IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Richmond Avenue, FELTHAM, TW14 9SG

This is an artificial river about 12 miles long. The "This is Longford" website http://www.thisislongford.com/LongfordRiver.htm tells us it was dug on the orders of Charles I. In 1638 he wanted water from the Colne to supply Hampton Court. The river runs from Longford, now at the north east corner of Heathrow Airport. Until recently it ran under the airport, but with the building of the 5th terminal it has been diverted around the south of the airport. The river remained crown property, and some bridges over it have the royal cypher.

The Duke of Northumberland's River is an early artificial waterway taking water from the Colne to the Crane and to Syon Park. A British History Online article on East Bedfont from the Victoria County History of Middlesex says it is "said to have been made by the convent of Syon in the time of Henry V." The water has been used for Twickenham and Isleworth mills and there were disputes between the mill owners who wanted the water for power, and the Dukes of Northumberland who wanted it for lakes in Syon Park. The river ran across the site of Heathrow Airport, was put into pipes underneath in the 1940s, but has recently been diverted around the south of the airport - see also Image

An artificial cut from River Colne to River Crane, originally built in the 16th century to augment the water supply for the Duke's mills. The building of Heathrow Airport required considerable diversion, but here it remains on the original route. Looking upstream.

An artificial cut from River Colne to River Crane, originally built in the 16th century to augment the water supply for the Duke's mills. The building of Heathrow Airport required considerable diversion, but here it remains on the original route. Looking downstream.

This western section of the Duke of Northumberland's River was constructed during the reign of King Henry VIIIth. It takes water from the River Colne and was designed to supplement the flow to existing mills. This view looks westwards from the footbridge on the path just north of Richmond Avenue in Bedfont

This western section of the Duke of Northumberland's River was constructed during the reign of King Henry VIIIth. It takes water from the River Colne and was designed to supplement the flow to existing mills. This view looks eastwards from near the footbridge on the path just north of Richmond Avenue in Bedfont and although the bank appears in the photograph to be accessible, there is no access.

This western section of the Duke of Northumberland's River was constructed during the reign of King Henry VIIIth. It takes water from the River Colne and was designed to supplement the flow to existing mills. This view looks eastwards from the footbridge on the path just north of Richmond Avenue in Bedfont.

Colonial Road heading to Bedfont Lane