ABSTRACT
H e also speaks of Flete river, or river of the "Wells, so named in a charter granted by William the Conqueror to the college of St. Martin-le-Grand, and once navigable to Oldbourne bridge.3
As its population "mighti ly increased," streams within the city became foul, and citizens were "forced to seek fresh waters abroad."1 I n London, as in other cities, the obligation of furnishing water, and of furnishing it gratuitously, rested on the corporation. Accordingly, in the reign of Henry I I I . , they obtained leave to construct conduits,2 bringing water from the Tyburn, at Paddington. Royal letters patent, bearing date 1236, set forth that this grant was " for the profit of the city, and good of the whole realm thither repairing: to wit, for the poor to drink, and the rich to dress their meat."3 Many small conduits existed in various thoroughfares; but, according to Stow, the first cistern of lead, castellated with stone, in the City of London, called the Great Conduit in "West Cheap, was begun to be built in 1285.4 Into this open fountain, or cistern, was brought water from the Tyburn. From the same brook the monks at Westminster were supplied by pipes. In 1432, Tyburn water was taken to another point in the city, at the expense of Sir John Wells, Mayor ; in 1438 it was carried from the same source into Fleet Street and Aldermanbury by Sir William Eastfield, Mayor; and streams at Highbury were brought into Cripplegate.5 Such gifts, or benefactions, were not then uncommon. They distinguished a term of office, or were offered in charity; and there
1 Stow, p . 11.
