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WATERWAYS SOUND MAP: INTRODUCTORY PAGE

This page introduces the London Waterways sound map and provides links to its main category pages, each corresponding to a canal or minor river in the Greater London area. No sound files are directly linked to from this page.

RIVERS BEAM AND ROM

The river Rom rises at Bournebridge in Essex, and the Waterways sound map starts recording its sounds as it flows through Collier Row. It passes through and under Romford town centre before becoming the river Beam, which joins the Thames at Dagenham. There are 8 recordings for the rivers Beam and Rom.

BEVERLEY BROOK

Beverley Brook rises near Worcester Park in south-west London. Its course takes it through prosperous suburban areas, Wimbledon Common, and Richmond Park, before joining the Thames just west of Putney. There are 8 recordings for Beverley Brook.

RIVER BRENT

At Brent Park the Dollis Stream becomes the river Brent, which flows in an arc through the northwest suburbs of London to Greenford Bridge, before passing through a mixture of housing and light industrial areas on its way to Brentford and the Thames. There are 12 recordings for the river Brent.

GRAND UNION CANAL

The Grand Union Canal begins (or ends) at Little Venice in central London where it joins the Regent's Canal. From there its course lies west through Westbourne Park, past railway yards and industrial estates and out to Hayes Town and beyond. There are 13 recordings for the Grand Union Canal.

RIVER HOGSMILL

The Hogsmill rises in Ewell in Surrey, and the first recording was made at Pack Horse Bridge near Stoneleigh. It joins the Thames at Charter Quay in Kingston-upon-Thames. There are 7 recordings for the river Hogsmill.

RIVER LEA

The Lea Valley in east London was once a major centre for industry, and the river Lea has been shaped by extensive civil engineering work. It rises near Luton and enters Greater London in Enfield. The Lea passes reservoirs, parkland, and the remnants of industry before widening into Bow Creek and joining the Thames at Leamouth in the Docklands. There are 13 recordings for the river Lea.

NEW RIVER

The New River began as an artificial watercourse in the 17th century to bring clean water into London from Hertfordshire. The most northerly recording here was made at Turkey Brook. From there the New River passes through Enfield and Hornsey before petering out near Stoke Newington. There are 10 recordings for the New River.

PYMME'S BROOK

Pymme's Brook is a tributary of the river Lea. It rises in Hadley Wood and the most northerly recording here was made in Cockfosters. It flows through parkland and the suburbs of north London, passing underground for significant stretches of its course, and joins the Lea at Tottenham. There are 5 recordings for Pymme's Brook.

RIVERS QUAGGY AND POOL

The rivers Quaggy and Pool are tributaries of the river Ravensbourne in south-east London. The Quaggy rises at Chinbrook Meadows south of Mottingham and joins the Ravensbourne just north of Lewisham town centre. The Pool rises at Elmers End and passes through Lower Sydenham before joining the Ravensbourne in Linear Park south of Catford. There are 10 recordings for the rivers Quaggy and Pool.

RIVER RAVENSBOURNE

The Ravensbourne flows into the Thames at Deptford Creek in south-east London and rises at Keston south of Bromley. Park and common land dominate its southern extent, before passing through heavily built-up parts of Lewisham. There are 12 recordings for the river Ravensbourne.

REGENT'S CANAL

The Regent's Canal begins at Little Venice in the west and skirts the northern edge of Regents Park on the way to Islington, Hackney and eventually Mile End and Limehouse Basin by the Thames. There are 10 recordings for the Regent's Canal.

RIVER RODING

The Roding rises at Dunmow in Essex and flows through Wanstead and Barking in east London, and finally forms Barking Creek where it joins the Thames. The sound of traffic is rarely absent as the Roding runs near the North Circular Road and the M11. There are 10 recordings for the river Roding.

SILK STREAM AND DOLLIS BROOK

The Silk Stream and Dollis Brook are tributaries of the river Brent. The Silk Stream rises in Barnet and flows through Edgware and Burnt Oak before it meets the Brent Reservoir. The Dollis Brook rises near Scratchwood and its courses takes it through the suburbs and golf courses of north London before meeting the river Brent at Brent Park. There are also two recordings from the Mutton Brook which passes through Hampstead Garden Suburb. There are 12 recordings for the Silk Stream, Dollis Brook and Mutton Brook in total.

RIVER WANDLE

The Wandle rises at the Waddon Ponds west of Croydon, and from there it passes through varied surroundings on its way to east Wimbledon, Earlsfield and eventually Wandsworth and the Thames. There are 14 recordings for the river Wandle.

That concludes the list of rivers and canals on the Waterways sound map.

SOUND MAP RECORDINGS LINKS: TEXT VERSIONS

General sound map. Thames estuary sound map. Andre's London sound map. London Unseen sound map.

MAIN SITE SECTION LINKS: TEXT VERSIONS

Home page. Sound actions. Sound maps. Wildlife. About and contact.

MAIN SITE SECTION LINKS: GRAPHICS VERSIONS

Home page. London map. Sound actions. Sound maps. London wildlife. Historical. Blog. About. Say hello.

The London Sound Survey 2015. A Creative Commons Licence applies to all site content except where stated otherwise.