Barking Creek Flood Barrier, Barking, Greater London
Barking Creek joins the River Roding to the River Thames. It is tidal up to the Barking Barrage (a weir), which controls the water level through Barking. The flood barrier is part of the flood defence system for London and is normally closed before the Thames barrier. The barrier was built over a period of four years and completed in 1983. It is about 60 metres high, and was needed to be this size to allow shipping to reach the Town Quay in Barking further upstream. It is lowered when needed. In the 1850s the creek was home to England's largest fishing fleet. The fish were landed at the Town Quay and stored in ice houses prior to being transferred to London's fish markets.
