Coppermill Stream
Encyclopedia
The Coppermill Stream is located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest
at Walthamstow
in an area generally known as the Lea Valley
. It is a minor tributary of the River Lea and approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) long. The stream is part of a Site of Metropolitan Importance
.
the stream flows in a southerly direction under Ferry Lane A503. Flowing under the Gospel Oak to Barking Line
then flowing between the Walthamstow Reservoirs
and the East Warwick Reservoir
. Before passing through the Coppermill and close to the Coppermills Water Treatment Works. Flowing parallel with Coppermills Lane and skirting Walthamstow Marshes
before passing under the Lea Valley Lines
and merging with the River Lee Navigation
at the Lee Valley Marina close to Springfield Park
.
copper
was brought to the mill from Landore
, Swansea
, Wales
via the Thames by barge
. The copper ingots were used to produce penny
and halfpenny tokens
. Production ceased in 1857. Before milling copper the mill can be traced back to the 14th century when corn
was ground . In the 1670s the mill was used in the production of gunpowder
. Later in 1690 for rolling paper
. In 1712 as a leather
mill and its next use in the manufacture of linseed oil
. The mill was purchased by the East London Waterworks Company
in the late 1850s and the mill was modified to drive a water pump
to assist in the building of reservoirs on nearby marshland. Today the mill is owned by Thames Water
.
Works was completed in 1969 and is owned and managed by Thames Water
. In 2005, work was undertaken to link the works to the London ring main via the Northern Extension tunnel. It was completed in 2009 and enables the facility to be a major supplier of water to the London
area.
including the barbel
.
.
London Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is in northeast London, England. Officially, it forms part of Outer London as it borders Essex. However, it can be seen that the NE London boundary does not extend far compared to elsewhere in the city...
at Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
in an area generally known as the Lea Valley
Lea Valley
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...
. It is a minor tributary of the River Lea and approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) long. The stream is part of a Site of Metropolitan Importance
Site of Nature Conservation Interest
Site of Nature Conservation Interest is a designation used in many parts of the United Kingdom to protect areas of importance for wildlife and geology at a county scale...
.
Course
Rising close to and fed by water from the Low Maynard ReservoirLow Maynard Reservoir
Low Maynard Reservoir is located in Walthamstow in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The storage reservoir is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain and supplies drinking water to London.- History:...
the stream flows in a southerly direction under Ferry Lane A503. Flowing under the Gospel Oak to Barking Line
Gospel Oak to Barking line
The Gospel Oak – Barking Line is a railway line in north and east London which connects Gospel Oak in North London and Barking in East London as part of the London Overground network. It is sometimes known as the Goblin , although this is a nickname rather than an official title...
then flowing between the Walthamstow Reservoirs
Walthamstow Reservoirs
The Walthamstow Reservoirs are located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest at Walthamstow. They form part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain which supplies drinking water to London, and are owned and managed by Thames Water....
and the East Warwick Reservoir
East Warwick Reservoir
East Warwick Reservoir is located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest at Walthamstow. The storage reservoir is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain and supplies drinking water to London...
. Before passing through the Coppermill and close to the Coppermills Water Treatment Works. Flowing parallel with Coppermills Lane and skirting Walthamstow Marshes
Walthamstow Marshes
Walthamstow Marshes, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI. It was once an area of lammas land — strips of meadow used for growing crops and grazing cattle....
before passing under the Lea Valley Lines
Lea Valley Lines
The Lea Valley Lines are three commuter lines and two branches in North East London, so named because they run along the valley of the River Lea...
and merging with the River Lee Navigation
River Lee Navigation
The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea . Its course runs from Hertford Castle Weir all the way to the River Thames at Bow Creek. The first lock of the navigation is Hertford Lock the last being Bow Locks....
at the Lee Valley Marina close to Springfield Park
Springfield Park (London)
Springfield Park is a park in Upper Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney in north London. The park was formed in 1905 from the grounds of three private houses, one of which still survives as a cafe...
.
Coppermill
The stream is named after the Coppermill. The mill was purchased by British Copper Company in 1808. The smeltedSmelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
was brought to the mill from Landore
Landore
Landore is the name of an electoral ward, a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. The community does not have a community council....
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
via the Thames by barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
. The copper ingots were used to produce penny
Penny
A penny is a coin or a type of currency used in several English-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currency system.-Etymology:...
and halfpenny tokens
Token coin
In the study of numismatics, tokens are coin-like objects used instead of coins. The field of tokens is part of exonumia. Tokens are used in place of coins and either have a denomination shown or implied by size, color or shape...
. Production ceased in 1857. Before milling copper the mill can be traced back to the 14th century when corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
was ground . In the 1670s the mill was used in the production of gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
. Later in 1690 for rolling paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
. In 1712 as a leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
mill and its next use in the manufacture of linseed oil
Linseed oil
Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil, is a clear to yellowish oil obtained from the dried ripe seeds of the flax plant . The oil is obtained by cold pressing, sometimes followed by solvent extraction...
. The mill was purchased by the East London Waterworks Company
East London Waterworks Company
The East London Waterworks Company was one of eight private water companies in London absorbed by the Metropolitan Water Board in 1904.The company was founded by Act of Parliament in 1806, and in 1845 the limits of supply were described as "all those portions of the Metropolis, and its suburbs,...
in the late 1850s and the mill was modified to drive a water pump
Water Pump
Water Pump is one of the neighbourhoods of Gulberg Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is near main Water Pump that supplies fresh water to the city of Karachi....
to assist in the building of reservoirs on nearby marshland. Today the mill is owned by Thames Water
Thames Water
Thames Water Utilities Ltd, known as Thames Water, is the private utility company responsible for the public water supply and waste water treatment in large parts of Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Kent, and some other areas of in the United Kingdom...
.
Coppermills Water Treatment Works
The Copppermills Water TreatmentWater treatment
Water treatment describes those processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use. These can include use as drinking water, industrial processes, medical and many other uses. The goal of all water treatment process is to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the...
Works was completed in 1969 and is owned and managed by Thames Water
Thames Water
Thames Water Utilities Ltd, known as Thames Water, is the private utility company responsible for the public water supply and waste water treatment in large parts of Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Kent, and some other areas of in the United Kingdom...
. In 2005, work was undertaken to link the works to the London ring main via the Northern Extension tunnel. It was completed in 2009 and enables the facility to be a major supplier of water to the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
area.
Ecology
The clean flowing stream is home to many species of coarse fishCoarse fishing
Coarse fishing is a term used in the United Kingdom and Ireland for angling for coarse fish, which are those types of freshwater fish other than game fish . The sport and the techniques used are particularly popular in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.-History:The term "coarse fishing"...
including the barbel
Barbus barbus
Barbus barbus is a species of freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family of minnows and carps. It shares the common name "barbel" with its many relatives in the genus Barbus and is properly known as the Common Barbel.B...
.
Recreation
Day tickets are available for anglingAngling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
.