Longford River

The Longford River is an artificial waterway built in 1638–39 for King Charles I. It diverts water 19 kilometres from the River Colne to Bushy Park and Hampton Court Palace. The river’s main outlet is above Molesey Lock, with smaller channels feeding above Teddington Lock. North of the A30 road its course has been altered several times as Heathrow Airport expanded. Cascades, grassed banks and fountains in Bushy Park were restored and reopened in 2009. The river was designed by Nicholas Lane and cost £4,000 to construct. It was once called the New River, the King’s River and the Hampton Court Cut. During the Second World War the park housed the USA Air Force and General Eisenhower planned the D-Day landings there. Restoration work in the 21st century removed 1.5 metres of silt from the ponds and revealed hidden steps in the cascades. Visitors find grassy banks, fountains and circular ponds in Bushy Park. A statue of Arethusa stands in the centre of one pond, moved from Somerset House by Oliver Cromwell and repositioned by Sir Christopher Wren in 1713. The Baroque water gardens were reopened in 2009 after a £780,000 restoration. At Hampton Court Palace the river feeds the Long Water canal and semicircular parterres designed by Wren. Three radiating avenues stretch into Hampton Court Park.