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

Margaret Mellor

Margaret Mellor

As a Waterloo resident Margaret worked from about 1972 on community planning in Waterloo.  Her main aims have been to increase social housing for families and green open space for everyone.  She co...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Daniel Solander

Daniel Solander

Swedish botanist. Came to London in June 1760 to promote Carl Linnaeus’ taxonomy and used it to catalogue the natural history collections at the British Museum. Travelled with Joseph Banks on Capta...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Science, Sweden

1 memorial
Sir John Sinclair

Sir John Sinclair

Founder and president of the first Board of Agriculture. Born Scotland into family of the Earls of Caithness. 1780 entered the House of Commons. Promoted a scientific and statistical approach to ag...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Politics & Administration, Science, Scotland

1 memorial
Martin Andrews

Martin Andrews

Our colleague Andew Behan writes: A little research on this man shows that he was born Martin Guy Leslie Andrews in 1943 in Lambeth. Alumnus and long-term supporter of Goodenough College. He was a ...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials

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St Mary's War Memorial

St Mary's War Memorial

NW1, Munster Square, Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene

{On the low central panel:} In loving memory of all connected with the church who died in the war, MCMXIV to MCMXIX. {i.e. 1914 to 1919....

War dead | WW1
87 subjects commemorated
Royal Free Hospital - Hendrick

Royal Free Hospital - Hendrick

NW3, Rowland Hill Street, Heath Strange Garden

This strangely monikered garden was named for Dr William Heath Strange who, in 1882, founded the Hampstead General Hospital that went on ...

1 subject commemorated
The Blitz

The Blitz

During WW2 Britain came under heavy bombing from Germany for 8 months, 1940-1941. This was called 'the Blitz' from the German word Blitzkrieg meaning 'lightning war'. London was particularly badly ...

Event, Tragedy

53 memorials
English Hedonists

English Hedonists

The artist Carrie Reichardt is part of this group, probably its main artist, "Mad in England" being her trademark. 2018: Via Facebook Carrie kindly confirmed that she had made this series for a co...

Group, History, Humour

7 memorials
Hopkin Morris cottages

Hopkin Morris cottages

W4, Strand on the Green, 15

A small plaque to the right of the lower plaque reads 'Renovated 1974 London Borough of Hounslow'. From the excellent 'Panorama of the T...

8 subjects commemorated, 1 creator