Lea Valley Walk Directions: From Clapton Station turn right out of the station and continue Section 4 (Lea Bridge to Three Mills) along Clapton Road. Turn right onto Southwold Road, cross the North Mill Fields and turn right on to the Lee Navigation towpath. Version 2 : April 2012 Continue south and cross the river at Pond Lane Bridge onto the far bank, with the wall of the Middlesex Filter Beds A on the left. Take a stroll round the nature reserve before continuing on the towpath. The Middlesex Filter Beds were built in 1852 to supply clean drinking water Start: Towpath at end of Southwold Road / to London. They have now become a walled nature reserve. Don’t miss the North Mill Fields (TQ354867) two works of art by local artists: Nature’s Throne, nicknamed ‘Ackney Enge’, Hackney’s own version of Stonehenge and Rise and Shine Magic Fish, the Station: Clapton heads and tails of three giant ceramic fish that pop up out of a shallow pond. Finish: Bromley-by-Bow (TQ380825) Hackney Marsh is in The Guinness Book of Records for the largest Station: Bromley-by-Bow collection (88!) of full-sized football pitches in one place. Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) Return to the towpath and walk under Cow Bridge. Hackney Marsh opens Introduction: Section 4 starts at Clapton station and finishes at Three Mills, up to the left. Pass under the B112 Homerton Road and then under the two a distance of 2 miles, - or you can continue on section 5 to Limehouse branches of the A12 East Cross Route. Basin. The Lee Navigation between these two roads is known as the Hackney Cut. The walk takes you alongside the Lee Navigation where you may see The towpath continues alongside the Olympic Park B so look out for passing narrow boats whilst users can also take in a view of the Olympic diversions. park and witness the transformation of the Lower Lea. Hackney Wick station can be reached by taking the footbridge. Passing Places of interest along this section are the Middlesex Filter Beds, Hackney under a railway bridge and a road bridge the canal arm of the Hertford Union Marsh, The Greenway, St Mary le Bow Church and Three Mills. There are Canal C branches off to the right, leading to Victoria Park. picnic spots along the way and cafés and pubs at Lea Bridge and Three Mills at Bromley-by-Bow. The Hertford Union Canal is probably the shortest canal in Britain at just over one mile. It connects the Regent’s Canal with the Lee Navigation and London underground services operate from Bromley-By-Bow station, which Bow Creek; this avoids the long haul around the Isle of Dogs. It’s also is a short 5 minute walk from Three Mills. known as Duckett’s Cut after Sir George Duckett who financed the project in 1830 and charged a toll of one shilling per ton of goods he carried to get his money back. Continue along the towpath to Old Ford Lock where the River Lea joins the Navigation. The four red-brick lock keepers cottages at Old Ford Lock were used for the Three Mills is a remarkable collection of historic industrial buildings with the Big Breakfast television programme until 2002. Grade I 18th century House Mill as its centrepiece. This is the largest tidal mill left standing in Britain. Cross the bridge over the Lea and turn right to continue south (turning left would lead to the Olympic Park and the Bow Back Rivers). Pass the To reach Bromley-by-Bow station turn left from the Tow Path up Three Mill entrance to The Greenway on the left. The Capital Ring leaves the Lea Lane keeping the Tesco supermarket to the left. Turn left onto Hancock Valley Walk at this point. Follow The Greenway to reach Pudding Mill Lane Road and then left onto the busy A12 Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach. station. Take the subway on the left to reach the station. Continue along the towpath of the River Lea. Notice the large red brick This walk finishes at Bromley by Bow station. Section 5 continues to building over to the right before going under the railway. This is the Bryant Limehouse Basin. and May building, D scene of the famous Match Girls’ Strike. The Bryant and Mays factory, built in 1861, was made famous by the London Match Girls’ strike of 1888. This was brought about by the appalling working conditions with highly toxic phosphors; they were so bad the girls were said to glow in the dark. The present building dates from 1911 and produced matches until 1979 when it was converted to residential use. The Lee Navigation runs close to the A12 East Cross Route; follow the new floating boardwalk under the roundabout. Bow Road and Bow Church stations can be accessed by going up to the roundabout and turning right although take care with the traffic here - Bromley-by-Bow is the same distance ahead. Bow Church and the statue of the Victorian Prime Minster, W E Gladstone, marooned in the middle of Bow Road, will find a better setting as part of the Olympic Boulevard. Bow Bells are world famous: 'I do not know says the Great Bell of Bow', runs the nursery rhyme, Oranges and Lemons. Dick Whittington turned back when he heard the Bells calling him to be Lord Mayor, and being born within the sound of the bells makes you a true Londoner or Cockney. Continue for a short stretch until another ramp leads onto Three Mill Lane. E Turn left to visit Three MilIs and the café and explore part of the Bow Back Capital Ring rivers. Section 4 (Lea Bridge to Three Mills) page 2 www.walklondon.org.uk .