122 



HUGH MYDDELTON. M.P. 



PART II. 



ments were run out, provision had of course to be madr 

 for the passage of the surface waters from the west 

 of the line of works into the river Lea, which forms 

 the natural drain of the district. In some cases these 

 drainage waters were conveyed under the New River in 

 culverts, and in others over it by what were termed 

 flashes. 1 Openings were also left in the banks for ilic 

 passage of roads under the stream, the continuity of 

 which was in such cases maintained either by arches or 

 timber troughs lined with lead. One of these troughs, 

 at Bush Hill, near Edmonton, was about 660 feet lon.u 1 , 

 and 5 feet deep. 2 A brick arch also formed part of this 





THE BOARDED RIVER FORMERLY AT BUSH HILL. 

 [After a Drawing in the Gentleman's Magazine,' Vol. T,IV.] 



1 At each of these " flashes " there 

 were extensive swamps, where the 

 flood-waters were upheld to such a 

 level as to enable them to pass over 

 the flash, which consisted of a wooden 

 trough, about twelve feet wide and 

 three deep, extending across the river ; 

 and from these swamps, as well as from 

 every other running stream, such appa- 

 ratus w r as introduced as enabled the 

 Company to avail themselves of the sup- 

 ply of water which they afforded, when 



required. Mr. Mylne is of opinioi i thai 

 the river, as originally constructed by 

 Myddelton, obtained quite as large a 

 supply from the grass lands along the 

 hill-sides as was obtained from the 

 Hertfordshire springs. 



2 The trough was lied together by 

 imposts seven inches by three; the 

 uprights were eight inches by lour, 

 with a height of six feet, like but- 

 tresses ; the uprights resting on eighty 

 brick piers two-and-a-half feet high, 



