Lea Br, Pond Lane

LEA BRIDGE HALF LOCK and LOCK and POND LANE

Lock	State	Date	Length	Length - Working Distance	Width	Fall	Removed or bypassed
Hackney Waterworks Pound Lock (Tidal)	Built	1761
Lea Bridge Lock	Built	1769					1853
Pond Lane Lock	Rebuilt	1865					1872
Pond Lane Flood Gates	Re-use	1872			21' 0''	~	1931
Pond Lane* (Brick and timber)	Report	1917			21' 6''
Pond Lane Flood Gates Guillotine	Built	1931	~	~		~

* Not used except for water drawing

Below Tottenham Lock the courses of the the Old Barge River and the Lee Navigation almost coincide until Lea Bridge is reached where they part company again at the weir. This was originally the site of the Hackney Waterworks and its Tidal Pound Lock (built as the Lea’s third pound lock by 1762).

11.12.1762 "to appoint a proper person to open and shut the Lock or Cistern and fflodgate standing on the River near Hackney" (NA Rail 845/2)

At a meeting on 13^th January 1768, the Trustees approved that Jeremiah Illsley of Hackney, Brickmaker, should dig “a navigable Cut from the River Lee near Hackney Waterworks into the same river near Old Ford” for “threepence a yard” (NA Rail 845/4)

The old course heads out to the east and then turns south-east and south to rejoin the Navigation below Old Ford Lock. The Hackney or Homerton Cut was built in 1769 to bypass this wandering route. Just below the junction was the Lea Bridge Half Lock.

9.10.1772 “A lock house be built at Lee Bridge for £49” (NA Rail 845/4)

On 12.1.1780 it was “Resolved that the following Locks be repaired with all convenient speed Viz. … Lee Bridge Half Lock, Hackney Marsh Brick Cistern Lock And It Is Ordered that the Surveyor do repair the same as he shall find them absolutely necessary” (NA Rail 845/5).

20.11.1793 “A Lock with double gates be put down at Lee Bridge instead of the single pair of Gates now there.”( NA Rail 845/7)

In 1850 the lock was taken out of use and removed.

View from Pond Lane towards Lea Bridge Road. The weir lies to the right behind the trees. The lock would have been in the foreground.

20.4.1894. “at the North London Police Court on the 14^th Instant, James Kits, of Bromley was fined ten shillings and two shillings costs, for navigating a steam launch at Lee Bridge beyond the rate of speed prescribed by the Bye Laws” (NA Rail 845/27)

28.6.1895. “at the North London Police Court on the 20^th instant before Mr Paul Taylor, C Judd of Lee Bridge was fined 20/- and 2/- costs, for navigating the “Clapton Belle” steam launch at a greater speed than that prescribed by the Bye Laws” (NA Rail 845/28)

A plan dated shortly before August 1857 shows Lea Bridge Lock and Pond Lane Lock which was built at Cow Bridge.

LMA ACC 2423/P/457

LMA ACC 2423/P1435 dated 16th July 1863

Nathaniel Beardmore's plan (in NA 845/15) that "the new gates shall be capable of holding up the entire Old Ford pond of water" and "to take pressure from both sides" to protect the Old Ford to Ducketts traffic from low water caused by the drawing of water at Lea Bridge" seems not to have been approved. When the extra gates were fitted between September and December 1863, they faced upstream and would not have prevented a back flow. Work was slightly delayed by the late arrival of the Granite coping and anchor stones from Cornwall.(NA Rail 845/15)

The lock was redundant by 1872 when it was "all thrown into one level from Tottenham to Old Ford".

However the structure was retained as a flood relief measure and only removed when Pond Lane Flood Gates were built further upstream.

The building of the house at Pond Lane was authorised on 15.8.1863 (at the same time as the extra gates above) and on 20.4.1883, the house was insured for £150 (NA Rail 845/23) and on 16.10.1885 Mr J Child, the Engineer, reported that "new windows had been fixed in place of the old ones which were smashed during the time between one lockman leaving and the new one coming in..." (LMA ACC 2423/002)

14.6.1907 Comment from Annual Survey “Cottage in bad state by reason of dust, etc., from Hackney Borough Council Destructor Works” ( NA Rail 845/34)

This plan, dated 31.10.1928 records the removal of Pond Lane Lock. Old Ford is to the right of the plan

LMA ACC 2423/P2088

In 1930, the lock house was re-occupied by Board employees, when the Weir keeper at Lea Bridge took up residence there.

