12 



ROMNEY MARSH AND 



PART I. 



was extensively adopted. 1 But by far the most interest- 

 ing and important early work of tins class was the em- 

 bankment of the Thames, now become the great high- 

 way between the capital of Britain and the world. It 

 may not be generally known, but it is nevertheless 

 true, that the Thames is an artificial river almost from 

 Richmond to the sea. Before human industry confined 

 it within its present channel, it was a broad estuary, in 

 many parts between London and Gravesend several 

 miles wide. The higher tides covered Plumstead and 

 Erith Marshes on the south, and Plaistow, East Ham, 

 and Barking Levels on the north ; the river meandering 

 in many devious channels at low water, leaving on either 

 side vast expanses of rich mud and ooze. Opposite the 



MAP OF THE VALLEY OF THE THAMES (WESTERN PART). 

 [Ordnance Suivey.] 



City of London, the tides washed over the ground now 

 covered by Southwark and Lambeth ; the district called 

 Marsh still reminding us of its former state, as Banks! dc 

 informs us of the mode by which it was reclaimed by 

 the banking out of the tidal waters. 



A British settlement is supposed to have been formed at 



1 There is a tradition extant to the 

 effect that Goodwin Sands were once 

 dry land protected by embankments, 

 and that in consequence of a rate levied 

 for their repair having been diverted 

 towards the building of Tent mien 

 Steeple, the sea burst in and swallowed 



up the land. Hence the well-known 

 proverb, otherwise inexplicable, of 

 " Tenterden Steeple the cause of ( iood- 

 win Sands;" though, if tin- tradition be 

 founded on fact, it possesses the usual 

 l>ertinence of most old proverbs. 



