HERTFORDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
lxix 
Amwell Hill was formerly the site of a British encampment, 
which has very recently been demolished. 1 ‘ This rude British fortress 
was at a later period occupied successively by the Romans and 
Hanes, the latter being driven out by King Alfred. The importance 
of the position is evident from the fact that on its northern 
and eastern fronts it formed a strong natural fortress commanding 
the navigation of the Lea, and adjoined the Ermine Street on the 
west.” * 
Coming to more recent times, Amwell is a spot of classic interest, 
for it always will be associated with the memory of old Izaak 
Walton, who made it the scene of his first lessons in angling. “On 
Amwell Hill, before sunrise, Piscator kept tryst with his friend 
Yenator, and having, as he relates, merrily killed a bitch-otter and 
her helpless young ones.they adjourned to an honest 
ale-house.before commencing the more serious business 
of the day, on the banks of the River Lea.”f 
Amwell is also of interest in connection with the origin of the Hew 
River Company, of which Cussans gives the following account :J— 
“ In 1609, Hugh Myddleton, goldsmith, of London, and M.P. for 
Denbigh, his native town, proposed to the Corporation of London to 
bring a stream of water from Amwell and Chadwell to Islington, at 
his own expense. The Corporation gladly accepted his offer, and in 
May, 1609, the work was commenced.” Owing chiefly 
to the opposition of landowners, “Myddleton had only completed 
about one-fourth of the distance, at an expense of about £3000, 
when he was compelled to petition the King for a royal grant, in 
order to finish the work. James [I.] acceded to Myddleton’s 
request, and on the 2nd of May, 1612, entered into an agreement 
to pay one-half of the expenses already incurred, as well as of the 
future expenses, receiving in consideration therefor, a 1 moiety of 
the interest in, and profits to arise from, the Hew River for 
ever.’. The total amount paid by the Crown, extending 
over a period of four years, was £8609 14s. 6^.,” one-half of the 
expense. “At length, on Michaelmas Day, 1613, the great work 
was completed, and the Hertfordshire water flowed into the 
reservoir—it was called a 1 cistern ’ then—at Islington.” . 
“ On the 21st of June, 1619, the shareholders were incorporated 
into a company, of which Sir Hugh—he had been knighted on the 
completion of the work'—was elected Governor. The number of 
shares was 72, half of which belonged to Sir Hugh, and the other 
half to the King. The former, however, had disposed of all his 
shares except two.” It was 20 years before the first dividend was 
declared, and that was only £15 3s. 3d. per share, or about 6 per 
cent. “ Eor some years the affairs of the Company remained in an 
unsatisfactory state ; the wooden troughs and conduits required 
constant repairs, and Charles I., who was sorely pressed for money, 
* Cussans, ‘Hist. Herts,’ Hertford Hundred, pp. 119-120. 
f lb ., p. 120. 
X ‘ Hist. Herts,’ Braughing Hundred, pp. 145-147. 
