River Fleet, Subterranean river in Central London, United Kingdom
River Fleet is a subterranean waterway that runs from Hampstead Heath through sewers and tunnels to the Thames near Blackfriars Bridge. The brook crosses parts of Camden and Islington before reaching the City of London.
During Roman occupation, the waterway marked the western edge of the settlement and provided fresh water to residents. Between 1732 and 1766, the river was gradually covered over and disappeared beneath London's expanding streets.
Poets such as Alexander Pope mocked the river in the 18th century for the rubbish and sewage that fouled its banks. Today, street names like Fleet Street and Farringdon recall the lost waterway.
The waterway is entirely underground and not accessible to visitors. Some people walk the former route from Kentish Town to Blackfriars, exploring streets and parks that follow the old course.
Some pubs and shops in Clerkenwell have old cellars that reach down to the former riverbanks. During heavy rain, you can sometimes hear water rushing beneath grates in Farringdon.
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