Talking Hugh

Today I did something new. I used the bar code scanning app on my phone and got a call to tell me about Hugh Myddelton.   He was the driving force and finance behind the New River; an engineering project in the 1600s to bring fresh water from  Hertfordshire to Islington. Then the only source of water in London other than the Thames very much cleaner. The New River is still in place today.  I had heard of it but had no idea it was so old.  Sir Hugh was ahead of his time in realising that the poor of London needed clean drinking water. His statue was unveiled by William Gladstone in 1872 which is why Hugh is looking a little weathered.  (see extra)