Waltham Abbey (town) - Physical Geography

Physical Geography

The River Lea, which forms the county boundary with Hertfordshire, is also the town’s western boundary, and the eastern boundary runs through Epping Forest. The land rises gradually from the marshes and meadows by the river to the plateau of London clay in the east, 60–90 metres above sea level, capped by the sand and gravel of Epping Forest. To the south, occupying the former course of the River Lea, is the King George V Reservoir, opened in 1913. Cobbins Brook, a tributary of the River Lea, crosses the parish from east to west. In addition to the town, the parish includes in its 41 km² the villages and hamlets of High Beach, Holyfield, Sewardstone and Upshire. The M25 motorway runs to the south of the town, and can be accessed at Junction 26 via the A121. The town has numerous housing estates such as Ninefields, Roundhills, Marriot and the Meridian Park.