Submerged London: A sneak preview

On a sunny afternoon, while we were basking in the success of the Open Weekend, the high tide swept us off our feet, reminding me of ‘After London or Wild England', by Richard Jefferies: "At the eastern extremity the Lake narrows, and finally is lost in the vast marshes which cover the site of the ancient London. Through there, no doubt, in the days of the old world there flowed the river Thames. By changes of the sea level and the sand that was brought up there must have grown great banks, which were obstructed by the Thames. I have formerly mentioned the vast quantities of timber, the wreckage of towns and bridges which was carried down by the various rives, and by none more so than by the Thames. These added to the accumulation, which increased the faster because the foundations of the ancient bridges held it like piles driven in tfor the purpose. And before this, the river had become partially choked from the cloacae of the ancient city which poured into it through enormous subterranean aqueducts and drains...

...After a time all these shallows and banks became well matted together by the growth of weeds, of willows and flags, while the tide, ebbing lower at each drawing back, left still more mud and sand. Now it is believed that when this had gone on for a time, the waters of the river, unable to find a channel, began to overflow up into the deserted streets, and especially to fill the underground passages and drains, of which the number and extent was beyond all the power of words to describe. These, by the force of the water, were burst up, and the houses fell in."