Lea Bridge
Encyclopedia
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. On the other side of the bridge after which the area is named is Leyton
in the London Borough of Waltham Forest
.
The bridge gives its name to Lea Bridge Road
; and also to eponymous wards in the boroughs of Hackney (Leabridge Park) and Waltham Forest (Lea Bridge
).
to Jeremy's Ferry, at the same spot a timber bridge was built in 1745, and the road became known as Lea Bridge Road, with a tollgate at the Clapton end. A new tollhouse was installed on the west bank of the river in 1757; and the bridge rebuilt in iron in 1820–1. Tolls continued to be levied until 1872.
There are few crossing points for the Lea Marshes, and the road remains a major bottleneck at some times of day, as the nearest major river crossing to the south is at Hackney Wick
and to the north at Tottenham Hale
. Lea Bridge Road is an important thoroughfare in the area.
In spite of the traffic, the area is well supplied with open space, dominated by Millfields recreation ground
s, south of which is the site of the old coal-fired Millfields power station
, now disused except as a sub-station. This was built in 1901, well before the creation of the National Grid in 1938, a period when power had to be generated near to the consumer. This provided electric street lighting throughout the then Metropolitan Borough of Hackney
.
Lea Bridge gives ready access to the lower reaches of the extensive Lee Valley Park
, which stretches for about 42 kilometres (26.1 mi) on both banks of the river. Next to the south side of the bridge are two public houses, the "Princess of Wales" and "The Ship Aground". To the south are the Hackney Marshes
; and a short distance to the north, are the Walthamstow Marshes
and Nature Reserve. Below the bridge, the natural river flows over the Middlesex Filter Beds Weir
, marking the boundary with Leyton
and providing the supply for the former East London Waterworks Company
. The old Middlesex Filter Beds have also been converted into a nature reserve; and on the Leyton-side, the corresponding Essex Filter Beds are now a reserve for birds. The Lee Navigation continues south in an artificial channel known as 'Hackney Cut
', to the next lock at Old Ford Lock
(about 1.7 miles), where the natural channel rejoins the Navigation, after its 2 miles (3.2 km) meander towards Leyton.
Leyton Orient F.C.
originated as a team for Homerton College, in Homerton
, playing on the marshes; and adopting Lea Bridge Road for a time, before settling at Brisbane Road.
Nearest stations
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....
. It is situated to the northeast of the borough and bounded by Upper Clapton
Upper Clapton
Upper Clapton is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is bounded by the Hackney districts of Stamford Hill to the west, Lower Clapton and Lea Bridge to the south and the Haringey district of South Tottenham to the north...
to the north, Lower Clapton
Lower Clapton
Lower Clapton is a district within the London Borough of Hackney.It is immediately adjacent to central Hackney - bounded, roughly, by the western side of Hackney Downs , the Lea Valley , Clifden Road and the Lea Bridge Road...
to the south, and 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....
to the east. On the other side of the bridge after which the area is named is Leyton
Leyton
Leyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
in 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 bridge gives its name to Lea Bridge Road
Lea Bridge Road
Lea Bridge Road is a major through route in North East London, across the Lea Valley from Clapton to Whipps Cross in Leyton. Lea Bridge was once the name of a football stadium for Leyton Orient located along Lea Bridge Road. Lea Bridge Road is an excellent area for residence. The area is welcoming...
; and also to eponymous wards in the boroughs of Hackney (Leabridge Park) and Waltham Forest (Lea Bridge
Lea Bridge (ward)
Lea Bridge is a political division of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It also makes up part of the parliamentary constituencies of Walthamstow and Leyton & Wanstead, the North East constituency in the London Assembly and finally the European Parliament constituency of London.It returns three...
).
History
As early as 1582, a road known as Mill Fields Lane ran from ClaptonUpper Clapton
Upper Clapton is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is bounded by the Hackney districts of Stamford Hill to the west, Lower Clapton and Lea Bridge to the south and the Haringey district of South Tottenham to the north...
to Jeremy's Ferry, at the same spot a timber bridge was built in 1745, and the road became known as Lea Bridge Road, with a tollgate at the Clapton end. A new tollhouse was installed on the west bank of the river in 1757; and the bridge rebuilt in iron in 1820–1. Tolls continued to be levied until 1872.
