilst in 1650 it was stated that the fishing and weirs (two) within the manor of Sewardstone had been let for the previous 50 years at £10 a year. In addition a note was made, probably in 1602, ordering a search of the manorial records for any mention of a weir called Dobbs Weir which does suggest that a weir had been erected or was under discussion at this date: E.R.O., D/DB T74, D/DAc 370; Hatfield House, General 65/4
   Google Scholar
• Commons Journals, vol. 19,pp.477-78, vol. 22,pp.825–26.
   Google Scholar
• E.R.O., D/DC 27/ 317A
   Google Scholar
• G.L.R.O., Acc 801/ 333–39
   Google Scholar
• P.R.O., C8 182/8; E.R.O., D/DHt T 317/1
   Google Scholar
• B.L., Ordnance Survey 25" to 1 mile (Microfiche), Hens, xxxvii.6, xxxvii.5, xxxvii.13, Middlesex, vii.16, xii.4, Essex, lxv.5
   Google Scholar
• C.L.R.O., Harte Mss, fos.153-63, verdict of a jury of Sewers, 10 December 1482
   Google Scholar
• For at 70 or 80 years before 1767 Ware Weir was always let to the miller at Ware even though it was about half a mile further downstream. In 1736 John Walton, a partner in Waltham Abbey powder mills, took out a lease on a local weir. In 1738 John Edridge of Sewardstone, miller and weir keeper, was in prison for debt. In 1751 Peter Donn, the miller at Enfield Mills, was tenant of four adjacent fisheries: H.R.O., 82951; 11 Geo II, c.14PR; Treasury Solicitor, Taunton, 1136/50; London Gazette no.7692; P.R.O., RAIL 845/2, Trustees, 5 August 1751
   Google Scholar
• H.R.O., B 1110
   Google Scholar
• Enfield, Court of Sewers, 23 September 1719; Commons Journals, vol. 31,p.308.
   Google Scholar
• G.L.R.O., Acc 1953, Deeds & Papers '42', Indenture 27 December 1708, Indenture 1 and 2 December 1713
   Google Scholar
• Portobello Turnpike, PRO., RAIL 845/1, Trustees, 2 January 1740; Stanstead Turnpike, ibid, 1 December 1742,25 February 1743; Carthagena Turnpike, ibid, 3 August 1741; Dobbs Weir Turnpike, PRO., RAIL 845/2, Trustees, 17 April 1758.
   Google Scholar