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

Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe

Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe

Landscape architect. Born Geoffrey Alan Jellicoe at 70 Wynnstay Gardens, Chelsea. Educated at the Architectural School in London, where he later became principal. Founding member of the Landscape I...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials
John Bennet Lawes

John Bennet Lawes

Entrepreneur and agricultural scientist. Born at Rothamsted, Hertfordshire. He founded an experimental farm that eventually became the Rothamsted Experimental Station, and developed a superphosphat...

Person, Commerce, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Harvey Hinds

Harvey Hinds

Harvey William Hinds, politician, clergyman and youth campaigner. Labour Southwark Councillor. Champion of Burgess Park and education, leisure and recreation. Elected to the Greater London Council ...

Person, Children, Gardens / Agriculture, Politics & Administration, Religion

1 memorial
Old Velho / First Jewish cemetery

Old Velho / First Jewish cemetery

From London Gardens Online : "The Sephardi Velho (Old) Cemetery opened in 1657, the first Jewish cemetery to be established with Oliver Cromwell's approval. The land was formerly part of a garden a...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials
New River Path Canonbury gardens - opening

New River Path Canonbury gardens - opening

From London Gardens Online: "The water that runs through New River Walk is actually formed by ponds landscaped to resemble the former river. It had first been planted as a garden by the New River C...

Event, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial

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William Beckford, Alderman

William Beckford, Alderman

Lord Mayor of London 1762 and 1769. Born Jamaica. Inherited a fortune from the family slave-based business. Lived at 22 Soho Square (the house has been demolished) from 1751 until his death while t...

Person, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Jamaica

1 memorial
Tower Hill Improvement Trust

Tower Hill Improvement Trust

Created by Tubby Clayton, Dr B R Leftwich, Lord Wakefield and Sir Follett Holt.  Purpose: to improve Tower Hill by removing from it certain ugly buildings which at that time disfigured it and hampe...

Group, Architecture, Social Welfare

2 memorials
Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria

Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria

The fiftieth anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria was celebrated on Monday 20 June 1887. In George Gissing's 1894 novel 'In the Year of Jubilee' characters discuss whether to participate...

Event, Royalty

12 memorials
Joanna Baillie

Joanna Baillie

Poet and dramatist, born Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Moved into Bolton House with her mother and sister in 1791 and lived there until her death. Buried at nearby St John's church, Church Row.

Person, Poetry, Theatre, Scotland

1 memorial