Counter's Creek
Encyclopedia
Counter's Creek is a largely subterranean stream that arises in Kensal Green
, west London and flows south into the River Thames
on the Tideway
at Sands End
, Chelsea
. Two small tributaries that rise just west of Ladbroke Grove enter the stream close to Latimer Road just south of St Quintin Avenue.
The stream flows south through Kensal Green Cemetery
, Little Wormwood Scrubs
, North Kensington
, Shepherds Bush, Olympia and Earl's Court. It can be seen (particularly after heavy rainfall) or otherwise as a verdant ditch beside Platform 4 (trains to Olympia) of West Brompton Underground Station
. It passes Brompton Cemetery
and Chelsea F.C.
ground at Stamford Bridge
. On the left bank where the creek meets the Thames is the former Lots Road Power Station
. The tidal mouth is shown on modern maps as Chelsea Creek.
The upper reaches have been variously known as Billingswell Ditch, Pools Creek and Counters Creek. In mediaeval times the Creek was known as Billingwell Dyche, derived from 'Billing's spring or stream'. It formed the boundary between the parishes of Kensington and Fulham. By the eighteenth century the creek had become known as Counter's Creek, which is believed to derive from 'Counter's Bridge' which crossed the creek at the west end of Kensington High Street. This was first recorded in the fourteenth century as 'Countessesbrugge', and may be called after Matilda, Countess of Oxford, who then held the manor of Kensington. 'Stamford Bridge' is considered to be a corruption of 'Samfordesbrigge' meaning 'the bridge at the sandy ford'. The existing Stamford Bridge was built of brick in 1860–2 and has been partly reconstructed since then. The name is more generally used to refer to the nearby Stamford Bridge Stadium, which is the home of Chelsea Football Club. In 1824–8 the lower part of the creek was developed into the Kensington Canal
. This was taken over by the Bristol Birmingham & Thames Junction Railway in the 1830s and subsequently much was culvert
ed to take the West London Line
along its course in 1859–63. This railway route provides a link between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction. The waters of the ancient sewer were diverted underground and only the lower reach remained in use, supplying coal to Sands End gas works and later to the power station. The stream was visible as a surface river on the west side of Little Wormwood Scrubs on Ordnance Survey maps pre-1930. However, by the 1930 Ordnance Survey the river had already been covered under ground.
See also=
Kensal Green
Kensal Green, also referred to as Kensal Rise is an area of London, England. It is located on the southern edge of the London Borough of Brent and borders the City of Westminster to the East and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the South....
, west London and flows south into the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
on the Tideway
Tideway
The Tideway is a name given to the part of the River Thames in England that is subject to tides. This stretch of water is downstream from Teddington Lock and is just under long...
at Sands End
Sands End
Sands End is in the southernmost part of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in London, England. Sands End was a close knit working class community but has in recent years become gentrified with flats on the market for more than £2.4 million....
, Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. Two small tributaries that rise just west of Ladbroke Grove enter the stream close to Latimer Road just south of St Quintin Avenue.
The stream flows south through Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
, Little Wormwood Scrubs
Little Wormwood Scrubs
Little Wormwood Scrubs is a park in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It was originally part of Wormwood Scrubs, and separated in the 1840s when the railway embankment of the West London Line was built....
, North Kensington
North Kensington
North Kensington is an area of west London lying north of Notting Hill Gate and south of Harrow Road.North Kensington is the key neighbourhood of Notting Hill...
, Shepherds Bush, Olympia and Earl's Court. It can be seen (particularly after heavy rainfall) or otherwise as a verdant ditch beside Platform 4 (trains to Olympia) of West Brompton Underground Station
West Brompton station
West Brompton is a Network Rail West London Line and London Underground District Line station in west London. It is located on Old Brompton Road immediately south of Earls Court Exhibition Centre and to the west of Brompton Cemetery....
. It passes Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
and Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
ground at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
. On the left bank where the creek meets the Thames is the former Lots Road Power Station
Lots Road Power Station
Lots Road Power Station is a disused coal and later oil-fired power station on the River Thames at Lots Road in Chelsea, London in the south-west of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which supplied electricity to the London Underground system...
. The tidal mouth is shown on modern maps as Chelsea Creek.
The upper reaches have been variously known as Billingswell Ditch, Pools Creek and Counters Creek. In mediaeval times the Creek was known as Billingwell Dyche, derived from 'Billing's spring or stream'. It formed the boundary between the parishes of Kensington and Fulham. By the eighteenth century the creek had become known as Counter's Creek, which is believed to derive from 'Counter's Bridge' which crossed the creek at the west end of Kensington High Street. This was first recorded in the fourteenth century as 'Countessesbrugge', and may be called after Matilda, Countess of Oxford, who then held the manor of Kensington. 'Stamford Bridge' is considered to be a corruption of 'Samfordesbrigge' meaning 'the bridge at the sandy ford'. The existing Stamford Bridge was built of brick in 1860–2 and has been partly reconstructed since then. The name is more generally used to refer to the nearby Stamford Bridge Stadium, which is the home of Chelsea Football Club. In 1824–8 the lower part of the creek was developed into the Kensington Canal
Kensington Canal
The Kensington Canal was a canal, 1.75 miles long, opened in 1828 in London from the River Thames at Chelsea, along the line of Counter's Creek, to a basin near Warwick Road in Kensington...
. This was taken over by the Bristol Birmingham & Thames Junction Railway in the 1830s and subsequently much was culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
ed to take the West London Line
West London Line
The West London Line is a short railway in inner West London which links lines at in the south to lines near Willesden Junction in the north. It has always been an important cross-London link especially for freight services...
along its course in 1859–63. This railway route provides a link between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction. The waters of the ancient sewer were diverted underground and only the lower reach remained in use, supplying coal to Sands End gas works and later to the power station. The stream was visible as a surface river on the west side of Little Wormwood Scrubs on Ordnance Survey maps pre-1930. However, by the 1930 Ordnance Survey the river had already been covered under ground.
See also
- Tributaries of the River ThamesTributaries of the River ThamesThis article lists the tributaries of the River Thames, in England. It also includes significant backwaters and waterways which also have confluences with the main stream of the River Thames.Most of the tributaries are natural, but a few were man-made...
- Subterranean rivers of LondonSubterranean rivers of LondonThe subterranean or underground rivers of London are the tributaries of the River Thames and River Lea that were built over during the growth of the metropolis of London...
- List of rivers in England
See also=
- List of rivers in England
- Subterranean rivers of LondonSubterranean rivers of LondonThe subterranean or underground rivers of London are the tributaries of the River Thames and River Lea that were built over during the growth of the metropolis of London...