CHAP. IV. 



TIN-: NK\V 1,'IYKK COMPLKTKD. 



121 



originally presented a fall of about 2 inches in the 

 mile, and its City end was at the level of about 82 feet 

 above what is now known as Trinity high water mark. 

 Where the fall of the ground was found inconveniently 

 rapid, a stop-gate was introduced at such places across 

 the stream, penning from 3 to 4 feet perpendicularly, 

 the water flowing over such weirs down to the next 

 level. 



By the charter granted by King James, power was 

 p veil to Myddelton to negotiate and arrange for sufficient 

 land to form a watercourse of 10 feet in width, together 

 with a right or easement to pass with carts and horses 

 along either side of the stream, for the purpose of 

 cleansing and repairs. The bridges over the stream 

 were about a hundred and sixty in number, mostly of 

 timber, and they were invariably executed with a water 

 way under them not exceeding 10 feet. Taking the 

 width of the original river at 10 feet, the probability is 

 that it could not have been more than 4 feet in depth. 



To accommodate the cut to the level of the ground 

 as much as possible, numerous deviations were made, 

 and the river was led along the sides of the hills, from 

 which sufficient soil was excavated to form the lower 

 ba i ik of the intended 

 stream. Each valley 

 was traversed on one 

 side until it reached 

 a point where it could 

 be crossed ; and there 

 an embankment became necessary, in some cases of 

 from 8 to 10 feet in height, along the top of which 

 the water was conducted in a channel of the dimen- 

 sions above stated. In those places where embank- 



many wayes adorned with buildings," 

 &c. The basin is now thrice its ori- 

 ginal size. The house adjoining it, 

 1>:-1 nixing to the Company, was erected 

 in 1613, but having been Dew-fronted 



in 1782, and more recently enlarged, 

 it has lost all external appearance of 

 antiquity. A view of it is to be 

 found in Lewis's ' Islington.' 



