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the level of the water was only 1 foot 8 inches below the level at the bridge,
thus showing the slope of the surface of the water to be almost uniform, and
proving that the weir caused scarcely any perceptible obstruction. The
water in the North Mill Field rose to 23.43. and in the marshes north of the
Lea Bridge Road it was 23.72. The Lea Bridge Road was under water
between the Company's entrance gates and just west of the bridge over the
Company's canal.
In 1894 no water covered the road, and I believe none of the houses were
flooded.
The Hackney Marshes have been embanked, and no water can spread
over them or reach the various branches of the river at lower levels. All the
marshes on the Essex side were under water. Should these be banked
eventually the backing up of the river to even higher extent than on the 6th
and 7th February, must ensue in times of great floods.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM B. BRYAN.
Dr. J. King Warry,
39, Filey Avenue, Clapton, N.E.
The opinion expressed by many persons, and here shared by
Mr. Bryan, as to the cause of the flood, is that the Hackney Marshes
have hitherto acted as a reservoir or a channel for the diversion of
any extra flood waters should the river rise above a certain height,
and that the embanking of the Marsh has cut off this relief, hence
the flooding of some other part.
While this is no doubt a reasonable explanation, I do not think
it goes far enough. I understand that the Hackney Marshes are
not the only lands which have been embanked to prevent flooding
from the river. The immense reservoir recently completed was
constructed on a site contiguous to the river, and which I have
every reason to believe used to receive storm waters on the same
occasions as the Hackney Marshes. Moreover, certain works have
been carried out under the Lea Valley Drainage Act, 1892, for the
prevention of flooding of lands adjacent to the river. The net result
of these works has been to allow storm waters to get into the lower
parts of the river without causing any floods ; but it is obvious that
unless the outlet for storm waters from the lower part of the river is
increased in the same proportion, the river must get overcharged
and overflow its banks.