The Lee Navigation runs from Limehouse Basin where it meets the Thames via the Limehouse Cut. It has a junction with the Hertford Union canal at Hackney Wick which provides a shortcut to the Regents Canal through London. It joins Bow Creek where boats can reach the tidal Thames through Bow Locks. The River Stort joins the navigation at Fielde’s weir.
Many parts of the Lee Navigation utilise the River Lea (note the different spelling). Parts of the River Lea were navigable in Roman times and by Elizabeth I’s reign most of the river was navigable.
The locks are all at least broadbeam locks with a minimum beam of 15’ 9”. The locks between Enfield and Hertford have a beam of 18’.
The Lea Navigation is 27 ¾ miles long from Limehouse basin to Hertford, the head of navigation, and has 19 locks.
The navigation has been improved over the centuries and just after WWI major improvements were carried out to enable 130 ton boats to reach Enfield and 100 ton boats to reach Ware and Hertford. In the 1960s the locks were mechanised and duplicated so today’s locks are marked as dating from 1/1/1960.
It should be noted that one of the first pound locks in the country was built in 1577 on this river at Waltham Abbey.
Throughout its history, the Lee Navigation was mainly financed through traffic in timber; however, nowadays nearly all traffic is pleasure craft.
Lock 1 - Hertford lock (7' 11")
Lock 2 - Ware lock (7' 9")
Lock 3 - Hardmead lock (5' 6")
Lock 4 - Stanstead lock (8' 4")
Lock 5 - Feilde's Weir lock (5' 7")
Lock 6 - Dobb's Weir lock (5' 1")
Lock 7 - Carthagena lock (5' 0")
Lock 8 - Aqueduct lock (5' 6")
Lock 9 - Cheshunt lock (5' 1")
Lock 10 - Waltham Common lock (4' 10")
Lock 11 - Waltham Town lock (4' 3")
Lock 12 - Ramney Marsh lock (3' 3")
Lock 13 - Enfield lock (9' 7")
Lock 14 - Ponders End lock (7' 4")
Lock 15 - Pickett's lock (6' 5")
Lock 16 - Stonebridge lock (6' 6")
Lock 17 - Tottenham lock (6' 9")
Lock 18
This lock no longer exists and I can find no reference to it anywhere.
Lock 19 - Old Ford lock (6' 5" - 9' 5")
Lock 20 - Bow locks (Tidal)
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