Bow Back Rivers or
Stratford Back Rivers is a complex of waterways between
Bow and
Stratford in east London, England, which connect the
River Lea to the
River Thames. Starting in the twelfth century, works were carried out to drain Stratford Marshes and several of the waterways were constructed to power
watermills.
Bow Creek provided the final outfall to the Thames, and the other channels were called
Abbey Creek,
Channelsea River,
City Mill River,
Prescott Channel, Pudding Mill River, Three Mills Back River, Three Mills Wall River and
Waterworks River.