F. Jukes - The New River Head, near Ware (1793)

Social History (Museum of St Albans)

Aquatint with etched detail entitled "The New River Head, near Ware" (1793). Drawn by R.M. Batty, engraved by F Jukes. This quiet scene, not greatly changed today, was regarded in the past as a triumph of engineering. Between 1609 and 1613 Sir Hugh Myddleton's New River Company cut a canal 10 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 38 miles long, to take the pure water from Chadwell Spring (the New River Head shown in the print) to a reservoir in Islington (also, confusingly, the New River Head). From there it was piped to the City of London. The water has flowed ever since, though it is now augmented by pumping a short distance downsteam. The New River Head itself has altered remarkably little since 1793, and can now be seen from the nature reserve alongside. Here it is seen flooded, as the Lea Valley often is in winter.

1793

PH8583 New River Head

120 transparency

1) Photo Studio

The New River head, near Ware, Hertfordshire, UK.

Herts Before the Car, 2001