The Conservancy House at "Strongs Cottage" was located at the western end of Strong's Bridge

Pond Lane Flood Gates

Pond Lane Flood Gates were built in the late 1920's to stop (among other things) the flooding of Hackney Marshes. They were sited just downstream of Strongs Bridge (which was removed when the gates were built) as can be seen from the plan below, although the river was not widened to the extent shown by the red line marked "Temporary piling" but to the faint black line indicated by the arrow

LMA ACC 2423/P2009

The flood gates at Pond Lane, viewed from the upstream side

18.1.1924: "This weir (Lea Bridge) is worked by Constable Fordham who resides in our cottage at the site of old Brick Lock, Homerton, and his services are mostly taken up with this duty, and as we are in need of another Police Constable to extend the Police patrols as far as Tottenham, I suggest we build a cottage on the site of Strong's cottage near the weir" Handwritten note "Agreed in principle" (LMA ACC 2423/021)

16.1.1926: It will be remembered that I reported upon the question of building a cottage on our vacant ground at Strong's cottage on January 18th, March 28th, April 11th and June 20th 1924. In my opinion it is quite necessary... (LMA ACC 2423/023)

There are separate census returns and Conservancy records for Pond Lane Lock. Pond Lane entries are included below but indicated.

Lea Bridge Half Lock, Lea Bridge Lock, Pond Lane Lock and Lea Bridge Weir

Census	Name	Title	Wife	Location given by enumerator/Comments	Census Reference
9.6.1948	R Wheeler	Weir keeper	Increase to £5.9.0. Last recorded r.o.p £8.7.11 plus 5/- On call allowance n.d.		LCB Records
4.2.1944	R Wheeler	Weir keeper	Earning £4.8.0 per week gross. Appealing against deduction of 25/- per week for house rental. Rental reduced to £1 per week		NA Rail 845/126
6.2.1942	R Wheeler	Weir keeper	Appointed ex Aqueduct Lock at £3 and house and uniform		NA Rail 845/126
6.2.1942	T Redwood	Weir keeper	Transferred to Constable (died 18.3.1945)		NA Rail 845/126 (NA Rail 845/126)
1.4.1938	T Redwood	Weir Keeper	£2.12.0 to £2.16.0		NA Rail 845/122
1.4.1937	T Redwood	Weir keeper	£2.10s to £2.12s (inc house and garden)		NA Rail 845/121
29.5.1931	Tom Redwood	Weir keeper	Letter appreciating his action in trying to rescue a boy who had drowned in the Lee just below Lee Bridge and in recovering the body		NA Rail 845/115
31.10.1930	Tom Redwood	Weir keeper			NA Rail 845/114
23.9.1904 "I have seen Mrs Sagrott - she tells me she has no money, and is in no way provided for. Her son, who is working for us, has promised to assist her by paying rent for a single room, but from what I gather, none of her family is in a position to support her. She is 78 years of age and I am afraid not able to do much work." Awarded 7/- per week pension (she died aged 86 - 12.4.1912 ( LMA/ACC 2423/012)					LMA ACC 2423/008 (NA Rail 845/39)
9.9.1904	R (Larry) Sagrott	Lock keeper, (Pond Lane)	Deceased. Formerly head dredgerman. (see below).		NA Rail 845/31
9.9.1904 "I have to report the death of Richard Sagrott (alias "Larry") who died on the 4th inst at the age of 81 years. About 16 years ago, when he was too old for hard work, he was appointed lock-keeper at this lock, his duty being principally to regulate the water levels at Lee Bridge Weir, the lock gates only being used as a lock during excessive floods. He leaves a widow aged 79 years, two sons and three daughters, all married, one son works for us....I propose to put our Lee Bridge Constable, Fordham, into the cottage when Mrs Sagrott leaves.					LMA ACC 2423/008
9.7.1897 Hearnden the Constable at Lea Bridge has sent in his resignation....we are now paying Sagrott at Pond Lane 15/- per week and house to attend to Lee Bridge Weir.... As Sagrott is past work perhaps it wouild well to appoint one good active man to do the whole duty - and give Sagrott a small pension.					LMA ACC 2423/006
31.3.1901				Lock House occupied by a dairyman	Mx/Hackney/Nth Hackney/2/29
1888	R Sagrott	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Appointed
3.3.1888	W H Billingsley	Lock keeper	Discharged		NA Rail 845/25
19.2.1886	William Henry Billingsby	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Appointed at 16/- per week		NA Rail 845/24
6.7.1883	Dobbin	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Appointed at survey		NA Rail 845/23
20.4.1883	Dobbins	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	18/- per week		NA Rail 845/23
23.6.1880	McNamara	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Appointed at survey		NA Rail 845/22
