The
Fleet River was once one of the major rivers of London. Rising in the
Hampstead area and flowing down to the Thames (augmented on tis way
by Turnmill Brook, or the river of Wells), the Fleet was once navigable
to Holborn. After the the Great
Fire of London in 1666 the Fleet was dredged (many Roman and Saxon
utensils and artefacts being discovered during this operation) so that
barges could once again wend their way to Holborn Bridge. At this time
the Fleet was walled in stone and brick, and there were wharves on either
side to a depth of 35 feet and lined with warehouses for storing provisions
and coals.
The
Fleet had four bridges of Portland stone during most of the Georgian
period, at Bridewell, Fleet Street, Fleet Lane and Holborn.
Despite
all good intentions, the Fleet soon became choked with sewage and rubbish
- people referred to it as a ditch rather than as a river - and in 1734
Parliament passed an act to arch over the Fleet, resulting in the creation
of Fleet Market.
The
Fleet River, once wide and deep enough for the Roman ships to anchor
in, is now used entirely as a sewer.