Etymology
The name of the River Lea was first recorded in the 9th century, although is believed to be much older. Spellings from the See more

Upper Lea
The source of the Lea is usually said to be at Well Head inside Waulud's Bank, a neolithic See more

The ecological, landscape and recreational importance of the river and its surrounding land has been recognised through inclusion in a number of parks and by several planning policy designations.
Management and designations
Much of the river … See more

London Bridge Is Falling Down
Various versions of the nursery rhyme London Bridge Is Falling Down make reference to Bow … See more

The line of the Lea, and its major tributary, the Stort, has long been used as a political boundary. In the Iron Age the Lea and Stort valleys formed a hotly contested frontier zone … See more

Crossings
In the Roman era, Old Ford, as the name suggests, was the most downstream crossing point of the River Lea. This was part of a pre-Roman … See more

In their early days, Tottenham Hotspur played their games at Tottenham Marshes on the Middle Lea while Leyton Orient have had a number of home grounds in the Lower Lea Valley, with both having their current grounds within a mile of the river. See more