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This is the River Tyburn. |
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And now it's channelled through this great Victorian sewer, |
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but it still follows its ancient course, |
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right beneath Buckingham Palace. |
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And it provides a fascinating glimpse into the past, |
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because this river made the land above boggy and marshy, |
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with pools of smelly, stagnant water. |
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Not exactly what you'd call prime royal real estate. |
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Until one king decided it might be useful after all. |
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Henry VIII, who came to the throne in 1509, |
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was a man passionate about the chase, for women and deer. |
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For Henry, |
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the swampy land on the banks of the river Tyburn was perfect for hunting. |