24.10.1879	James Timson	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Drowned while walking into the river on a foggy night whilst on his way to do a duty at Old Ford. £10 paid to widow		NA Rail 845/22
7.7.1876	James Timson	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Appointed at 18/- per week		NA Rail 845/20
28.4.1876	William Ralph	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Transferred from Stonebridge Lock		NA Rail 845/20
7.4.1876	Benjamin Clark	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Dismissed after conviction for stealing coals from a barge		NA Rail 845/20
	Benjamin Clark	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Transferred from Waltham Lock (Date n.k.)
10.12.1875	William Cadmore	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	To be removed		NA Rail 845/20
31.1.1873	William Cadmore	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Appeal allowed for resumption of wages at 16/-		NA Rail 845/19
1.11.1872	William Cadmore	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	Wages reduced from 16/- to 14/- per week for sinking a barge		NA Rail 845/19
1.7.1870	William Cadmore	Lock keeper (Pond Lane)	*see below		NA Rail 845/17
* reprimanded for retaining coal sacks which he should have returned and for buying coal from the bargemen on the river
16.2.1862	Thomas Cadmore	Former keeper	Died – widow requested pension 6/- per week		NA Rail 845/15
18.11.1861	Frederick Drummond	Collector (Pond Lane)	Appointed		NA Rail 845/15
18.11.1861	Henry Farrow	Collector (Pond Lane)	Death reported		NA Rail 845/15
8.4.1861				Old Lock Cottage occupied by a farrier	Mx/Hackney/Hackney/15/14
17.10.1857	Thomas Cadmore	Lock keeper	Services no longer required. "That he be placed on the Superannuation List to receive ten shillings per week and to pay two shilling a week as long as he remains"		NA Rail 845/14
15.12.1856	Henry Farrow	Collector	(at Homerton) To move to the new house at Old Ford Locks		NA Rail 845/14
17.11.1855	Thomas Cadmore	Lock keeper	16/- per week		NA Rail 845/14
21.10.1854	Thomas Cadmore	Lock keeper	16/- per week		NA Rail 845/14
21.10.1854	Henry Farrow	Collector	£1. 10. 0 per week		NA Rail 845/14
5.7.1854	Henry Farrow	Lock keeper, (Pond Lane)	“Wages be increased 2/- per week, such increase to date from when his allowance for coal and oil was stopped”		NA Rail 845/14
30.3.1851	Henry Farrow (32)	Tonnage Collector (Pond Lane)	Susan	Tonnage House	Mx/Hackney/Hackney/15/24
30.3.1851	Thomas Cadmore (59)	Lock keeper	Sally	Lea Bridge Lock	Mx/Hackney/Hackney/15/23
21.3.1848	Thomas Cadmore	Lock keeper	Wages reduced by 2/- per week		NA Rail 845/13
7.6.1841	Henry Farrow (25)	Tonnage Collector (Pond Lane)	Susan	Tonnage House	Mx/St John Hackney/Hackney/20/8
7.6.1841	Thomas Cadmore (50)	Lock keeper	Sally	Lock House Lea Bridge	Mx/St John Hackney/Hackney/20/8
18.9.1832	William Johnson	Lock keeper	In place of T Smith		NA Rail 845/11
21.8.1832	Thomas Smith	Lock keeper	Deceased		NA Rail 845/11
2.7.1825	Thomas Barker	Lock keeper	Transferred to Bromley Lock		NA Rail 845/9
17.7.1823	Thomas Baker	Lock keeper	Appointed in room of John Baker		NA Rail 845/9
26.6.1823	John Baker	Collector	Appointed		NA Rail 845/9
20.2.1818	William Dalgliesh	Collector	Appointed		NA Rail 845/9
20.2.1818	John Cowie	Collector	Deceased		NA Rail 845/9
11.6.1800	John Cowie	Collector	Appointed		NA Rail 845/7
11.6.1800	Benjamin Cock	Collector	Resigned		NA Rail 845/7
2.11.1796	Benjamin Cock	Collector	Appointed		NA Rail 845/7
2.11.1796	Penfold Thruckstone	Collector	Deceased		NA Rail 845/7
9.2.1791	Penfold Thruckstone	Collector	Appointed		NA Rail 845/6
9.2.1791	Joseph Everett	Collector	Resigned		NA Rail 845/6
1.7.1782			The collector at Lea Bridge be discharged		NA Rail 845/6
7.5.1781	Alexander Doe	Collector	Appointed		NA Rail 845/5
6.3.1780 “Collector should have increased wages of three shillings a week to enable them to give up the whole of their time to the Service of the Trust” ( NA Rail 845/5)
26.7.1779	Henry Hawes		£30 pa		NA Rail 845/5
18.12.1775	Henry Hawes		To look after Lee Bridge to Old Ford at £30 per year. Agreed for the term of three years		NA Rail 845/5
14.1.1772	Henry Hawes	Collector	Baker of Hertford appointed to look after the Locks and Navigation through Hackney Marsh and be paid 2/- per week		NA Rail 845/4 & 50
14.1.1772	William Crowley	Collector	Discharged		NA Rail 845/4
15.7.1767	William Crawley	Collector of Rates and Duties	Victualler of Hackney Appointed		NA Rail 845/50

This site was last updated 22-Sep-2010