A Lost River Revealed in North London (4K)

[@wilhelmusv]

Hi John. If you don't know of it already, "Haringey's Hidden Streams Revealed" is a book produced by the Hornsey Historical Society. Well worth getting hold of. The Stonebridge Brook is featured in detail, along with others.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks for the info - just ordered and look forward to walking some of these

[@robinpetty3180]

Catching up on some episodes I hadn't seen. This is a particularly joyful one - your enthusiasm is contagious. I will always recommend to anyone the, accidentally mindful, practice of simply "noticing things".

[@likeakite]

I love your river walks. I remember playing in the Ravensborne river when I was a kid back in the late 50's early 60's. Our flat was on the Bromley Road and backed on to the concrete Ravensborne calvert , it was just a slide down the concrete into the water; very happy days.

[@marty9011]

Another lost river. Lovely to hear it rushing underground. London seems so watery...

[@robbojax2025]

As I have commented before, the fun of these river walks is seeing areas and streets that I would not usually visit.

[@susanhinchcliffe8048]

I live in Stonebridge road in the 80s I was told about this river by a elderly woman who saw it as a young girl before it was covered over this has often fantastic me thanks for your video

[@briggsbughouses6291]

Hi John, I'm a volunteer at The Meadow Orchard Project in Crouch End. We had a water diviner dowse for water and detected a flow approx 12 feet down and so many gallons per hour. I don't know much else about it, apart from a few poor quality maps online showing the shepherds cot area, now crouch end playing fields. I'd love to explore and see what lies beneath! Alan

[@robertmaitland09]

Lovely, reminded me of the time I lived at Turnpike Lane.

[@garryferrington811]

"Everyone loves a lost river." Yes, we do. I just found your videos. My wife and I are enjoying them at lunch. Very pleasant. Wish we could see London again.

[@markames3688]

Yes you do get very fired up for these lost river hunts. Good one and thanks.

[@hyperactive1980]

John you been like a father to me the last few years I have learnt so very much from watching your channel and I find it amazing how much you know about everything here in the UK... love it keep it up... ur a legendary fellow. Gary

[@johnmurray8428]

I lived on Crouch Hill (the Islington side) at the intersection of Mount View Road, where you started this video; between 1949 and 1958. I remember someone, a maintenance guy of some description, lifting (excuse the term) a manhole cover and there was a stream flowing in a conduit down the hill towards Finsbury Park. We were told it was the River Crouch.

[@dianastevenson131]

I didn't know there was a river Crouch. Makes sense of the name "Crouch End."

[@johnmurray8428]

@@dianastevenson131 well this is a memory from childhood, so it’s lifetime ago. There were a bunch of children looking in this hole where the guys we’re working with this stream flowing (obviously downhill; going south.) One of the guys working said “that is the river Crouch.” Putting a date on it? 1954-56. As you day makes sense.

[@motorheadmalc]

Hi John, near the start in Haringey Park by the end of Ivy Gardens opposite Hornsey library, there's one of those classic round river access covers with the circular vents in the road, where, if you shine a torch down it you can see a little cascade coming from Ivy Gardens, and dropping down into another culvert which may run right along Haringey Park. Discovering this prompted me to look up Ivy Gardens and sure enough, there was the same kind of access cover at the top right by a cut through to Abbot's Terrace, which itself I believe to be part of an old drover's route. Also, @13:29 where you spot that small gap in the houses at the bottom of Weston Park and Uplands Road, if you look carefully, the pair of semi-detached Victorian looking houses to the right of the gap look like new builds in keeping with the conservation area, which could lend credence to the idea of a river's course if a property developer had decided to press ahead with the build anyway in more recent times. Btw, maybe for another walk around these parts, the loudest and most dramatic sounding torrent under such a cover is to be found at the bottom of Claremont Road N6, a few yards from its junction with Stanhope Road near Parkland Walk. A substantial flow must be dropping quite some distance to create such subterranean thunder. This whole ridge which is traversed by Ferme Park, Crouch Hill and Crouch End hill, actually runs almost continuous from The Ladder at Harringay Green Lanes right to St Joseph's (Holy Joe's) RC Church on Highgate Hill, and seems to provide a significant watershed along its length. Thanks for yet another fantastic video.

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

I know the geography is a bit weird in that area but how do you get to St. Joseph's church from the Haringey Ladder along that ridge without going over suicide bridge? I think you might have to take the 'Low Road'?

