LONDON SERIES—
THE LEA/LEE
THE LEA RIVER FLOWS THROUGH AN URBAN VALLEY AND JOINS THE THAMES IN EAST
LONDON. IN THE 18TH CENTURY, ENGINEERS TURNED THE LEA INTO A CANAL—LEE
NAVIGATION—SO BOATS COULD REACH NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE COMMERCIAL GOODS
WERE MADE. TODAY, NARROW BOATS DON’T CARRY RAW MATERIALS, BUT INSTEAD
PROVIDE HOUSING AND TRANSPORT FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. PREPPING FOR THE 2012
SUMMER OLYMPICS, GOVERNMENT IS NOW CONVERTING THE LOWER LEA WATERSHED INTO
HOUSING, PARKS, AND SPORTS FACILITIES. THE LEA/LEE IS ENTERING A POST-INDUSTRIAL
MAKEOVER—AN ENGLISH GARDEN-STYLE REGENERATION. REMAINING POCKETS OF
WILDERNESS ALONG DERELICT RIVERBANKS WILL BE GONE SOON.
Bow Back River, 2005.
