The Muswell Stream is a watercourse in the

London Borough of Haringey The London Borough of Haringey (pronounced , same as Harringay) is a London borough in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation o ...

, and one of the

subterranean rivers of London The subterranean or underground rivers of London are or were the direct or indirect tributaries of the upper estuary of the Thames (the Tideway), that were built over during the growth of the metropolis of London. They now flow through culver ...

''London's Lost Rivers''
(2011) Paul Talling, Random House, pp148-150 It originates in

Muswell Hill Muswell Hill is a suburban district of the London Borough of Haringey, north London. The hill, which reaches over above sea level, is situated north of Charing Cross. Neighbouring areas include Highgate, Hampstead Garden Suburb, East F ...

from three source rivers. The largest of the springs is now under a private home on Muswell Road. In the 12th century, the spring was on land that belonged to the Bishop of London and was used as farmland. Healing powers were attributed to this source and it was therefore consecrated to the Virgin

Maria Maria may refer to: People * Mary, mother of Jesus * Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages Place names Extraterrestrial * 170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877 * Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, ...

and a chapel built in its place for the

pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...

to take place. According to tradition, Scottish king

Malcolm IV Malcolm IV ( mga, Máel Coluim mac Eanric, label= Medieval Gaelic; gd, Maol Chaluim mac Eanraig), nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" (between 23 April and 24 May 11419 December 1165) was King of Scotland from 1153 until his death. He was the eldest ...

is said to have been healed by the water of the spring. In 1875 one of the was diverted to a lake in Alexandra Park. The part of the park in question was sold in 1899, the lake drained and the watercourse moved underground to build Grove Avenue and Rosebery Road. The Wood Green and Hornsey laundry used water from the Muswell Stream in the 1890s. The watercourse was completely submerged in the 1920s and 1930s. Underground water reservoirs should not always successfully ensure that the watercourse absorbs large amounts of precipitation from its catchment area. The mouth of the Muswell Stream in the

Pymmes Brook Pymmes Brook is located in North London and named after William Pymme, a local land owner. It is a minor tributary of the River Lea. The brook mostly flows through urban areas and is particularly prone to flooding in its lower reaches. To ...

is the last visible part of the watercourse.

References

{{authority control Rivers of London Geography of the London Borough of Haringey Subterranean rivers of London