Brixton’s Lost River reminds us to protect our waterways |

Brixton is the last place many would think there would be a river.

But as early as the 1800s the River Effra flowed from West Norwood to the Thames via Brixton High Street as one of its main tributaries.

From the mid-19th century, Brixton began to be developed – eventually into the urban center it is today – and the river was paved over and turned into a sewer system.

The fate of the Rivers Effra is a sad reflection of the way our rivers are treated in Britain.

Out of 1500 rivers today, only three have bathable status, while most are polluted with sewage and garbage.

Water companies, including Thames Water, pumped 3.6 million hours of sewage into rivers and seas in the past year alone, The Guardian reported in March.

If the treatment of British waterways remains the same, other rivers in the UK could face the same fate.

In fact, the River Effra is just one of London’s 12 hidden rivers, which include the River Fleet below Hampstead and the River Tyburn that flows below Buckingham Palace.

John Rogers, the creator behind @JohnRogersWalks filming the capital’s lost river path said: “Rivers are why we’re here.”

Image Credits: Photo by Lewis Patrick on Unsplash