90
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
(26th June, 1886), in connection with a notice of the Abbey of Stratford
Langthorne. (See "Journal of Proceedings," Essex Field Club, vol. iv.,
pp. clxxxviii.—ix.)
[Mr. Cole pointed out that the flora of the marshes here was of an
estuarine character, and several brackish-water shells could still be found in the
rills or in the recent alluvium.]
The land around is very low. At Plaistow it is but 4 ft. above the Ordnance
Datum ; at the church in Stratford Road only 3 ft. ; and at Lea Bridge 4 ft.
The marshes on the N. side of Stamford Hill and Clapton are only 7 ft.
above O.D. But the waters are now well in hand. On the Lea by Hackney
Marshes there is often in summer not enough depth for a boat to pass along:
and only last week this barge on which we now are could not be taken up to
Limehouse for use of the Conservancy Board on their annual visit of inspec-
tion of the River.
Starting from Bromley Lock northward, we may note the sluices which cut
off Bow Creek from the River Lea, and we leave on the west the Limehouse
Cut, which passes along to the Thames near Regent's Canal Dock. On the
right (east side) the continuation of Bow Creek (which joins the Thames near
Canning Town and the Thames Iron Works), running north for a short distance
parallel, and then breaking up into the streams called the Channelsea, with
Abbey Creek, the Three-Mill-Wall, and the Three-Mill-Back, rivers ; the Creek
itself again joining the River Lea a little north of Three-Mill-Bridge.
The first bridge under which we pass belongs to a private road, leading to the
works of the Gas Light and Coke Company ; the next that of the London
and Tilbury Railway—and we then come to Three-Mill-Bridge, on our way
to Bow.
The Parish of Bromley St. Leonard's was mainly fields when I was young,
and on the north side of Three-Mill Lane there was, until some thirty years
ago, the remnant of a high and massive red brick wall with alcoves, a relic of the
Priory of Bromley, a Benedictine nunnery, dedicated to St. Leonard and founded
temp. William the Conqueror by the Bishop of London, for a Prioress and
nine nuns. The Manor of Bromley was the endowment ; and at the suppression
it was valued at £108 1s. 11d. "The Chapel of St. Mary, within the convent
of St. Leonard," now the parish church, is a small structure, showing remains of
Norman work, and consisted of a nave and chancel ; which was partly rebuilt,
with additions, some years since. Within this church, Elizabeth, sister of Queen
Philippa, and daughter of William, Earl of Hainhault, was buried in 1375.
There are some fine old monuments with effigies, etc., in the Church—of the time
of Elizabeth and James I.
There can be little doubt that Chaucer had the teaching given in this
convent in his mind when he wrote in the "Canterbury Tales" :
" French she spoke, ful fayre and fetisly,
After the schole of Stratforde atte Bowe,
For French of Paris was to hire unknowe."
It is worth while to mention that Weever, in his "Ancient Funeral
Monuments," 1631 (p. 541), is obviously in error when he states that a monastery
of white monks existed here, and that John de Bohun was entombed in the abbey
church. He has evidently confounded this with the Abbey of Stratford
Langthorne, on the other (Essex) side of the Lea.
We now arrive at Bow Bridge ; an interesting spot, as all authorities agree in
the statement that here was the first stone bridge ever built in England, "a rare