![Waterworks River in Stratford - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Waterworks_River_in_Stratford_-_geograph.org.uk_-_792226.jpg)
Waterworks River is a river, at one time a
tidal river
A tidal river is a river whose flow and level are influenced by tides. A section of a larger river affected by the tides is a tidal reach, but it may sometimes be considered a tidal river if it has been given a separate name.
Generally, tidal ri ...
, in the
London Borough of Newham, one of the
Bow Back Rivers
Bow Back Rivers or Stratford Back Rivers is a complex of waterways between Bow and Stratford in east London, England, which connect the River Lea to the River Thames. Starting in the twelfth century, works were carried out to drain Stratford M ...
that flow into the
Bow Creek part of the
River Lea, which in turn flows into the
River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...
.
The river is an artificial channel, cut for the Stratford Waterworks (later purchased by the
East London Waterworks Company) in 1743, from the Old River Lee channel (above
Old Ford Lock
Old Ford Lock is a paired lock and weir on the River Lee Navigation, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, England. It is at Fish Island in Old Ford and takes its name from the natural ford which used to cross the River Lea.
Tidal section
...
), to supply a reservoir at Saynes Mill,
Stratford. It was widened to in the 1930s, as part of a project to prevent flooding in Stratford. The channel is lined for large stretches with concrete slabs, though sections through the
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a sporting complex and public park in Stratford, Hackney Wick, Leyton and Bow, in east London. It was purpose-built for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, situated adjacent to the Stratford City developm ...
have been landscaped to a more natural setting.
Whilst running through the park, which hosted the
2012 Summer Olympics, the river forms the border between the
London Aquatics Centre
The London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two swimming pools and a diving pool in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London. The centre, designed by architect Zaha Hadid as one of the main venues of the 2012 Summer Olympic ...
on one bank, and the
Olympic Stadium
''Olympic Stadium'' is the name usually given to the main stadium of an Olympic Games. An Olympic stadium is the site of the opening and closing ceremonies. Many, though not all, of these venues actually contain the words ''Olympic Stadium'' as ...
on the other. ''Steles (Waterworks)'' by artist
Keith Wilson was the first artwork completed in the Olympic Park. It consists of thirty-five brightly coloured
stele-like sculptures rising from the river.
See also
*
Rivers of the United Kingdom
For details of rivers of the United Kingdom, see
* List of rivers of England
* List of rivers of Scotland
* List of rivers of Wales
* Northern Ireland: see List of rivers of Ireland and Rivers of Ireland
* Longest rivers of the United Kingdom
Ov ...
*
Rivers of London
References
Rivers of London
Geography of the London Borough of Newham
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