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

Market Gardens at Burgess Park

Market Gardens at Burgess Park

Our image is an extract from Stanfords 1862-71 map of London. Albany Road is the main road about a third of the way down; St George's Church is at the lower left; the present-day Chumleigh Gardens ...

Place, Food & Drink, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Thomas Fairchild

Thomas Fairchild

Text transcribed of the information board (which itself credits the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography): Thomas Fairchild was born in May 1667. In 1690 he established himself as a nurseryman ...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
John Loudon

John Loudon

Garden and cemetery designer, city planner. Born Scotland as John Claudius Loudon. Studied biology, botany and agriculture. Came to London in 1803. His many publications include: Observations on La...

Person, Architecture, Gardens / Agriculture, Scotland

1 memorial
Queen's Park

Queen's Park

An information board in the Park gives "The area that is now Queen's Park was part of the site of the 1879 Royal Kilburn Agricultural Show, which had been attended by Queen Victoria, after which th...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Philip Pusey

Philip Pusey

One of the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition, 1851.Agriculturist. Born Pusey, Berkshire. Died Christ Church, Oxford.

Person, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial