well spring the river flows forty miles. The original supply of water having been found inadequate to the consumption, the mill stream of the river Lea, which runs near it, was resorted to; and after various disputes and litigations between its proprietors and those of the New River, the mill stream has at length become the property of the latter company, who have now an unrestricted use of the water; so that the river Lea may be considered as one of the sources. To preserve a proper level, the New River takes such a winding course, that the length of the channel is nearly thirty-nine miles-passing through Ware, Amwell, Hoddesdon, and Cheshunt, it enters Middlesex near Bull's Cross; bending towards Enfield Chase, it returns to the town of Enfield; and at Bush Hill, was formerly carried across a valley in a wooden aqueduct or open trough, 660 feet in length, supported by arches; but the improvements in canal making has suggested a better mode to effect the purpose by means of a mound of earth, over which the river passes in a new channel, which was completed in the year 1785. Hence the river proceeds with devious bends to Hornsey, between which village and Highbury it was formerly conveyed in another wooden aqueduct, now superseded like the other by a bank of clay :-still winding, it reaches Stoke Newington, and passes on to the east side of Islington, where it has a subterraneous channel for 200 yards beneath the street: just before this part is a building, whence several mains or pipes, are sent to supply the eastern side of London. After passing under the road, the New River emerges and coasts the southern side of Islington, till it reaches its termination at the grand reservoir, called the New River Head. The width of the river near Islington is fourteen feet and half, the average depth is four feet and half, but the depth decreases on ascending towards its source. The number of bridges, which cross the river in its whole course, are about 200: in various places are sluices to let off the waste water; which with other works excited admiration in the earlier stage of this branch of mechanics, but are now overlooked in the wonders of canal navigation. Truly admirable are the contrivances for distributing the water through the various parts of London. From a circular bason now thrice its original size, which first receives it, the water is conveyed by sluices into several large brick cisterns; whence it passes through large wooden pipes to the several districts, and is conveyed into the houses by leaden pipes. At the New River Head is a building, containing two steam engines and a water engine, for forcing the water to a higher reservoir near Pentonville, and to another near Tottenham Court Road, for distribution to the western parts of the town. Near the former reservoir, in a field, a conspicuous object appears, the use of which is little known :-it is an iron pipe twelve feet high and four feet eight inches in circumference, with a wooden tub placed on its top; it acts in the double capacity of an air and waste water pipe, and is useful in preventing the bursting of the pipe, which was formerly very frequent from the force of the water, or from compressed air. A new reservoir, communicating with that at Pentonville, has been recently constructed by the side of Tottenham Court Road, for the supply of Mary-le-bone and its vi cinity; the mains from which are iron pipes of four feet eight inches in circumference. The property of this great concern was originally divided into seventy-two shares, of which thirty-six were vested in Sir Hugh Middleton, who was obliged to part with them to various persons: these are termed adventurers' shares. The other thirty-six were vested in the crown for the money advanced by King James towards the undertaking; these were alieniated by Charles I, and are called king's shares: but as the crown had no concern in the management, so the holders of these shares are excluded from the direction. The original value of the shares was £100. each (9); but so discouraging were the first prospects, that they fell to a very low price: at present they are worth an hundred times their first value-a rise in property scarcely to be parallelled, and demonstrative of the increase of buildings in the capital. The management of the company's affairs is vested by charter in twenty-nine holders of adventurers' shares, who form a board. The officers are-a governor, deputy governor, a treasurer, and a clerk. Few public companies surpass this in property and extent of concerns. The constant repairs and improvements employ a vast number of men and horses; and the whole system of the distribution of the water is so complicated as to require the utmost skill and attention on the part of the surveyor and other officers. The New River is a considerable ornament to (9) A share, originally £100, sold some years since as high as £15,000,-Dr. Rees' New Encyc, vol. xxiii, part 2, Mid. many seats and pleasure grounds in its course, though it has too much canal-like regularity to be truly picturesque (10). It is likewise of great utility in affording a supply of water for cattle, and for various other purposes. Many houses and canals in the lower part of this parish are supplied with water from this river. OF THE MOSELLE RIVER. Its Source-its Course, and Termination. THE Mose, or Moselle, is a little brook, which has its source at Muswell Hill in the parish of Hornsey; and passing between Hornsey and Tottenham Wood through the middle of the village, in the shape of the Greek letter Omega, leaves the parsonage and vicarage on the north, runs along the west side of the high road as far as the great stone bridge (11), where it suddenly makes a right angle; and running under the bridge continues on the north side of Scotland Green, and takes its course into a branch of the river Lea. (10) Hunter's Hist. of London and its Environs, 4to. 1808; and Brayley's Hist. of London and Middlesex, 8vo. 1810-13. (11) This bridge is under the high road, the east end of which is by the sluice gates at Scotland Green, and was formerly called Lordship bridge. D OF THE WOODS. Their former Extent-their Decrease-an old Saying relating to them. THERE were in former times some very considerable woods in this parish, but they have been decreasing for some years past. The only wood, which now remains, is called Tottenham Wood, on the west of the high road upon a hill; and which in the year 1500 covered many hundred acres of land. The woods began to decrease about the year 1600 both in number and quantity; and at present Tottenham Wood is of very little extent, being for the most part stocked up and converted into arable and meadow land. There is an old saying relative to this wood (12); and it used formerly to be remarked, that whenever a fog or mist rose out of the wood, and hung over it like smoke, it was a sign of rain and bad weather; and in rainy weather, the street lying low, although gravelly, was for the most part overflowed with water. OF THE SEVEN SISTERS AT PAGE GREEN. Ar the top or entrance of Page Green on the east side of the high road stands a remarkable large and handsome clump of seven elm trees (13), planted in a circular form, and called the Seven Sisters; in the (12) "When Tottenham wood is all on fire, Then Tottenham street is nought but mire." (13) See Appendix, No. II, p. 24. |