[@delcatto60]

In the sixties my friend used to live in the house to the left of the gap as one faces it. We would play there as kids and naughtily on the industrial estate behind it. I grew up in this area from ‘61 - 85 and it is wonderful to see it again. Shame Stationers school upper school was demolished but lovely to see the park. Lots of memories flooding back, excuse the pun!

[@motorheadmalc]

@@JazzFunkNobby1964 , you're right. The Archway bridge is the direct way to Holy Joe's along Hornsey Lane. There are ways either side where you do have to descend to the A1 Archway Road and climb back up. The gap where the bridge is, did at first have a rather over ambitious tunnel which actually split like a Y shape with one portal ending in two the other end. Little wonder that it collapsed, giving rise to the first narrow bridge on two levels. I did find reference to this tunnel many years ago, but I can't find it now.

[@joebenge3920]

Loved it, John. Glad you found the very loud culvert under the manhole cover up by Hornsey Library. That was an amazing story about the underground lake. Whoever built the building on top must not have got the memo about avoiding building on top of water!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much Joe - you gave me something tangible to hang the walk on

[@joebenge3920]

​@@JohnRogersWalksI love those moments when you can see or hear a hidden river running beneath your feet. It's quite exhilarating, especially when it's as loud as that one.

[@annettedolan7996]

Thank you so much for your videos. I was born in London North Wood Road N6 we lived beside a railway line its now a walking path. I went to school on Crouchhill a private school just a big house. You bring me on such memorable journeys. I now live in Ireland. Thank you Annette

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for watching Annette

[@oc2phish07]

Great video John. I worked in the Hornsey area for some years and your walk brought back good memories. I did have to laugh though, at the sign over the door of that MOT Station. I wonder what 'Accidental Repairs' are? "Sorry Sir/Madam, we didn't mean to fix your car, it just happened" 🤣

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Brilliant

[@colinjackson9482]

Thanks John, I go out walking the streets of London every day doing between 8 and 10 miles it helps with my arthritis but that’s by the by I like your videos because they give me a starting point when I can’t think of one, but I start my walks between 5 and 6 am.it’s always a plus when I find a random that I’ve seen on one of your videos. Cheers Colin

[@tedcopple101]

Wonderful memories. As a naive northern18 year old, i worked and lived for a year at the Railway Tavern at the bottom of Crouch Hill, nearly 25 years ago!

[@KC-gy5xw]

I know that the New River used to run right through my house before it was straightened - so many rivers culverted, hidden or lost.. The water companies came and checked houses that had downstairs toilets as some of them were done on the quick, the outlet fed into the Moselle in the cemetery at White Hart Lane - we were lucky ours was done properly!!

[@andynunney8942]

Made good inroads into New London during delayed flight from Glasgow to Gatwick yesterday following visit to family with little one - enjoying thoroughly-best wishes Dawn 😊

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much Dawn

[@TrevorBarre]

Nice to see you wandering/wondering about my manor, John! I will contact you when my book on Crouch End finally comes out, and send you a copy, if you,re interested.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That’d be amazing Trevor. I’ll happily buy a copy

[@TayQuartermain]

Hi John I very much enjoyed your video but the route as far as I'm aware starts up towards Highgate, it runs under Archway road down wenbury road across Milton park where it goes under the parkland walk, onto claremont road from there it cuts across the st aloysius sports grounds, down crouch hall road, under the old manor house, then cutting across crouch end Broadway and down Weston park, meeting up when you first come across the river.

[@darryldarwent3676]

I liked this episode. I love the street names like Seven Sisters Road, which upon reading it's history the name refers to seven trees that stood aligned at Wards Corner (Source: Wikipedia). Never would've known that if I hadn't seen it on this episode. Thank you.

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

My Mum came from Ireland and brought us kids up in the Seven Sisters area. She had six sisters.

[@ianmaddams9577]

Got to love a lost river walk .

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Nothing better Ian

[@Cheshire_Cat_007]

Your attention to detail and perseverance is remarkable. Really enjoyed this. Thank you

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks

[@Phill3467]

brilliant, Crouch End where i spent my childhood and returned to 10 yrs ago, love seeing around there. Book ordered looking forward to reading it. Thanks fot taking me on your walks.

