Place    To 1765

River Fleet

Categories: Gardens / Agriculture

Dead End Street has a useful map showing the route of the old Fleet River and its tributaries, long ago buried in storm drains / large sewer pipes. The river used to flood, even into the 1930s.

It is said that you can still hear it gurgling past through a grating in Farringdon Road near the Guardian's old offices. And Diamond Geezer has tracked the entire course. In periods of heavy rain the river gives out into the Thames at Blackfriars Bridge. This image shows that site, from the Thames, c.1750.

2016: You want to see the River Fleet? Londonist have the post for you.

2019: The Islington Tribune reported that the River Fleet flows beneath the basement of an extension at the Sekforde pub and it is now being used to generate heating and also to cool the beer. Would we all had a river in the basement!

2025: There is a series of Camden plaques for the river, of which we have found 3 so far.  Are there more?  This series was inspired by the Effra plaques which were also designed by Atelier Works.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
River Fleet

Commemorated ati

Fleet River floods - Goldington Crescent

{Around the outer ring:} The hidden River Fleet flows nearby. Goldington Cre...

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Fleet River floods - Purchese Street

{Around the edge:} The hidden River Fleet flows nearby. {In the centre:} Eas...

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Fleet River tributary - Mount Pleasant

The plaque's prominent reference to Queen Square is confusing. The map at Dea...

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Somers Town Mural

This mural was commissioned by the GLC in 1980 and moved to this site by St P...

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Tipperary pub

Maps showing the route of the River Fleet do not show it passing through this...

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Other Subjects

Justus von Liebig

Justus von Liebig

Born Germany.  Considered the founder of organic chemistry and "father of the fertilizer industry".  He also was behind the company that trademarked the Oxo cube and made the invention of Marmite p...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Science, Germany

1 memorial
Norland Square Garden Committee

Norland Square Garden Committee

The managing committee of Norland Square Garden in London, W11.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Lancelot 'Capability' Brown

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown

Landscapte architect. Baptised in Northumberland. The 'Capability' came from his habit of declaring estates to have 'capability' for improvement, rather than being a description of his skills. Nowa...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Kevin Davis

Kevin Davis

Probably a gardener working for Tower Hamlets in the 1990s, who died young. Our colleague Andrew Behan had had a shot at identifying this man. While not conclusive we think this is probably correc...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial