Picketts Lock

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Picketts Lock
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Picketts Lock
Location within Greater London
OS grid reference TQ362937
London borough
Ceremonial county Greater London
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town LONDON
Postcode district N9
Dialling code 020
Police Metropolitan
Fire London
Ambulance London
UK Parliament
London Assembly
List of places
UK
England
London
51°37′34″N0°01′57″W / 51.626033°N 0.032471°W / 51.626033; -0.032471

Picketts Lock or Pickett's Lock is an area of Edmonton, in the London Borough of Enfield. It is bordered by River Lee Navigation to the east, Pickett's Lock Lane to the south, Meridian Way A1055 to the west and the Ponders End industrial area to the north. The area takes its name from Pickett's Lock, a lock on the nearby River Lee Navigation.

Contents

History

Lee Valley Athletics Centre Lee Valley Athletics Centre DSC00558.jpg
Lee Valley Athletics Centre

Historically the land was marshland and the hamlet here was known as Marshside. During the twentieth century the land was used for sand and gravel extraction [1] which helped to form the waters known as the Blue Lakes.

Pickett's Lock Picketts Lock.jpg
Pickett's Lock
Cinema at the Lee Valley Leisure Complex Lee Valley Cinema.jpg
Cinema at the Lee Valley Leisure Complex
The stone is inscribed with the following words. This stone commemorates the opening of the Picketts Lock Centre by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on 13th June 1973 - This block of granite was formerly a keystone of the London Bridge which spanned the River Thames from 1831-1968 Picketts Lock Centre.jpg
The stone is inscribed with the following words. This stone commemorates the opening of the Picketts Lock Centre by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on 13th June 1973 – This block of granite was formerly a keystone of the London Bridge which spanned the River Thames from 1831–1968

The area was used by local people for outdoor pursuits such as shooting, [2] angling, and ferreting, and is described in Terry Webb's book An Edmonton Boy: "My playground, the River Lea has now been changed into part of the Lee Valley Regional Park; it's been changed into an official playground but it's not the same with things being done for you." [3]

After World War II the lakes were used for landfill. The former gravel workings were a key site for investigation of Pleistocene interglacial deposits. [4] [5]

During the late 1960s the area was acquired by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) to form part of the Lee Valley Park. [6] The Pickett's Lock Sports Centre designed by the Williamson Partnership with J.M.V Bishop of the (LVRPA) It was described in the Buildings of England as being "three large white functional boxes arranged around a central swimming pool, linked by generous circulation areas. Made a little less bleak by additions of 1993-4: restaurant, cafe and cinema, and an entrance block by Fitzroy Robinson & Partners". [7] Also included were a nine-hole golf course and outdoor sports facilities and was completed by 1973 as the largest centre of its kind in Europe. One of the earliest International Events held at the centre was the first World Age Group Trampoline Championships which were organised by Ted Blake. In later years, land including a disused sewage farm to the north of the centre was used to extend the golf course, and includes a man-made water known as Ponders End lake 51°38′07″N0°02′00″W / 51.6352°N 0.0333°W / 51.6352; -0.0333 .

National Athletics Stadium

It was announced on 24 March 2000 [8] that the site known then as the Lee Valley Leisure Centre was to be the location of the National Athletics Stadium. Shortly afterwards, on 3 April 2000, it was also announced that the site would be the venue of the 2005 World Athletics Championships. The proposed stadium had a capacity of 43,000 and an original cost of £87m and included new training facilities for athletes as part of the design for the High Performance Centre. The project was completely abandoned by the Government in October 2001 on the grounds of increased costs and inadequate transportation links. [8] Ultimately, the UK had to forfeit the right to host the 2005 World Athletics Championships. However, the LVRPA, Sport England and UK Athletics went ahead with plans to create the most modern athletics training venue in the south of England on the site to be known as the Lee Valley Athletics Centre which was formally opened in 2007 and forms part of the Lee Valley Leisure Complex. The original 1973 Pickett Lock Sports Centre closed in 2002 and was demolished in 2004.

