New River

The New River is an artificial waterway in England, opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water taken from the River Lea and from Amwell Springs (which ceased to flow by the end of the 19th century), and other springs and wells along its course. It starts between Ware and Hertford in Hertfordshire and today travels 20 miles (32 km) down to Stoke Newington. Among the districts it flows through are (from north to south): Its original termination point was at New River Head near Clerkenwell, Islington, close to the current location of Sadler's Wells theatre — where water from the river was used to flood a large tank to stage an Aquatic Theatre at the beginning of the 19th century. Today by following the New River Path it is...