Picketts Lock
Encyclopedia
Pickett's Lock or Picketts 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.
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 which helped to form the waters known as the Blue Lakes.
The area was used by local people for outdoor pursuits such as shooting
, 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 its not the same with things being done for you."
After World War II
the lakes were used for landfill
. The former gravel workings were a key site for investigation of Pleistocene
interglacial
deposits.
During the late 1960s the area was acquired by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
(LVRPA) to form part of the Lee Valley Park
. The Pickett's Lock Sports Centre designed by the Williamson Partnership with J.V.M 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". 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 51.6352°N 0.0333°W.
It was announced on March 24, 2000 that the site known then as the Lee Valley Leisure Centre was to be the location of the National Athletics Stadium. Shortly afterwards, on April 3, 2000, it was also announced that the site would be the venue of the IAAFs, 2005 World Championships in Athletics
. 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 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. 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.
comedy Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
, with Michael Crawford
roller-skating
in and around the centre.
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
, in the London Borough of Enfield
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
. It is bordered by 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....
to the east, Pickett's Lock Lane to the south, Meridian Way A1055 to the west and the Ponders End
Ponders End
Ponders End is a place in the London Borough of Enfield, North London located in an area generally known as the Lea Valley. It is roughly located in the area either side of Hertford Road between The Ride and the Boundary Public House and Wharf Road and the Southbury railway station/Kingsway...
industrial area to the north. The area takes its name from Pickett's Lock
Pickett's Lock (lock)
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 as Ponder's End Lock it is large enough to take barges of up to 130 tons...
, a lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
on the nearby River Lee Navigation.
History
Shooting
Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
, angling
Angling
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...
, 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 its not the same with things being done for you."
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the lakes were used for landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
. The former gravel workings were a key site for investigation of Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
interglacial
Interglacial
An Interglacial period is a geological interval of warmer global average temperature lasting thousands of years that separates consecutive glacial periods within an ice age...
deposits.
During the late 1960s the area was acquired by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is a statutory body that is responsible for managing and developing the long, Lee Valley Regional Park. The park was established by Parliament in 1967. The headquarters of the authority are based at Myddleton House, Bulls Cross in the London Borough of Enfield,...
(LVRPA) to form part of the Lee Valley Park
Lee Valley Park
Lee Valley Regional Park is a long linear park, much of it green spaces, running through the northeast of London, Essex and Hertfordshire from the River Thames to Ware in Hertfordshire, England through areas such as Hackney, Tottenham, Enfield, Stratford, Tower Hamlets, Walthamstow, Cheshunt,...
. The Pickett's Lock Sports Centre designed by the Williamson Partnership with J.V.M 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". 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
Trampolining
Trampolining is a competitive Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward or backward somersaults and twists....
Championships which were organised by Ted Blake
Ted Blake
Ted Blake was an early British trampoline pioneer.Following the development of modern trampolines in the USA by George Nissen, Ted Blake was a major contributor to their nascence in the United Kingdom and in developing International Competition for trampolining.In his early years Ted went to the...
. In later years, land including a disused sewage farm
Sewage farm
Sewage farms comprise agricultural land irrigated and fertilised with sewage.A precursor to modern sewage treatment systems, household sewage was collected from towns and cities and transported to nearby farm lands. During the middle ages this was accomplished with hand-carried buckets, but as...
to the north of the centre was used to extend the golf course, and includes a man-made water known as Ponders End lake 51.6352°N 0.0333°W.
It was announced on March 24, 2000 that the site known then as the Lee Valley Leisure Centre was to be the location of the National Athletics Stadium. Shortly afterwards, on April 3, 2000, it was also announced that the site would be the venue of the IAAFs, 2005 World Championships in Athletics
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
. 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 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. Ultimately, the UK had to forfeit the right to host the 2005 World Athletics Championships. However, the LVRPA, Sport England
Sport England
Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
and UK Athletics
UK Athletics
UK Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for overseeing the governance of athletics events in the UK as well as athletes, their development, and athletics officials....
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
Lee Valley Athletics Centre
The Lee Valley Athletics Centre is located at the Lee Valley Leisure Complex formerly known as Picketts Lock in Edmonton, London Borough of Enfield, which cost £15m to build was officially opened on January 16, 2007 by Minister for the Olympics, Tessa Jowell....
which was formally opened in 2007 and forms part of the Lee Valley Leisure Complex
Lee Valley Leisure Complex
Lee Valley Leisure Complex is located at Edmonton, London and is part of the Lee Valley Park. It was formerly known as the Picketts Lock Sports Centre. It now comprises an 18 hole golf course which borders the River Lee Navigation, camping site, indoor bowls club , multiplex cinema and restaurants...
. The original 1973 Pickett Lock Sports Centre closed in 2002 and was demolished in 2004.
In popular culture
The now demolished Picketts Lock Sports Centre is featured in the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em was a BBC situation comedy, written by Raymond Allen and starring Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice.The series followed the accident-prone Frank Spencer and his tolerant wife Betty through Frank's various attempts to hold down a job, which frequently end in...
, with Michael Crawford
Michael Crawford
Michael Crawford OBE is an English actor and singer. He has garnered great critical acclaim and won numerous awards during his career, which covers radio, television, film, and stagework on both London's West End and on Broadway in New York City...
roller-skating
Roller skating
Roller skating is the traveling on smooth surfaces with roller skates. It is a form of recreation as well as a sport, and can also be a form of transportation. Skates generally come in two basic varieties: quad roller skates and inline skates or blades, though some have experimented with a...
in and around the centre.