The Hackney Cut is an artificial channel of the River Lee Navigation

River Lee Navigation

The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea . Its course runs from Hertford Castle Weir all the way to the River Thames at Bow Creek. The first lock of the navigation is Hertford Lock the last being Bow Locks....

 built in 1770 by the River Lea Trustees to straighten and improve the Navigation. It begins at by the Middlesex Filter Beds Weir

Middlesex Filter Beds Weir

The Middlesex Filter Beds Weir, or Lea Bridge Road Weir, marks the start of the Hackney Cut, an artificial channel of the River Lee Navigation built in 1770, in the London Borough of Hackney...

, below Lea Bridge

Lea Bridge

Lea Bridge is a district of the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated to the northeast of the borough and bounded by Upper Clapton to the north, Lower Clapton to the south, and the River Lee Navigation to the east...

. It is in the (modern) London Borough of Hackney

London Borough of Hackney

The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....

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Excess water from the Navigation passes over the weir into the former natural channel of the River Lea that passes in a large meander to the east of the modern water course, forming the boundary with the London Borough of Waltham Forest

London Borough of Waltham Forest

The London Borough of Waltham Forest is in northeast London, England. Officially, it forms part of Outer London as it borders Essex. However, it can be seen that the NE London boundary does not extend far compared to elsewhere in the city...

. The natural water course travels 2 miles (3.2 km) and rejoins the Navigation below Old Ford Lock

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 Bow on the east side of London...

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From 1829, water was abstracted at Lea Bridge, from the natural watercourse, by the East London Waterworks Company

East London Waterworks Company

The East London Waterworks Company was one of eight private water companies in London absorbed by the Metropolitan Water Board in 1904.The company was founded by Act of Parliament in 1806, and in 1845 the limits of supply were described as "all those portions of the Metropolis, and its suburbs,...

, to avoid the increasing pollution of the Navigation.