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River Heathwall

The River Heathwall, more often known as the Heathwall Sewer,[1][2] Heathwall Ditch or Heathwall Mill Pond[3] was a set of field drainage ditches and a large mill pond in Battersea, London. It had two outlets into the tidal Thames and its inland section roughly followed Wandsworth Road. Its eastern outlet was at Nine Elms.[4]

The Greenwoods' map of 1827 confirms the mill pond served a tide mill, harnessing of the locally great tidal energy.[5] The generic prototype may have such a mill in the nascent City of London, in Roman Britain.[6]

The river was covered in 1866, as was the nearby Falconbrook. Pumping stations were added for the drainage of northern Battersea and to allow for widespread development.[1][7] Heathwall Pumping Station is now part of the Thames Tideway Scheme.[8]

Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b Institution of Civil Engineers (1875). Minutes of proceedings. p. 162.
  2. ^ Metropolitan Board of Works (1882). Minutes of proceedings. p. 746.
  3. ^ Metcalf, Priscilla (1972). Victorian London. New York, Praeger. p. 82.
  4. ^ "The Lost River Of London You've Never Heard Of: The Heathwall". Londonist. 25 November 2019.
  5. ^ Christopher and John Greenwood's's 8 inches to the mile 6 sheet map, 1827
  6. ^ Spain, Rob: "A possible Roman Tide Mill", Paper submitted to the Kent Archaeological Society
  7. ^ "The Junction History". VisitClaphamJunction.com.
  8. ^ "Heathwall Pumping Station". Bazalgette Tunnel Limited.

51°28′59″N 0°08′10″W / 51.483°N 0.136°W / 51.483; -0.136