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Cakey
Guest
p.s. when you get to the bottom of the page click on "the tour continues" for the rest of the Lee and Stort
Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
I found that very interesting Cakey, I've listened to people talk about the Lee for donkeys years, how good it was, not the river it was etc. and do you know what, thats the first time I've seen it. Its nothing like I imagined it to be but I don't even know what I imagined it to be, it just doesn't fit the mental image I've always had of it.
It certainly looks an interesting river thats for sure and what better way to see it all than from a boat, lovely piccies too. Thanks for that mate, I enjoyed it.
It certainly looks an interesting river thats for sure and what better way to see it all than from a boat, lovely piccies too. Thanks for that mate, I enjoyed it.
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ED (The ORIGINAL and REAL one)
Guest
I didn't expect it to be like that --its very canalised isn't it?
I was expecting it to be more like a river than a canal
I was expecting it to be more like a river than a canal
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Cakey
Guest
I lived and grew up in Stanstead Abbotts and the Lee was my front garden and once a year we would have to take everything upstairs while it flooded for a few days ,my Mum still has pictures of me sitting on the mantlepiece with my feet in the water.
so they had to alter the route of the Lee here and there and build a flood relief channel and do all the banks which were eroding big time from all the flooding which is why it now looks canalised
so they had to alter the route of the Lee here and there and build a flood relief channel and do all the banks which were eroding big time from all the flooding which is why it now looks canalised
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paul williams 2
Guest
The Severn may look that way to our chidrens children oneday?
This is only one aspect of the Lee/Lea though. Just downstream from these pics, where the "Old River" branches off at Kings Weir, is a couple of miles of some of the most picturesque "small river" you could wish for. Faster flowing gravel runs with Ranunculus and streamer weed, interspersed with deeper runs, overhanging Willow and Alder, sharp S-bends and straights with an average of 7 to 12 yds width; you could be forgiven for keeping an eye out for Izaak wandering the banks.
The Kings Weir/Fishers Green stretches are classic Barbel/Chub territory. Once you've fished there, it's difficult to find anywhere else to compare, like for like.
It's a bit of a shame, however, that with the current rise (and rise) of the "Barbel Scene" and it's Fanatical Adherents, these places are no longer appreciated (and treated) for what they are.
The Kings Weir/Fishers Green stretches are classic Barbel/Chub territory. Once you've fished there, it's difficult to find anywhere else to compare, like for like.
It's a bit of a shame, however, that with the current rise (and rise) of the "Barbel Scene" and it's Fanatical Adherents, these places are no longer appreciated (and treated) for what they are.
Fishing Gimp
Active member
Who was the very attractive woman in the picture on a canal boat....sorry got to go and get my glasses fixed.
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ED (The ORIGINAL and REAL one)
Guest
Cakeys wife ......
Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
Are there chub and barbel all the way through the Lee or are they just in certain spots?
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Cakey
Guest
mainly weir pools and the old lee/lea
its the only rive I know with two spellings ......both right
its the only rive I know with two spellings ......both right
Depends on time of year for the Nav fish, Summer/Autumn - as Cakey says. Winter/Spring both species can be found/caught(!) along the regular navigation channel as well. The increase in flow/colour pushes them out of the Weir Sills where they otherwise spend the warmer months.
I believe the "Old River" is the Lee, and the Nav is referred to as the Lea.
God only knows why, bored bureaucrats, maybe?!
I believe the "Old River" is the Lee, and the Nav is referred to as the Lea.
God only knows why, bored bureaucrats, maybe?!
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Cakey
Guest
The spelling Lea is predominant west (upstream) of Hertford, but both spellings are used from Hertford to the River Thames; the Lee Navigation was established by Acts of Parliament and should be so spelt.......
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Cakey
Guest
just found this................Is it Lee or Lea?
The original spelling was Ley - but since 1570 all acts of parliament have said Lee. As a result, most official names have been spelt Lee, e.g. Lee Conservancy Board (1868), Lee Valley Regional Park (1967), etc.
The first occurance of Lea was probably on a map dated 1576, and most maps since have continued to call the river the Lea, but refer to the canalised sections as the Lee Navigation. North of Hertford, the river is therefore nearly always known as the Lea. South of Hertford, although the Lee Navigation and River Lea are often two separate channels running side by side, they often join up for a distance, and most maps now say "River Lea or Lee" to cover both possibilities!
The "correct" spelling is open to debate and can be the cause of many heated discussions, none ever reaching a conclusion. Throughout this site you will find both spellings, but the latest Ordnance Survey map of the district (Explorer 174) is titled "Epping Forest & Lee Valley". In general though, it is equally acceptable to refer to the Lea Valley district, just as it is to visit the Lee Valley Trading Estate, but it is wrong to write about the Lea Valley Park - that should be spelt Lee!
The original spelling was Ley - but since 1570 all acts of parliament have said Lee. As a result, most official names have been spelt Lee, e.g. Lee Conservancy Board (1868), Lee Valley Regional Park (1967), etc.
The first occurance of Lea was probably on a map dated 1576, and most maps since have continued to call the river the Lea, but refer to the canalised sections as the Lee Navigation. North of Hertford, the river is therefore nearly always known as the Lea. South of Hertford, although the Lee Navigation and River Lea are often two separate channels running side by side, they often join up for a distance, and most maps now say "River Lea or Lee" to cover both possibilities!
The "correct" spelling is open to debate and can be the cause of many heated discussions, none ever reaching a conclusion. Throughout this site you will find both spellings, but the latest Ordnance Survey map of the district (Explorer 174) is titled "Epping Forest & Lee Valley". In general though, it is equally acceptable to refer to the Lea Valley district, just as it is to visit the Lee Valley Trading Estate, but it is wrong to write about the Lea Valley Park - that should be spelt Lee!
Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
Education specialists, in an attempt to excuse bad spelling in schools say it doesn't matter how a word is spelt as long the reader understands the meaning, I suppose they would claim the Lee/Lea is a prime example of this.
Like most people, I spell instinctively and when I wrote that post it never occurred to me to write Lea (a meadow?) which is why I wrote Lee. Confusion would arise if there were two rivers, one the Lee and the other the Lea but as there isn't it doesn't matter does it?
Are you a boat/barge owner as well Cakey?
Like most people, I spell instinctively and when I wrote that post it never occurred to me to write Lea (a meadow?) which is why I wrote Lee. Confusion would arise if there were two rivers, one the Lee and the other the Lea but as there isn't it doesn't matter does it?
Are you a boat/barge owner as well Cakey?
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Cakey
Guest
no but I own a bucket...........
the strange thing with the Lea\Lee thing is at Bow the river is called the Lee and the bridge that crosses it is called Lea bridge
the strange thing with the Lea\Lee thing is at Bow the river is called the Lee and the bridge that crosses it is called Lea bridge
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Chris Bishop
Guest
Cakey, good to see you back on the scene after your recent trip to the quack. Rgds, Chris Bishop.
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Cakey
Guest
cheers mate .........Ive one trip left to the London Heart Hospital on the 1st of Nov if that dont get put back like the last one............