Navigating the River Lea.

O

oldgit

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Nov 2001
Messages
29,295
Location
Medway
Visit site
Wondered about attempting to get onto the River Lea this spring/summer.
Obviously aware the entrance from the Thames is via the tidal Bow Creek.
Now that they have built the new Prescott Lock is it just case of turning up or do you have to prebook.Any cost involved ?
Fairly certain will not get far upstream due to flybridge or draft but just inside would do.
Assume there must be some public mooring available after all rhat money we spent on the site etc.
Any comments,suggestions most welcome.Maybe you fancy having a go ?
 
Interesting idea, and I do fancy a go!

I was even toying with the idea of a 20' ish cheap (£3k..?) cabin cruiser (Shetland style) to do all of London's waterways and canals, 'cos me normal boat won't fit!

No Regrets, river Lea's your manor isn't it guv?
 
Indeedy!

You'll need a sub 3 metre draught to get far up, I think there is a website which I googled 'River Lea bridge heights'

Knackered both NR and FSoB from getting to our front garden! :(

thus;

The maximum size of boat that can navigate the Lee & Stort Navigations is:

headroom (River Lee): 7' 8" (2.33 metres) - Kings Weir Bridge
heardoom (River Sort): 6'10" - Keck's Bridge

draught (River Lee): 5' 11" (1.8 metres) - cill of Hardmead Lock
draught (River Stort): 4' 1" (1.24 metres)

A Sanitary Station key is required to operate locks 19 (Old Ford) to 14 (Ponders End).
A booking with Canal & River Trust (24 hours notice) is required to go through Bow Locks.
 
'scuse my ignorance of boats with hanging down- and sticky up- bits, but what's the problem with getting in via Limehouse?

The Lea has challenges with water and mud.
Whereas for blokes with lorra power, it's just a short blast to Limehouse and you don't have to make an extended booking.

I've probably missed something important - please tell.
 
We row from Greenwich Yacht Club up Bow creek and through Bow locks into the River Lee, on the many occasions we have done this trip I have never seen any motor boats going up that far.

We was also told by the lock keeper at Bow locks that Prescott would be closed for quite a few more years. We wanted to row around the Olympic site.

You can get up to the lee from Limehouse marina via Limehouse cut but that is full of weed and rubbish. The only boats that we see up there are the narrow boats with a shallow draft.

I have a Merry fisher 625 and wouldn't veture up there.
 
What draft do ou have ?

Limehouse is the best route. There are large Dutch barges that go up and you should get through with a maximum draft of 3ft.

The flybridge will be the obstacle as there are some low bridges.

oldgit said:
Wondered about attempting to get onto the River Lea this spring/summer.
Obviously aware the entrance from the Thames is via the tidal Bow Creek.
Now that they have built the new Prescott Lock is it just case of turning up or do you have to prebook.Any cost involved ?
Fairly certain will not get far upstream due to flybridge or draft but just inside would do.
Assume there must be some public mooring available after all rhat money we spent on the site etc.
Any comments,suggestions most welcome.Maybe you fancy having a go ?
Click to expand...
 
3ft down and 13ft up.

From looking online my only way in would be via Bow Creek,we are used to creeping up muddy old industrial creeks(Medway/Faversham/Conyer) etc with nothing on the depth sounder.The TNC have got a photographic record of their trip online.
All the bridges on Bow Creek look pretty high even at high tide.We need about 14ft of space about us.The PLA have also got some NTM stuff regards leisure craft using the creek.
On the CART/BW site there appears to be 24 hour moorings immediately after lock on the non tidal side of lock. Will their be space or millions of non moving tin slugs clogging of the place as on the Thames
Main concern is because it is such a monster lock,will they be reluctant to open,al la West India,for one weedy little gin palace who will probably overnight and then come back through the following morning.
Ps.Cannot find any actual details of lock phone number as it does not appear to be listed on any of the normal lock websites.
May be tempted to drive up and have a sniff around.
 
Last edited:
The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea . It runs from Hertford Castle Weir to the River Thames at Bow Creek; its first lock is Hertford Lock and its last Bow Locks. The Lee Navigation is named by Acts of Parliament and is so marked on Ordnance Survey maps. Constructed elements and human features are spelled Lee, such as the canal system and Lee Valley Park. The un-canalized river is spelled Lea, along with other natural features such as Lower Lea Valley.
 
johnmercedes33 said:
We row from Greenwich Yacht Club up Bow creek and through Bow locks into the River Lee, on the many occasions we have done this trip I have never seen any motor boats going up that far.

We was also told by the lock keeper at Bow locks that Prescott would be closed for quite a few more years. We wanted to row around the Olympic site.

You can get up to the lee from Limehouse marina via Limehouse cut but that is full of weed and rubbish. The only boats that we see up there are the narrow boats with a shallow draft.

I have a Merry fisher 625 and wouldn't veture up there.
Click to expand...

Bow Locks-what a splendid name! Makes you proud to be British.
 
We used to keep a small boat at Sringfield marina on the Lea and run out to the Thames via Bow Creek, I seem to recall (20 + years ago) the clearence as you go under Bow Flyover to be very restricted at highish water even in a Shetland Kestrel an it hasn't changed.
 
Thats more or less exactly the sort of info needed.
We would probably creep up on the first of the flood.
Usually you are fairly safe if you follow up the middle of channel unless of course the locals have developed a way of hurling shopping trolleys and BMWs 10 m from the bank.!
 
I was born almost within sight of the Lea and spent much of my misspent youth playng on or around it.
I can just remember the horse drawn coal barges that used to ply the navigation, we would help out at the locks and if we were lucky get a barge ride to the next lock.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top