Picketts Lock or Pickett's Lock is an area of Edmonton, in the London Borough of Enfield. It is bordered by River Lee Navigation to the east, Pickett's Lock Lane to the south, Meridian Way A1055 to the west and the Ponders End industrial area to the north. The area takes its name from Pickett's Lock, a lock on the nearby River Lee Navigation.
History Historically the land was marshland and the hamlet here was known as Marshside. During the twentieth century the land was used for sand and gravel extraction which helped to form the waters known as the Blue Lakes.
The area was used by local people for outdoor pursuits such as shooting,Curtis, A and Speakman, F. A Poacher's Tale p52 George Bell & Sons 1960 Retrieved 6 March 2008 angling, and ferreting, and is described in Terry Webb's book An Edmonton Boy: "My playground, the River Lea has now been changed into part of the Lee Valley Regional Park; it's been changed into an official playground but it's not the same with things being done for you."Webb, T. An Edmonton Boy Chapter2 Published by Biograph in 2000 Retrieved 6 March 2008
After World War II the lakes were used for landfill. The former gravel workings were a key site for investigation of Pleistocene interglacial deposits.Ellison R.A. et al. 2004, Geology of London: Special Memoir for 1:50,000 Geological sheets 256 (North London), 257 (Romford), 270 (South London) and 271 (Dartford) (England and Wales), British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Gibbard, Philip Pleistocene History of the Thames Valley p109 Retrieved 14 March 2008
During the late 1960s the area was acquired by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) to form part of the Lee Valley Park.British History online (fn85) Retrieved 5 March 2008 The Pickett's Lock Sports Centre was designed by the Williamson Partnership with J.M.V Bishop of the (LVRPA). It was described in the Buildings of England as being "three large white functional boxes arranged around a central swimming pool, linked by generous circulation areas. Made a little less bleak by additions of 1993-4: restaurant, cafe and cinema, and an entrance block by Fitzroy Robinson & Partners". Also included were a nine-hole golf course and outdoor sports facilities and was completed by 1973 as the largest centre of its kind in Europe. One of the earliest international events held at the centre was the first World Age Group Trampoline Championships which were organised by Ted Blake. In later years, land including a disused sewage farm to the north of the centre was used to extend the golf course, and includes a man-made water known as Ponders End lake .
National Athletics Stadium
It was announced on 24 March 2000UK running track directory Retrieved 7 March 2008 that the site known as the Lee Valley Leisure Centre was to be the location of the National Athletics Stadium. Shortly afterwards it was confirmed as the venue of the 2005 World Athletics Championships. The proposed stadium would have a capacity of 43,000 and an original cost of £87m and would include new training facilities for athletes. The project was abandoned by the Government in October 2001 due to high costs and inadequate transport links and the UK withdrew as host to the 2005 World Athletics Championships.
However, the LVRPA, Sport England and UK Athletics went ahead with plans to create the most modern athletics training venue in the south of England on the site now known as the Lee Valley Athletics Centre. It was formally opened in 2007 and forms part of the Lee Valley Leisure Complex. The original 1973 Pickett Lock Sports Centre closed in 2002 and was demolished in 2004.
Transport links London buses route W8 and 191 and 192 serve the area.
The nearest accessible railway station is Edmonton Green. The West Anglia Main Line runs right through the area; albeit without a station.
In popular culture The now demolished Picketts Lock Sports Centre is featured in the BBC comedy Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, with Michael Crawford roller-skating in and around the centre.Some Mothers Do 'Av 'Em video Retrieved 16 April 2008
References
External links London High Performance Centre House of Commons, National Athletic Stadium Summary Picketts Lock bid Scrapped MPs Attack Picketts Lock Fiasco UK National Athletics Stadium Picketts Lock information