The Lee Valley: An Industrial River System and Heritage Landscape

This chapter is based on primary research and fieldwork in the Lower Lee Valley, East London. It arises from a 3 year AHRC-funded project (2014-17): Towards Hydrocitizenship, under the Connected Communities programme.

Urban water-based landscapes offer a particular combination of cultural (buildings, infrastructure) and natural heritage, where nature has been shaped and scarred by agricultural, industrial and domestic occupation over time. The rediscovery of urban waterfronts and nature as amenity and recreational areas, and as premium housing development locations, presents a particular challenge for heritage conservation and re-use. The value placed upon these relics of water heritage is however clear, providing an unique example of vernacular architecture and as inspiration for sustainable development, where ecosystems and human settlement can co-exist – provided that cultural values are embedded in the planning and re-use options for these special sites.

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