Sussex Road to Cutthroat Wood


Above and below: The section of feeder just off Sussex Road, with its wider than usual accomodation bridge, looking like a tunnel of sorts

The feeder near the southern end of Sussex Road. 
To continue towards North Hillingdon, one must cross a field that eventually meets the A40 Westway. In a short distance the path meets the Hillingdon Trail once again, which we use as far as Windsor Avenue.
The Hillingdon Trail follows the left-hand (or east side) of the field whilst the feeder runs on its right hand side. However its not possible to see the feeder unfortunately because of sheer undergrowth. Once the A40 Westway is reached, take the path that leads along with the Yeading Brook through the long bridge under the Westway. The feeder can be seen behind a fence to the west just a few feet away, where its water is deiverted into the Yeading Brook.
On the far side there’s another underpass, at which one can turn left along the pedestrain/cycleway route. Almost immediately to the right can be seen a brick wall. If one manages to look over this wall another section section of the feeder can be seen. In a short distance it is breached and its waters pass into the Yeading Brook.

Ickenham Marshes looking south. The path’s the Hillingdon Trail. The feeder runs along the right edge of the field but is quite inaccessible.

End of the working section of the feeder by the A40. Water from West Ruislip empties into the Yeading Brook (out of sight on right.)
      
The Yeading Brook/pedestrian route on the north side of the Westway. On the south side is the underpass that meets the pedestrian/cycle lane.
Part of the feeder’s course remains hereabouts but runs underground. It carries very little water and probably serve to drain excess from the A40.
    
‘The Wall’ and a view of the feeder as it emerges from its long tunnel under the Westway. Clearly not much use these days!
Return to the pedestrian/cycleway and go the other way until a junction with Windsor Avenue is met. Go down here and shortly turn left behind houses, this brings one to a field. Cross this field and just before the houses on Lyndhurst Crescent are met, keep to the rear and one will find a Hillingon Trail post.
Cross the field directly eastwards. (The Hillingdon Trail goes off to the south for some reason!!) On the far side we rejoin the Hillingdon Trail, where one of its marker posts can be seen. In the undergrowth on the left there are the remains of what looks like an accomdation bridge. Nearby the waters from the feeder fall into a stream that in turn falls into the Yeading Brook
      
Was there a brick aqueduct here at one time? Is that the remains of an accomodation bridge a few feet away?
During a recent visit invistigations seem to show that there was in fact a brick culvert here (for whatever reason!) The construction of a new drain from the Lyndhurst fields meant this brick culvert had to be breached in order to permit the new drain to empty into the Yeading Brook. A tree grows where the culvert once stood so must have been already breaking up when the decision was made to demolish it. The length of culvert nearest to the Yeading Brook simply collapsed and the contractors appear to have just left it there! The picture below explains the scene better…

Alternative view of the culvert near Lyndhurst Crescent, North Hillingdon
      
Above views: The feeder’s course now passes the rear gardens of houses in Lyndhurst Crescent. Its infilled however and there’s just an odd bit of evidence here or there. The view on the left shows the path (the official Hillingdon Trail route) past the rear gardens with the site of the feeder on the right hand side, whilst the next view shows the rear of houses on Lyndhurst Crescent, with just a slight trace of a depression

Further up where there is a gravel car park at the read of Lyndhurst Gardens that forms the start of an access road to the Gutteridge Wood area, one will see a concrete accomdation bridge (as shown above.) Although there is very little to see of the feeder canal here, the bridge marks the point where the feeder entered Cutthroat Wood
      
The Hillingdon trail sign and the access gate. The accomodation bridge can just be seen. Opposite this is a sign proclaiming the entrance to Gutteridge Wood.

Next: Gutterridge Wood and Charville Lane

The Ruislip Feeder pages:
intro + the lido / the aqueduct / west ruislip / ickenham / north hillingdon / gutteridge wood / yeading / hayes