There are few crossing points for the Lea Marshes, and the road remains a major bottleneck at some times of day, as the nearest major river crossing to the south is at Hackney Wick
Hackney Wick
Hackney Wick is an area straddling the boundary between the London Borough of Hackney and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in east London. It is an inner-city development situated 5 miles northeast of Charing Cross...
and to the north at Tottenham Hale
Tottenham Hale
Tottenham Hale is a district in the London Borough of Haringey. From 1850-1965, it was part of the Municipal Borough of Tottenham, in Middlesex.-Etymology:...
. Lea Bridge Road is an important thoroughfare in the area.
In spite of the traffic, the area is well supplied with open space, dominated by Millfields recreation ground
Recreation Ground
A recreation ground is a type of park.Recreation Ground is the name of the following stadiums in the United Kingdom:*Recreation Ground , the home ground of Aldershot Town F.C., located in Aldershot, England...
s, south of which is the site of the old coal-fired Millfields power station
Hackney Power Station
Hackney Power Station was a coal-fired power station situated at Lea Bridge on the River Lee Navigation in London.-History:...
, now disused except as a sub-station. This was built in 1901, well before the creation of the National Grid in 1938, a period when power had to be generated near to the consumer. This provided electric street lighting throughout the then Metropolitan Borough of Hackney
Metropolitan Borough of Hackney
The Metropolitan Borough of Hackney was a Metropolitan borough of the County of London from 1900 to 1965. Its area became part of the London Borough of Hackney.-Formation and boundaries:...
.
Lea Bridge gives ready access to the lower reaches of the extensive Lee Valley Park
Lee Valley Park
Lee Valley Regional Park is a long linear park, much of it green spaces, running through the northeast of London, Essex and Hertfordshire from the River Thames to Ware in Hertfordshire, England through areas such as Hackney, Tottenham, Enfield, Stratford, Tower Hamlets, Walthamstow, Cheshunt,...
, which stretches for about 42 kilometres (26.1 mi) on both banks of the river. Next to the south side of the bridge are two public houses, the "Princess of Wales" and "The Ship Aground". To the south are the Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes is an area of grassland on the western bank of the River Lea in the London Borough of Hackney. It was incorporated into the Lee Valley Park in 1967...
; and a short distance to the north, are the Walthamstow Marshes
Walthamstow Marshes
Walthamstow Marshes, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI. It was once an area of lammas land — strips of meadow used for growing crops and grazing cattle....
and Nature Reserve. Below the bridge, the natural river flows over 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...
, marking the boundary with Leyton
Leyton
Leyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
and providing the supply for the former 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,...
. The old Middlesex Filter Beds have also been converted into a nature reserve; and on the Leyton-side, the corresponding Essex Filter Beds are now a reserve for birds. The Lee Navigation continues south in an artificial channel known as 'Hackney Cut
Hackney Cut
The Hackney Cut is an artificial channel of the River Lee Navigation built in 1770 by the River Lea Trustees to straighten and improve the Navigation. It begins at by the Middlesex Filter Beds Weir, below Lea Bridge...
', to the next lock at 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...
(about 1.7 miles), where the natural channel rejoins the Navigation, after its 2 miles (3.2 km) meander towards Leyton.
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
originated as a team for Homerton College, in Homerton
Homerton
Homerton is a place in the London Borough of Hackney. It is bordered to the west by Hackney Central, to the north by Lower Clapton, in the east by Hackney Wick, Leyton and by South Hackney to the south.-Origins:...
, playing on the marshes; and adopting Lea Bridge Road for a time, before settling at Brisbane Road.
Education
Transport and locale
- Clapton railway stationClapton railway stationClapton railway station is on a suburban line operated by National Express East Anglia located on Upper Clapton Road.It links Upper Clapton to Liverpool Street in central London and Chingford....
(Lea Bridge railway stationLea Bridge railway stationLea Bridge is a closed railway station on the line between Stratford and Tottenham Hale stations. The station was located on the north side of Lea Bridge Road close to the junction of that road with Argall Way and Orient Way in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, north-east London .The station...
closed in 1985)