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Kingston Avenue, FELTHAM, TW14 9SL

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.

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.

The Duke's river and its younger companion the Longford River have flowed side by side all around the perimeter of Heathrow Airport. Now they have parted company, with the Longford heading for the Thames at Hampton Court and the Duke's continuing eastwards to join the River Crane just over 1km downstream from here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Northumberland's_River

A pub on A315 Staines Road.

The Longford River is an artificial watercourse, built in 1638 on the instructions of King Charles I, and about 12 miles or about 19 kilometres long, that takes water off the River Colne and diverts it to provide a supply to Hampton Court Gardens. The river has had several different names in the past. For example the 1895 Ordnance Survey map refers to it as "Queen's or Cardinal's River". This is the view looking downstream from the A315 Staines Road bridge. On the old Ordnance Survey map this was called White Bridge.

A short residential cul de sac between Staines Road and the Duke of Northumberland's River.

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.

The Longford River is a 17th century artificial cut to supply Hampton Court with water from the River Crane.

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