h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think this spelling is correct

That's absolutely fascinating, There are so many lost rivers under London.
Someone told me that there is a bridge by Sir Christopher Wren under ground over the river Fleet .I find this hard to believe. Do you know if it is true.

Well, I do know that the river Fleet was given a bridge near the mouth before it was covered over. I've got a book at home that gives a bit more information - I'll have a look when I get back later and see if it says whether the bridge was removed or not.

I know that the River Fleet has an outlet by Blackfriairs Bridge, I've seen it, the river water joins the Thames through quite an elaborate archway. Maybe that's it?

Mina
Thank you for that

I must take a look the next time Im down by the river I've never seen the entrance to the Fleet .I hope you don't have to be in a boat to see it.

Ps I hope your going to sign the online petition to save the Downings Roads Moorings ,Its in the Historic Moorings and Floating Gardens Under Threat topic

Regards michael

As a kid, I was delightly disgusted to discover that the Fleet, once a clear stream running into the Thames from its source on Hampstead Heath, had by the Middle Ages become a vast, filthy sewer. So foul and thick was the sludge that it was not uncommon to see the legs of people who had fallen in and suffocated (not drowned!) sticking vertically out of the surface.

When the river was eventually covered over, it still contained so much of London's vilest waste that on at least one recorded occassion the gases it produced ignited, destroying several houses.

Ludgate Circus was once a bridge across the river valley and, until Blackfriars Bridge was built, the Fleet ran up from the Thames, as wide as the road is today. In fact, its ability to harbour numerous large vessels is where it got its name. It's strange to look about the area today and think that it was once the domain of lurking river pirates.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'The Tyburn Tree, Hyde Park' to 'The Tyburn Tree, Hyde Park, London, UK'.