[@williamrobinson7435]

Always nice to see a 'Lost Rivers' edition John. Looking out for 'bourne' in street names, but of course a cautionary note when the 'bourne' is a suffix, as Eastbourne, etc.. Also sub stations in gaps in residential building, natural valleys, and so on, I just love all this stuff. In one sense the obscuring of these watercourses does us a favour, more to discover! Hoping the pint was a satisfactory reward, and I look forward to reading your new book, and to the next walk, wherever.. be! Nice one John. ⭐👍

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

This one is so educational! At the same time, it raises images of more and more unexpected but catastrophic flooding with these horrible storms we get now all over the planet.

[@michaeldillon3113]

I loved this John - you had all the enthusiasm of Speke and Burton's search for the source of the Nile . There is another channel I watch on KZbin called the ' Fact Feast ' ( about the misery of London's poor ) but this week they released one about the mythology of the sewers of London . The old sewers made use of the old rivers and brooks . The Fleet got a mention . Many accounts of the people who worked in these subterranean places 😨✌️

[@brendansheerin8980]

I loved this video justlike your others. A hidden river and great Turkish restaurants - i love haringey

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Brendan - I really need to go back to Devran

[@ColleenJousma]

I don't think I have any ancestors who lived in London in any recent times, but you have such a good vibe your videos. Glad I followed.

[@fleurg1]

Wonderful video John. The first place I ever lived in london was in staff accommodation in st Ann’s Hospital when I was a student physio so I am familiar with the streets around there. Though as a naive 18 year old in 1977 had no idea about hidden rivers! Nice to see Salisbury Hotel is still there. Used to love the Cypriot food shops and restaurants down Green Lanes

[@AMcF54]

Thank you for another great river walk, John. I am currently buzzing with your contagious enthusiasm. Here's to the next one!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers- I’m excited about the next one

[@AzureyeLDN]

Another brilliant video JR ❤ I grew up in north London, my Mum and Dad still live off St Ann’s rd and that interesting building you pointed out in Conway Rd used to be a bath house! My dad told me he used to have to go there for one a Sunday before they had their own 😅 Also a shame you missed the Seven Sisters snail mural by Stonebridge estate, bit of a local landmark, I think you’d have liked that.

[@bt5080]

It was so fun watching your escapades through London's burrows and beyond. I'd love to visit London but for now, you've inspired me to explore the different rivers and streams of our town. We just had a major flood, and the Governor (who happens to be from Barre, Vermont) has plans to redo parts of our city. I have a feeling there are many secret or hidden undergrown waterways lerking just beneath us. Can't wait to read your book!

[@john80c]

A tremendous video, like watching a great detective at work looking for clues to the whereabouts of this mysterious tributary of the Lea-just brilliant.

[@HappyTrash1]

Conway Road building was a fire station.... I lived in Haringey as a child 😊

[@mumfnah]

Good video. I used to go over Markfield a bit, and Crouch End walk that old railway path. When mentioned Green Lanes i thought of the other old brook not too far, Salmons Brook, it cuts short bit before Green Lanes, but i used to spend a lot of my youth in that, playing round-the-world on old rope swings in the section between Bury Lodge and Edmonton County school. Like seeing all these familiar spots on your walk videos 👍🏻

[@markriley4665]

I love these lost river walks John.Loving the book - relishing every chapter. I lived off Crouch Hill in the early 80s so this is full of memories for me.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Brilliant great to hear Mark - thanks

[@taomahNEGEV]

Congrats on your new book. No rivers remain hidden. Quest completed.

[@Fourleafclover9]

Thanks john for the efforts you make one my fav channels

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Much appreciated thank you

[@dirtywaterpj_dj]

I’ve often noticed that gap in between the houses at the bottom of Uplands Road and was reminded of your river walks.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Another great walk, full of observational detail and personal anecdote; all in search of an elusive river. Wouldn't it be nice to see it flowing through those parks instead of it being culverted. I have your new book and am looking forward to reading it. Thank you.

[@damedavidfrith55]

Thanks for another cracking trip around London and very interesting and informative 😊

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks David

[@darrenrobson5977]

Hi John,not been on here for a while and what a treat a lost river walk 👍 looking forward to catching up on your videos especially the coracle

[@JohnRogersWalks]

brilliant - welcome back Darren

[@richardwhite4832]

Another wonderful walk. Many places were very familiar to me, but I had no idea that a brook was buried beneath.

[@wibblewabblewoo6249]

Really enjoyed your talk with Tim Burrows recently at Wanstead library. I’ve finished both your new book and his “invention of Essex”, both absolutely brilliant. Wonderful video - can’t wait for the new river in the future 😀

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Wonderful thank you. That was a great night

[@massimoborghi1987]

BELLISSIMO! AS ALWAYS! thanks man! FROM ITALY.. you help us to learn English language and explore London!!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Fantastic Massimo! I love Italy

[@massimoborghi1987]

@@JohnRogersWalks Remember Joho: GO ON! we need people like you... i hope you got what i mean..........

