Duke of Northumberland's River
Encyclopedia
The Duke of Northumberland's River consists of two sections of artificial waterway
. The older name: "Isleworth Mill Stream", or River, more accurately describes the economic motivation for their construction.
to augment the flow supplying existing mills and to supply new mills, a source of revenue for the Duke of Northumberland
's estate.
This section diverts waters from the River Colne
at Longford, London
, flowing eastwards to the River Crane. For a large part of its early course, it flows alongside its younger "twin", the Longford River
. The river around Heathrow Airport was diverted south in 1944 during the airport's construction. Both rivers have recently been diverted as part of the Twin Rivers Diversion Scheme associated with the construction of Terminal 5. They skirt the western and southern perimeter of Heathrow Airport
then separate at The Two Bridges in Bedfont
, to the south east of Terminal 4.
The Duke's river then flows east to join the Crane in Donkey Wood, by Baber Bridge, to the west of Hounslow Heath
. 51.4596°N 0.4022°W
in Kneller Park Whitton
, north-eastwards past The Stoop
and Twickenham Stadium
, through Isleworth
, originally to the Mill then onwards to supply the ornamental ponds in the Duke of Northumberland's
estate at Syon Park
. Sluice
s control the flow into the park and the Thames
.
This section is the older of the two, built in the time of Syon Abbey
and before the Duke of Northumberland
bought the river with the Syon estate
from King James I
around 1605.
The Duke of Northumberland's River can thus be described as a distributary
of the Colne and a tributary
of the Crane; it is also a distributary of the Crane and a tributary of the Thames. 51°27′21"N 0°20′39"W
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
. The older name: "Isleworth Mill Stream", or River, more accurately describes the economic motivation for their construction.
The western section
The western section was constructed during the reign of King Henry VIIIHenry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
to augment the flow supplying existing mills and to supply new mills, a source of revenue for the Duke of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland
The Duke of Northumberland is a title in the peerage of Great Britain that has been created several times. Since the third creation in 1766, the title has belonged to the House of Percy , which held the title of Earl of Northumberland from 1377....
's estate.
This section diverts waters from the River Colne
River Colne, Hertfordshire
The Colne is a river in England which is a tributary of the River Thames. It flows mainly through Hertfordshire and forms the boundary between the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire and the London Borough of Hillingdon...
at Longford, London
Longford, London
Longford is a village immediately west of London Heathrow Airport in the London Borough of Hillingdon. Longford is located 15.8 miles west of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
, flowing eastwards to the River Crane. For a large part of its early course, it flows alongside its younger "twin", the Longford River
Longford River
The Longford River is an artificial waterway that diverts water 19km from the River Colne at Longford to Bushy Park and Hampton Court Palace where it reaches the Thames on the reach above Teddington Lock....
. The river around Heathrow Airport was diverted south in 1944 during the airport's construction. Both rivers have recently been diverted as part of the Twin Rivers Diversion Scheme associated with the construction of Terminal 5. They skirt the western and southern perimeter of Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
then separate at The Two Bridges in Bedfont
East Bedfont
Bedfont is a small suburban town in Greater London, some to the west of central London and only from Heathrow Airport. It straddles the Staines Road at the west of the London Borough of Hounslow from Baber Bridge on the River Crane to the Surrey boundary at Ashford.-Origins and Mediaeval...
, to the south east of Terminal 4.
The Duke's river then flows east to join the Crane in Donkey Wood, by Baber Bridge, to the west of Hounslow Heath
Hounslow Heath
Hounslow Heath is a public open space and local nature reserve to the west of Hounslow, a London borough. It now covers about , the residue of the historic Hounslow Heath that covered over .-History:...
. 51.4596°N 0.4022°W
The eastern section
The eastern section diverts water from the River Crane, LondonRiver Crane, London
The River Crane is a river in west London, England, and is a tributary of the River Thames.-Location:The River Crane is 8.5 miles in length...
in Kneller Park Whitton
Whitton
-People:* Charlotte Whitton , Canadian feminist and Mayor of Ottawa* David Whitton, Scottish politician* Donald Whitton , Canadian cellist, and teacher* Evan Whitton, Australian journalist...
, north-eastwards past The Stoop
The Stoop
Twickenham Stoop is a sports stadium located in the western suburbs of London, England. The stadium is home to Harlequins rugby union team, who play in the Aviva Premiership, and tenants London Broncos, who play in the Super League...
and Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
, through Isleworth
Isleworth
Isleworth is a small town of Saxon origin sited within the London Borough of Hounslow in west London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane. Isleworth's original area of settlement, alongside the Thames, is known as...
, originally to the Mill then onwards to supply the ornamental ponds in the Duke of Northumberland's
Duke of Northumberland
The Duke of Northumberland is a title in the peerage of Great Britain that has been created several times. Since the third creation in 1766, the title has belonged to the House of Percy , which held the title of Earl of Northumberland from 1377....
estate at Syon Park
Syon House
Syon House, with its 200-acre park, is situated in west London, England. It belongs to the Duke of Northumberland and is now his family's London residence...
. Sluice
Sluice
A sluice is a water channel that is controlled at its head by a gate . For example, a millrace is a sluice that channels water toward a water mill...
s control the flow into the park and the 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,...
.
This section is the older of the two, built in the time of Syon Abbey
Syon Abbey
Syon Monastery , was a monastery of the Bridgettine Order founded in 1415 which stood until its demolition in the 16th c. on the left bank of the River Thames within the parish of Isleworth, in the county of Middlesex on or near the site of the present Georgian mansion of Syon House...
and before the Duke of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland
The Duke of Northumberland is a title in the peerage of Great Britain that has been created several times. Since the third creation in 1766, the title has belonged to the House of Percy , which held the title of Earl of Northumberland from 1377....
bought the river with the Syon estate
Syon House
Syon House, with its 200-acre park, is situated in west London, England. It belongs to the Duke of Northumberland and is now his family's London residence...
from King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
around 1605.
The Duke of Northumberland's River can thus be described as a distributary
Distributary
A distributary, or a distributary channel, is a stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. They are a common feature of river deltas. The phenomenon is known as river bifurcation. The opposite of a distributary is a tributary...
of the Colne and a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Crane; it is also a distributary of the Crane and a tributary of the Thames. 51°27′21"N 0°20′39"W