Glimpses of the Wandle: The Past, Present and Future of a River

This talk traces the ebb and flow of history along one of the world’s most remarkable rivers, the Wandle. From the fragments of its early past – via the prose and poetry it has long inspired - to the upheavals and ironies of recent centuries, it is a story that never ceases to delight, inspire and illuminate.

Even in this brief (and admittedly partial) retelling of selected episodes in that history, the Wandle emerges as unique – what was once the chalkstream par excellence has long since served as a vital witness to, and a potent force in, the making of the modern world. And it is a river that, despite its troubled past and present difficulties, not only endures but – if given the chance – could truly flourish once more.