[@template16]

A fascinating video. My mother's family lived close to the junction of St Ann's and Seven Sisters Roads so this was a real trip down memory lane.Thanks John.

[@barrythomas6867]

Another great walk. Is your new book going to be available on Audible? I really enjoyed listening to your first audiobook and Iain Sinclair's two when out walking myself. Also spotted an awesome bollard at 18:51 in Haringey Passage! Hope it's listed.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Barry. I’ll possibly do the audiobook next year

[@kimrobinson6280]

fantastic as always John

[@zwerdna35]

Great walk, loved your energy and enthusiasm in this episode. Looking forwrd to the next one...

[@andrewsmith1127]

On the corner of Culvert Road opposite the school was where I went to college back in the early 80's. Was the Engineering department of Tottenham Technical collage.

[@risin4949]

Another great video, thank you. I have always been interested in our underground rivers. There is something rather sad about seeing them entombed, knowing that long ago they used to reflect sunlight.

[@davewright4380]

Just the job after a somewhat blue Monday. Inspiring and lifting as always. Thank you John. Just deciding which of your walks to try when I visited London at the end of November to see Marillion. 😮

[@JohnRogersWalks]

My pleasure Dave

[@grahamdunning]

Enjoyed that, John. Very close to where I lived for several years till recently, and have walked a lot round there too. I'd noticed some victorian "stink pipes" along Harringey Passage, and assumed they were for the New River - but makes sense that they'd be there if the passage itself follows a sewer.

[@thomasparker91]

I run/walk over the intersection of Uplands Road and Weston Park multiple times a week. Having watched your videos for a while, I'd always wondered if there was a river under there given the noise which is always coming from under those man hole covers. It was very exciting when you started heading in that direction at the start of this video, then confirmed my suspicions!

[@philburdett]

Great stuff sir! Love your river quests...

[@heidismit5261]

Another walk that is on my list. I will be following in your footsteps. Sometime next year. Wonderful as Always John!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

It’s a cracker Heidi and I recommend a stop at the Salisbury

[@hazelmaryjackson6389]

The route of the Stonebridge Brook also features in the Edith Visits web site in the entry about the Moselle river in North London

[@cdeldn2012]

Thanks John. Cracking video!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers

[@mickeythompson9537]

Really enjoyed this video, John - some really lovely Victorian housescapes.

[@bertspeggly4428]

Fascinating video, thanks. I went to Stationers school around 1960. The point where you show the Stonebridge Brook above ground in Stationers' Park was an area called "The Wilderness". It was rough open land and we were not allowed to go onto it, as it served as a buffer zone between our school and Hornsey High School for girls! I did explore it a couple of times, and never saw any kind of pond or stream. Maybe it was opened up for Stationers' Park?

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Wonderful walk - I hope you enjoyed your pint afterwards!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Timothy, it went down very well

[@EdEditz]

What a fantastic video! I love these river chasing videos. (all the others too though ^^ ) When I clicked 'Like' the counter was at 85, after I finished watching the counter was at 145.

[@CyclingSteve]

Hello John, there used to be a waterworks next to Markfield Park, now the skatepark, so I imagine what you found would have been the eventual outflow. Also I heard a crow at the end of the bit in Crowfields Rd, perfect timing.

[@patriciar2436]

this is great! I often walk in the area and will definitely go and see if i can hear the river as well! thank you for this video

[@shiprapandey43172]

Really energetic , sacred rivers 😊

[@geourgiou]

The new river is very close to where i live i live between Palmers green and Edmonton i actually used to live off green lanes Haringey towards manor house

[@mozdickson]

well done John on your new (latest) book! I feel like I was YT subscriber #3000, so it's been a journey of many walks --- and you know well which bits catch my attention, and which images I 'steal' and Tweet back at you! Haha

[@electraruby]

The clouds hovering over crowland rd are amazing

[@blossie33]

Thanks John, that was so interesting, I know those areas of London very well but had no idea about those rivers! Coincidentally, I travelled by bus from Stamford Hill to Crouch End today and I saw the Halloween display outside the club in Hornsey you featured 😄

[@UKCheeseFarmer]

Yay a Sunday video! Thanks John, just going to sit down and enjoy. Fine regards to you Sir.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Great- hope you enjoy it

[@4thEyeVision]

Great walk john thank you

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks 4thEye

[@sharrison3974]

Another great walk. Thank you.

