Tyburn Brook facts for kids

This old map from 1884 shows the area around the Tyburn Tree and Ossulstone. Today, this spot is known as Marble Arch. You can see the small brook in the middle.

The Tyburn Brook was a tiny stream that flowed into a larger stream called the Westbourne. It ran mostly through Hyde Park in London for a short distance. Over time, this little brook lost its water. This happened because of natural drainage into the ground and also because of human-made sewers. These sewers collected both rainwater and wastewater.

Today, the brook's original source is still underground. It now feeds into a mix of these modern drainage systems. The famous lake in Hyde Park, The Serpentine, used to be fed by the Westbourne. Now, it gets its water from three special boreholes instead. It's important not to mix up the Tyburn Brook with the much longer River Tyburn. People often confused them until the early 1800s. Both streams were located west of the old walls of the City of London.

What Was the Tyburn Brook?

The Tyburn Brook was a very small stream, also known as a tributary. It was like a small branch feeding into a bigger river. Its main job was to carry water from a small area into the Westbourne. This stream was not very long, only flowing for a few hundred meters.

Where Did the Tyburn Brook Flow?

The brook's path was mainly within the beautiful green space of Hyde Park. It flowed in a south-southwest direction. If you were walking in Hyde Park many years ago, you might have seen its waters. The area it collected water from was quite small.

Why Did the Tyburn Brook Disappear?

The Tyburn Brook no longer flows above ground. Its water has gone into the ground and into London's underground systems.

• Natural Drainage: Some of the water soaked into the gravelly soil.
• Sewers: As London grew, people built sewers. These pipes collected surface water and wastewater. The brook's water was redirected into these systems.

In the early Victorian times, some sewers even mixed both types of water. This meant the brook's water became part of a larger, hidden network.

Tyburn Brook vs. River Tyburn: What's the Difference?

It's easy to get these two names mixed up because they sound similar. However, they were very different streams.

• The Tyburn Brook was a short, small stream. It flowed only a little way through Hyde Park.
• The River Tyburn (sometimes called Ty Bourne) was much longer. It flowed for many miles through different parts of London.

For a long time, people often confused them. Both streams were located to the west of the old city walls of London. But they were separate waterways.