The Effra as it flows through Vauxhall

[edhistory]

Go to any web-site about the Effra and you will read it joins the River Thames at Vauxhall Bridge.

Look at any map reconstructing the overground course of the Effra and it will show the same.

Check out photos of the impressive Victorian sluice-gate next to Vauxhall Bridge and you will see the bold name-plate "EFFRA" above.

Here is an extract from the 1681 map of Vauxhall Manor. I did an irregular crop to show all the river bank from Lambeth Palace.

The map shows two branches of a "Common Sewer".

So, the Lord of the Manor commissions a map of his land and it does not show the Effra crossing it, just two common sewers.

All those historic associations about Queen Elizabeth taking her barge up the Effra to Dulwich?

John K

[mikeb]

basing this on how it's described in the map? note the "common sewer" in St John's land - maybe just the term the mapmaker was using for small streams? Are any of the other rivers shown e.g. Falcon, Wandle, Tyburn?

Also, half his land is described as "clay fields" (where Claylands Rd is now) - not exactly flattering to the good lord either?

[edhistory]

Mike,

At this point "sewer" meant open ditch.

That St John belonged to the Battersea family that owned land in East Dulwich.

Productive clayfields were a marker for valuable land.

I'm pretty sure that the Effra entered Lambeth Marsh near the Brockwell Park Scour.

John K