The now demolished Picketts Lock Sports Centre is featured in the BBC comedy Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em , with Michael Crawford roller-skating in and around the centre. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Enfield</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Enfield is a London borough in North London. It borders the London boroughs of Barnet to the west, Haringey to the south, and Waltham Forest to the southeast. To the north are the districts of Hertsmere, Welwyn Hatfield and Broxbourne, and to the east is Epping Forest District in Essex. The local authority is Enfield London Borough Council. Enfield's population is estimated to be 333,794; the main towns in the borough are Edmonton, Enfield, Southgate and Palmers Green. Enfield is the northernmost London borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enfield, London</span> Suburb of London

Enfield is a large town in north London, England, 10.1 miles (16.3 km) north of Charing Cross. It had a population of 156,858 in 2018. It includes the areas of Botany Bay, Brimsdown, Bulls Cross, Bullsmoor, Bush Hill Park, Clay Hill, Crews Hill, Enfield Highway, Enfield Lock, Enfield Town, Enfield Wash, Forty Hill, Freezywater, Gordon Hill, Grange Park, Hadley Wood, Ponders End, and World's End.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Navigation</span> Canalised river in Hertfordshire and London, England

The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea. It flows from Hertford Castle Weir to the River Thames at Bow Creek; its first lock is Hertford Lock and its last Bow Locks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of London</span> Overview of the geography of London

London is the largest urban area and capital city of the United Kingdom. It is located in the southeast of Great Britain. The London region covers an area of 1,579 square kilometres (610 sq mi), and had a population of 8.982 million in 2019 and a population density of 5,596 people per square km as of 2021. A larger area, referred to as the London Metropolitan Region or the London Metropolitan Agglomeration covers an area of 8,382 square kilometres (3,236 sq mi), and had a population of 12,653,500 and a population density of 1,510 people per square kilometre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmonton, London</span> District of London, England

Edmonton is a town in north London, England within the London Borough of Enfield, a local government district of Greater London. The northern part of the town is known as Lower Edmonton or Edmonton Green, and the southern part as Upper Edmonton. Situated 8.4 miles (13.5 km) north-northeast of Charing Cross, it borders Enfield to the north, Chingford to the east, and Tottenham to the south, with Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill to the west. The population of Edmonton was 82,472 as of 2011.

Enfield Lock is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, north London. It is approximately located east of the Hertford Road between Turkey Street and the Holmesdale Tunnel overpass, and extends to the River Lee Navigation, including the Enfield Island Village. The locality gains its name from the lock on the River Lee Navigation. Today's Enfield Lock was rebuilt in 1922. The area forms part of the Lee Valley Park and the Enfield Lock Conservation Area. On its eastern boundary Enfield Lock has marshland formerly used as a testing site between the Royal Small Arms Factory and the Gunpowder Mills, beyond this is the village of Sewardstone and the Epping forest boundary. To the south is Brimsdown, the north Waltham Cross and to the west Bullsmoor and Freezywater. Enfield Lock forms part of the London boundary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Enfield</span>

The London Borough of Enfield is the northernmost of the Outer London boroughs. The borough lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt, and several of its 123 or more parks and open spaces are part of it. The ancient Enfield Chase, remnants of which still exist, occupied much of the area. In addition to many playgrounds and sports facilities, the main areas of public open space are:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enfield Wash</span> Human settlement in England

Enfield Wash is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, North London. It is approximately located in the area either side of Hertford Road between Ordnance Road/Turkey Street and Bell Lane/Hoe Lane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brimsdown</span> Human settlement in England

Brimsdown is a neighbourhood of eastern Enfield in the London Borough of Enfield, north London, on the west side of the mid-to-lower Lea Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ponders End</span> Human settlement in England

Ponders End is the southeasternmost part of Enfield, north London, centred on the Hertford Road. Situated to the west of the River Lee Navigation, it became industrialised through the 19th century, similar to the Lea Valley in neighbouring Edmonton and Brimsdown, with manufacturing giving way to warehousing in the late-20th century. The area features much social housing, with streets also lined with suburban terraced housing from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Lea Valley, the valley of the River Lea, has been used as a transport corridor, a source of sand and gravel, an industrial area, a water supply for London, and a recreational area. The London 2012 Summer Olympics were based in Stratford, in the Lower Lea Valley. It is important for London's water supply, as the source of the water transported by the New River aqueduct, but also as the location for the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain, stretching from Enfield through Tottenham and Walthamstow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forty Hill</span> Suburb in Enfield, London

Forty Hill is a largely residential suburb in the north of the London Borough of Enfield, England. To the north is Bulls Cross, to the south Enfield Town, to the west Clay Hill, and to the east Enfield Highway. Prior to 1965 it was in the historic county of Middlesex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Valley Leisure Complex</span>

Lee Valley Leisure Complex is located at Edmonton in the Middle Lea Valley, and is part of the Lee Valley Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Valley Athletics Centre</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkey Brook</span> River in the northern outskirts of London

Turkey Brook is a river in the northern outskirts of London. It rises in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, and flows broadly eastwards to merge with the River Lea Navigation near Enfield Lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pymmes Brook</span> River in north London

Pymmes Brook is located in North London and named after William Pymme, a local land owner. It is a minor tributary of the River Lea. The brook mostly flows through urban areas and is particularly prone to flooding in its lower reaches. To alleviate the problem the brook has been culverted in many areas. Part of it is a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salmons Brook</span> River in London

Salmons Brook is a minor tributary of the River Lea, located in the London Borough of Enfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lea Valley Walk</span> Long-distance footpath in South East England

The Lea Valley Walk is a 50-mile (80 km) long-distance path located between Leagrave, the source of the River Lea near Luton, and the Thames, at Limehouse Basin, Limehouse, east London. From its source much of the walk is rural. At Hertford the path follows the towpath of the River Lee Navigation, and it becomes increasingly urbanised as it approaches London. The walk was opened in 1993 and is waymarked throughout using a swan logo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuffley Brook</span> River in Hertfordshire, England

Cuffley Brook is a tributary of Turkey Brook. It runs through parts of Hertfordshire and the London Borough of Enfield, England. After the confluence of the two streams in Whitewebbs Park, the watercourse continues eastwards as Turkey Brook to join the River Lea near Enfield Lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pickett's Lock (lock)</span>

Pickett's Lock is a lock on the River Lee Navigation in the London Borough of Enfield, England and is located near Edmonton, London. It gives its name to the surrounding area of Picketts Lock. In common with other locks as far upstream as Ponder's End Lock it is large enough to take barges of up to 130 tons. However it has not been upgraded to power operation and so it must be manually operated. It has gate paddles but these do not have gate baffles to mitigate the rush of water into the lock.

References

  1. "Edmonton: Economic history". A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 161-172. 1976. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  2. Curtis, A and Speakman, F. A Poacher's Tale p52 ISBN   0-7135-0969-4 George Bell & Sons 1960 Retrieved 6 March 2008
  3. Webb, T. An Edmonton Boy ISBN   1-903981-00-X Chapter2 Published by Biograph in 2000 Retrieved 6 March 2008
  4. Ellison R.A. et al. 2004, Geology of London: Special Memoir for 1:50,000 Geological sheets 256 (North London), 257 (Romford), 270 (South London) and 271 (Dartford) (England and Wales), British Geological Survey, Keyworth, ISBN   0-85272-478-0
  5. Gibbard, Philip Pleistocene History of the Thames Valley p109 ISBN   0-521-40209-3 Retrieved 14 March 2008
  6. British History online (fn85) Retrieved 5 March 2008
  7. Cherry, Bridget; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1998). London 4: North. The Buildings of England. p. 426. ISBN   0-14-071049-3.
  8. 1 2 UK running track directory Retrieved 7 March 2008
  9. Some Mothers Do 'Av 'Em video Retrieved 16 April 2008