16
LEA VALLEY.
marshes, which were unusually favourable to such habitations.
In mediaeval and later times the marshes were deserted, and the
inhabitants of the river valley lived on older river deposits above
the reach of floods, and obtained their water supply from the
lower beds of the gravel on which their
houses stood. And in the case of isolated
dwellings, protection from robbers was
obtained by the digging of a moat around
the premises which was supplied with
water from the same source. Moated
houses of this kind are not uncommon in
southern Essex and elsewhere, though at
the present day the moats are often more
or less filled up.
APPENDIX II.
Channels of the River Lea.
Though Norden's Map of Essex (1594),
shows the Lee with two or three channels
from Waltham Abbey to its outfall into
the Thames, the map of Beacontree Hun-
dred and the adjacent parts of South-west
Essex in Morant's History of Essex (1768),
reveals but one channel below Waltham
Abbey. Of Waltham Morant remarks :—
"Waltham is the most considerable place
in this Half Hundred, to which it gives its
name, and also to part of the Forest of
Essex.. . 'Tis situated near the river Ley,
where its parting into several streams,
forms divers little islands."
Both the above-mentioned maps are

Fig. 9. The River Lea,
from its junction with
the Stort southward, as
shown on Norden's Map
of Essex (1594). W, Wal-
tham; C, Outrall of the
Ching; T. Tottenham;
S, Stratford.
doubtless trustworthy in their record of the
number of channels locally existing in
their respective periods, though without
claims to minute accuracy as regards the
shaoe of some island enclosed by the
streams, or other points of that kind.
[Both Mr. Holmes and the Secretary desire to record their grateful thanks to Mr.
Sharrock, Messrs. S. Pearson & Son's representative at the works, to Col. Byan, the
Engineer to the East London Water Company, and to Mr. Traill and Mr. Marsh, Assistant
Engineers, for much kind aid and sympathy during the numerous visits made to the
works.—Ed.]