Longford River

The Longford River is an artificial waterway that diverts water 19km from the River Colne at Longford to Bushy Park and Hampton Court Palace where it reaches the Thames on the reach above Teddington Lock.

In its northern course, it runs side by side with its "twin", the Duke of Northumberland's River, both of which have been diverted on more than one occasion to accommodate the development of Heathrow Airport. The two rivers emerge to flow along the Airport's southern perimeter, separating at 'Two Bridges' just east of Terminal 4.

The Longford River then flows south east, through Bedfont, Feltham, Hanworth and Hampton into Bushy Park and Hampton Court. One outlet is under the Water Gallery opposite the River Mole's confluence, and the other is adjacent to Raven's Ait.

Responsibility for the maintenance of the river still resides with the Royal Parks Agency.

History

Constructed in 1638 at the instigation of Charles I, the watercourse's purpose was to augment the water supply to the Royal Parks at Hampton Court and enable the development of the water features. Before the 20^th century, the river was known as the New River, the King's River, the Queen's River, the Cardinal's River, the Hampton Court Cut, and the Hampton Court Canal.

ee also

*List of rivers of England

External links

* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22382 British History Online: Harmondsworth]
* [http://www.royalparks.gov.uk/parks/bushy_park/history.cfm Bushy Park, Royal Parks Agency]
* [http://www.thisislongford.com/LongfordRiver.htm This is Longford (Longford Residents Association)]

River item line X|upstream=River Ash (north)
downstream=River Mole
River Ember (south)
thisis = Longford River, Water GalleryRiver item line X|upstream=The Rythe (south)
downstream=Hogsmill River (south)
thisis = Longford River, Raven's Ait