BOTANY 



CHENOPODIACE/B LILIACE./E 



Chenopodium ficifolium, Sm. FritiUaria meleagris, L. 

 glaucum, L. AROIDE./E 



POLYGONACE^E Acorus calamus, L. 



Polygonum maculatum, Dyer et Trimen ALISMACE 



Rumex palustris, Sm. (limosus, Thuill.') Damasonlum stellatum, Pers. 



DISTRICT VI. THE LEA 



The Lea district is the largest, comprising the whole of the eastern portion of the county 

 south of the Cam and Ivel districts. It is bounded on the south by Middlesex, on the east 

 by Essex, on the north by the Cam and Ivel districts, and on the south-west by the Colne 

 district. A small portion of the county on the north of the Colne district and having 

 Bedfordshire for its northern boundary drains into the head of the Lea ; * and another small 

 area on the east of the Brent district is drained by a tributary of the lower portion of the 

 Lea, now however flowing into the New River. 



The Lea rises in Bedfordshire from springs in Leagrave Marsh three miles above Luton ; 

 cuts through the Chalk escarpment before it enters Hertfordshire ; and flows past Hatfield, 

 Hertford, Ware, and several towns in the south-east corner of the county. After receiving 

 on its left bank several streamlets whose waters are lost in the Chalk in dry weather, it flows 

 to Hertford, where the Mimram and then the Beane join it, and from this point downwards 

 it is navigable for barges ; the Rib adds its tribute between Hertford and Ware, the Ash 

 below Ware, and finally the Stort a little above Hoddesdon. All these rivers flow into the 

 Lea on its north or left bank. The Mimram, or Maran, rises in Lilley Bottom near King's 

 Walden and flows past Welwyn and through many beautiful parks. The Beane, or Bene, 

 formerly called the Benefician, is formed by numerous small streams rising between Sandon and 

 Weston, and is augmented at Walkern from springs in the Chalk, at Frogmore above Watton 

 by a brook from Stevenage and Knebworth, and in Woodhall Park below Watton by the 

 Munden Brook, dry in summer. The Rib rises in Kelshall Woods near Therfield, or in very 

 dry years some miles lower down its valley, passes Buntingford, and a few miles below it 

 receives the Quin, which rises at Rushing Well near Nuthamstead, and is often dry in summer 

 as far as Braughing. The Ash rises in the winter near Brent Pelham on the borders of Essex, 

 but for five miles down its valley it and its tributary streams are merely bournes, being dry in 

 the summer and autumn, and its source is then a mile below Albury, where there is a spring 

 in its bed, below which it is seldom dry. The Stort is the only affluent of the Lea, except 

 a few small brooks below Hoddesdon, which does not entirely flow through Hertfordshire. 

 Rising near Clavering in Essex, but having one of its tributary streams flowing from Scales 

 Park Wood in Herts near the source of one of the feeders of the Quin, it comes into our 

 county for a run of a quarter of a mile, then re-enters Essex, and enters Herts again at 

 Pesterford Bridge, two miles above Bishop Stortford, from which point to its junction with 

 the Lea it is navigable for barges and is called the ' Stort Navigation.' Here it serves as 

 boundary between Herts and Essex. In addition to the supply from these tributary streams, 

 the waters of the Lea are augmented on its left bank by the springs of Arkley Hole at 

 Woolmers, and on its right bank by the Chadwell Spring between Hertford and Ware. This 

 spring first dried up in 1898, and has done so in each succeeding year. Between Ware and 

 Hoddesdon the Lea was formerly augmented by Amwell Spring (Emmewell or Emma's Well), 

 but this seldom flows now, having been pumped dry by the New River Company. The 

 Chadwell Spring is fast following in its footsteps, and Arkley Hole is also being affected. In 

 course of time this lowering of the plane of saturation of the Chalk will affect the surface- 

 soil and alter the character of the flora of this district. The Chadwell Spring for many years 

 has formed the head of the New River, into which also the Amwell Spring was diverted when 

 this water-channel was constructed. The Lea leaves the county at Waltham Cross for 

 Middlesex, and flows into the Thames at Bow Creek below Blackwall. It is tidal as far as 

 Lea Bridge. Below Ware the course of the Lea has been diverted for navigable purposes, 

 and the ' Lea Navigation ' to its junction with the Stort, and ' Lea and Stort Navigation ' 

 below this point, cross and re-cross the old bed of the Lea several times. 



1 In the recent revision of the county boundary for administrative purposes this portion has been 

 transferred to Bedfordshire. 



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