We have already had a look in class at a number of famous rivers in different parts of the world, such as the Amazon, the Nile, the Mississippi and the Ganges. You will remember the most famous river in England!
Here is a map of the River Thames.
New vocabulary:
trade route – a long distance route along which commercial goods are transported
tidal – affected by the tides, which is the rising and falling of the sea
The River Thames is 215 miles long and has been an important trade route throughout its history. Some people believe that the Romans may have been influenced by the Thames when they were choosing where to build London. According to the Museum in Docklands, the river was probably only tidal to where the City of London now sits when the Romans were choosing a site.
There are 44 locks on the non-tidal Thames, which begins near the town of Cirencester and ends at Teddington Lock. The first bridge in the capital was located where the current London Bridge stands. It has been rebuilt many times since the Romans first constructed a river crossing there around 2,000 years ago.
Before engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette built London’s sewer system, much of the capital’s waste was dumped in the river. In 1858, the stench from the river was so overpowering that Parliament had to be suspended and the government decided to find a way to rid the Thames of sewage!
This is a modern picture of the Thames at night.Questions:
1) Throughout its history, what has the River Thames been important for?
2) Who were some of the first people to build over this enormous river?
3) Why do you think the bridges have had to be rebuilt so many times over the years? (You might want to read a little more about the London Bridge as well, but to answer this question, think about materials.)
4) What major changes took place in London in the middle of the 1800s which affected the Thames in a very big way? What needed to be done and why? (Hint: think of a powerful word we've discussed in class which means a horrible, disgusting ____!)
Now, what can you find out about river locks? Remember, land isn't very often flat, so how do boats travel through the country? Write a few facts to explain what river locks are for and how they work.
Can you find out about any river locks used in Bradford?
Happy learning!