[@hyperactive1980]

John I gave your video 5 stars 🌟 inspiring and knowledgeable is what I tagged... if you ever do a walk about in Slough please can I join you. I would love to know more about my town and learn from you...

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

The rivers of London thank you John 👏 I always get emotional when you go on a quest to find lost rivers 🥹🤭👍

[@saxovtr]

Good stuff John.👍

[@davidshearer8793]

Thank you John for another lost river walk. Thank you also for your enthusiasm, it makes your videos so much more watchable.

[@daveconyard8946]

Brilliant Thank you John

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers Dave

[@robertyoung9611]

Fascinating as ever, nice to see an area I once knew well and to be reminded of "Bolts" nightclub.

[@LoremIpsum1970]

Yet another great video, and congratulations on your new issue, which I shall be getting soon! For some reason the scene at Stationers Park, imagining it on a summer's evening, reminds me of the Paradise Garden in Arthur Machen's N.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks

[@andyl4565]

That was a real treat! Thank you.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

My pleasure Andy

[@GeorgeChoy]

Welcome back John, long time no see.

[@ArtOfCrimson-art]

You may get some urban explorers that may go looking for the Stonebridge Brook, you always make great video's...Thank's

[@maggiemitchell4359]

Fantastic walk thank you : )

[@kimdeakin7678]

Thanks john great video

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Kim

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

All that area you walked was my old stomping ground as a teenager. Haven't been back there for @ 15 years. Looks mostly the same except for that huge mosque in the area of the footbridge over the railway at the top of Burgoyne Road. Is the Railway Hotel/Pub still there on the corner? I doubt it. Is Green Lanes still a Turkish enclave or have they moved onward and outwards? We used to call it Greek Lanes back in the Eighties because it led to Palmers Greek which was a couple of miles further up the road. Thanks for the memories... I think...

[@Michaeluk61]

Intresting video John. Cheers 🍺👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Michael

[@champagnesupernova5745]

I cant get that image out of my mind, the lake in the basement with boats. Boats in use? Ancient boats? Trapped boats?

[@acefeeley7836]

Well yeah.....beer! Cheers, mate.

[@peteking4958]

Very lovely vicarious walk again with you John, always enjoy. Didn't know about the Stonebridge Brook at all but do now! Also interested to see you mentioning and showing New River. A few years ago one of my nieces moved to Green Lanes by West Reservoir, just south of Manor House tube. On first visit I got very interested in New River as it meanders around the reservoirs there and then goes underground, only to reappear in Clissold Park briefly before going underground again. That old OS map you link to in this video is one I have studied before and comparing with the modern version it is quite easy to see where New River has been buried, so I am determined to follow its course one day! Looking forward to seeing you do your New River walk as you mentioned in the above video! Would love to join you on it even! See you next time - wherever that may be...

[@mungmungie]

I like the way the local corvids commented after you mentioned Crowland Road. At about 28:34 thee are two loud "Caws" in the background, right on cue. I live right beside a lost river in Vancouver that was called Canoe Creek. Sometimes it can be heard from parkade under the building I live in. Last time I led a local history walk, I borrowed the theme of observing the urban landscape from you, and people were fascinated. Like London, I live in a city riddled with lost and hidden waterways. A handful of them have been daylighted, and about 2 km walk away there is a stream where the salmon have returned.

[@MrJohnQCitizen]

Sensational video

[@ralphwinter6421]

So many familiar locations, interesting walk John, Cheers mate...

[@JTTW1455]

I wonder what London would look like if the rivers hadn’t been culverted? Even the Fleet! The flow must rise and fall substantially with the rain, maybe it interferes with development. Cheers John, thanks for the video!

[@HappyTrash1]

There used to be a boys school 'Stationers'. It was demolished and Stationers Park was planted in the late 70/80's.

[@anniec6420]

just love your videos john....i am always astounded how i am actually interested in this subject...i am such a barbie type girl, its always interesting to go for a walk around london with you

[@andrewwood9635]

Very enjoyable walk about two watercourses I didn't know, although I'm familiar with the area. Thanks for sending the book out so quickly after my order, I hope to get round to reading it in the next couple of weeks

[@leeharlow6911]

I ordered a signed copy from Newham books look forward to reading it

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Lee