Thousands of people came to discover the marvels and mysteries of London's greatest lost river, at Discovering the Fleet, the unique open-air exhibition and installation in the centre of Clerkenwell as part of the London Architecture Biennale.
The exhibition celebrated this ancient river, describing how this major Thames tributary was transformed from a glorious 600ft wide tidal inlet to a buried sewer beneath London streets.
Visitors were able to follow the signs to where you can still hear the Fleet rushing beneath your feet, and see its influence on the street names around you.
All the events were a success despite the British summer rain and cold. Interest in the exhibition itself is still very much alive and there is still time to give us your river visions.
' Beneath the streets of London there are thousands of kilometers of pipes and tunnels providing Londoners with the essential services of water and sewerage on which the quality of all our lives depends. The Discovering the Fleet Project was an imaginative and exciting way of giving thousands of visitors the opportunity to discover how part of this system came into being.'
Tony Denton, Thames Water
'The influence of the River Fleet on the social and physical history of the King's Cross and Clerkenwell areas of London should not be underestimated. Will it be able to show it's face again at King's Cross in the coming years and bring a flow of new energy into revitalizing the area?
We were delighted to help in a small way with the Biennale; the large numbers and diversity of the people who took part in the events are an encouragement to all of us who want our great city to be an even more exciting place to be.'
Roger Madelin, Argent St George
'The exhibition raised awareness of the hidden heritage of our surroundings which may previously have been undervalued. This discovery played a big part in creating a stronger sense of shared community between those who live and work in this historic area.'
Anne Wolfe, PricewaterhouseCoopers
