ON THE LEA VALLEY. 7 



An interesting feature in the marshes has been the presence 

 of a disused channel of the Lea, which is partly included within 

 the boundaries of the southern and partly within those of the 

 northern reservoir. Towards the north-eastern corner of the 

 southern reservoir at the spot marked (s) were found the remains 

 of the old vessel described in the newspapers at the time of its 

 discovery as a " Viking ship." It was seen on excavating from 

 the old channel of the Lea a few feet southward, and had, doubt 

 less, sunk in the then existing channel, which has since, possibly 



Photograph of Section in New Reservoirs. Taken by Mr. F. Meeson during 

 the visit of the Geologists' Association in April, igoi. 



in consequence of the presence of the obstruction, been deflected 

 a few feet towards the north. Another excavation made at this 

 spot from the old channel northward showed that the channel 

 had there, in more or less recent times, been deflected south- 

 ward. This was demonstrated by the presence of fine gravel 

 and sand containing irregular deposits of shells and vegetable 

 remains, which were banked against 6 feet or more of ordinary 

 alluvial clay, as shown in Fig. 6. Where this disused channel 

 took a fairly straight course, the gravel in it was often diff"used 



