River celebrates birthday

The New River celebrated its 400th birthday on Sunday with District Council chairman Graham McAndrew raising a glass of tap water at the Gauge House where it starts.

Completed on 19th September 1613, the New River is in fact an aqueduct. taking water from the River Lea, via Gauge House on The Meads, to North London. It carries up to 220 megalitres every day for treatment - eight per cent of London's daily water consumption.

Cllr McAndrew said: "The New River is an amazing feat of engineering that rises in our district and it's still a vitally important source of drinking water for Londoners. It's also very attractive and has become an important wildlife link over the centuries. Anyone who's feeling more adventurous can walk the full 25 miles for a fascinating historical journey to its end at Sadler's Wells in London."