The Lea Navigation starts at Bow Locks and continues north to Hertford. The Limehouse cut carried barges on to the Thames at Limehouse, or they could go through the locks and into the tidal Bow Creek which is the lower reaches of the River Lea.
Just below the East India Dock Road is perhaps London's most spectacular piece of scenery, where Bow Creek goes through a large 'S' bend before joining the River Thames at Leamouth.
Inside the first bend of the S is now a nature reserve, while the second bend, until recently occupied by the Pura Foods edible oils factory has been levelled to the ground and awaits planning permission and redevelopment, with flats, shops and businesses etc.
Parts of a public walkway from the EI Dock Rd to the end of the river were built in the 1990s but have never opened to the public; a competition for a bridge to take the path over the river below the Lower Lea Crossing (1991) was held a few years ago, but the award-winning design has yet to be built.
There is a walkway on the west side of the first part of the bend going to the road at Leamouth, and some fine views from the DLR viaduct (opened 1994.)
This area was once heavily industrialised, and included one of the country's leading ship-building yards.
1980-92 Black & White index
1980s: colour
2000 on: colour
All photographs on this site are
© 1980-2010 Peter Marshall.
Pictures are available for commercial use - please email me, for terms.
Permission is normally granted for suitable non-commercial use without cost - please email the above address. I also welcome comments and questions about the work.
92-1n12:
Bow Creek, Leamouth and the Thames from the Lower Lea Crossing, 1992
35t24: Warning light for Bow Creek Flood Barrier, 1983
92xx: DLR under
construction, Bow Creek and Pura Foods, Canning Town. 1992
894b11:
894b12:
894b14
35t25
92-3b38
36v21
32f25:
89-4c52:
32f35
32f34