The Bow Back Rivers spent the decades after the 1950s becoming less and less attractive. People dumped car tyres, or even whole cars, into the water, and nature overgrew anywhere it could take root.
Elsewhere on Britain's waterways, however, things were starting to improve. More and more people were finding converted boats on the canals and rivers an excellent place to live or take a holiday. Walkers, cyclists and joggers used the towpaths to keep fit and get away from the city traffic.
Families could hire a boat and explore the river Lea northwards towards Luton. Boat owners could take their boat to almost any part of the 2,000 mile long waterways, if they had time.
