Duke of Northumberland's River, Artificial waterway system in West London, England
The Duke of Northumberland's River is an artificial waterway system in West London that diverts water from the River Colne through multiple districts toward the River Thames. The system consists of two separate sections connected by channels and controlled sluices that manage water flow between the Colne, Crane, and Thames rivers.
The western section was dug beginning in 1530 during Henry VIII's reign, when laborers cut a new watercourse from Longford to serve the king's properties. The eastern section came later, eventually linking the system to ornamental water features at Syon Park.
The waterway reflects how water engineering became essential to London's growth and shaped daily life in western districts. Walking along its banks, you can see how this system still serves the communities it was built to support.
The best time to visit is during dry weather when the paths along the waterway are easiest to walk. The terrain varies between open ground and wooded sections, so wear shoes with good grip depending on which route you choose.
Hidden beneath Mill Plat is a sluice that feeds water directly into Syon Park's main lake, a structure few visitors realize exists. This underground engineering reveals how sophisticated water control was in earlier centuries.
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