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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Read More

Fleet River floods - Purchese Street

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

Read More

Fleet River tributary - Mount Pleasant

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

Read More

Somers Town Mural

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

Read More

Tipperary pub

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

Read More

Other Subjects

Royal Horticultural Society

Royal Horticultural Society

Founded originally as "The Horticultural Society of London" by seven friends including Sir Joseph Banks, Sir Charles Greville (Emma Hamilton's lover) John Wedgwood (the eldest son of Josiah Wedgwoo...

Group, Gardens / Agriculture

3 memorials
Sir Joseph Hooker

Sir Joseph Hooker

Botanist and explorer. Born Joseph Dalton Hooker, son of Sir William, at Halesworth, Suffolk. He travelled widely around the world, bringing back many species of plants to Britain. Became director ...

Person, Exploring, Gardens / Agriculture, Science

1 memorial
David Bellamy

David Bellamy

Environmental campaigner and botanist.  Brought up in London.  Built up a media career as a protector of the environment.  Initially supported the campaign to raise awareness of man-made climate ch...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Lauderdale House

Lauderdale House

Originally built for Richard Martin (Lord Mayor of London) in 1582 with a timber frame. In the early 17th Century it was occupied by Sir Henry Hobart.  Later Mary, Countess of Home extended the hou...

Building, Gardens / Agriculture, Property

1 memorial
Lieutenant Harry Leopold Pollak

Lieutenant Harry Leopold Pollak

Harry Leopold Pollak was born on 18 July 1885 in Marylebone, Middlesex (now Greater London), the second of the eight children of Joseph Pollak (1847-1927) and Emma Jane Pollak née Goldmann (1863-19...

Person, Armed Forces, Gardens / Agriculture, Argentina, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial