please empty your brain below
|
I did that two years and two months early, though admittedly I only walked the section between Camden lock and St Pancras.
Both the Regents Canal and the Dotonbori in Osaka, Japan illustrate how a well managed man-made waterway could make a landlocked community pleasant. Regent's Canal is, IMHO, the more successful example.
Patrickov | 02.08.20 - 7:04 a.m. | #
|
I enjoyed the newspaper quotes. 200 years doesn't seem that long when you can read the actual words.
And Regents Canal is a great asset to inner North London.
Malcolm | 02.08.20 - 7:50 a.m. | #
|
|
Fascinating post DG. We walked the canal from Paddington Basin to Camden a few years ago on a visit to London. Will have to go further east next time, when circumstances permit !
Phil | 02.08.20 - 8:46 a.m. | #
|
|
Walked the Regent last November, very enjoyable. Hard to think it is over 200 years old. By the way the font on your blue quotes is quite small, is this a result of the recent blogger updates?
davews | 02.08.20 - 8:53 a.m. | #
|
When I lived near Little Venice in 1966-67 the towpath had not yet been opened to the public and was strictly private.
Living on a road fronting on to the canal was not so desirable then, not just because there was no access but also because it smelt pretty bad in the summer.
Tony Woolf | 02.08.20 - 9:11 a.m. | #
|
Oh look, a houseboat called 'Widecombe'.
Two 'd's, perhaps?
Arlu | 02.08.20 - 9:14 a.m. | #
|
|
As a south Londoner this just makes me regret the loss of the Grand Surrey Canal.
Bryn Davies | 02.08.20 - 9:32 a.m. | #
|
I try to do the full Paddington to Limehouse walk at least annually, and always thoroughly enjoy how it changes constantly by the mile. My favourite stretch is the almost silent section throught the zoo and mansions of Regents Park.
It's important to choose the day of the week with care to avoid a constant stream of bikes and joggers in the busier sections. I once made the mistake of doing it on a summer Sunday, and it took nearly an hour longer than usual.
Frank F | 02.08.20 - 9:39 a.m. | #
|
200 years since the opening of an east-west infrastructure project.
The stability of the English language is such that the reports from The Times aren't that dated today, the oddities which struck me were 'which has been nearly seven years incomplete' rather then 'construction started...', and the description of 'well dressed females' rather than women.
Also the lower case for the second word in Maiden lane and Islington hill, but upper case for Regents Canal and New River.
The sound of the band in the tunnel must have been awesome.
Still Anon | 02.08.20 - 10:52 a.m. | #
|
In the mid 1960's I was walking along the towpath near Maida Vale when I was accosted by a waterways official who told me it was private, a surprise. But better yet, he told me I could buy a licence at Little Venice.
Later in a green wooden hut there, I applied for a licence. You should know that I wore open sandals, had a beard, and long hair. The clerk charged me half a crown, and filled out a form with my name and wrote "is hereby licenced to walk along the canal." Then noticed my visual similarity to Jesus, and added the word "towpath"
mikeS | 02.08.20 - 11:59 a.m. | #
|
I work close to the Regent's Canal as it crosses the Caledonian Road, and my usual fact when walking along it with collegaues is that the main power cables (2 x 400kV) for the area run under the tow path. They were easily available land in the 1970s when laid down, and the canal provides cooling for the wiring!
I wonder if they run all the way to Limehouse basin?
The main benefit for locals is that the residual heat is enough to melt snow or ice in winter, keeping them easily walkable all year.
TomH | 02.08.20 - 2:03 p.m. | #
|
Hurrah, Tom, that's the comment in my secret sealed envelope ✉
(which means I'm now allowed a Creme Egg!)
diamond geezer | Homepage | 02.08.20 - 2:16 p.m. | #
|
|
Back in July 2018, I walked the section between St. Pancras lock and Paddington (with a short detour at Camden because of a towpath closure). It was a hot day which made the walk a bit tiring but I had plenty of water with me and it was better than being on the Tube. I especially liked the section through the zoo where the rest of London felt miles away.
X-Plaistow | 02.08.20 - 2:19 p.m. | #
|
Living near it's start I decided to walk along the Grand Union Paddington Arm in January. Having completed that, the following month I did the Regents Canal in two sections.
The Kings Cross to Limehouse section was new to me, but I was particularly interested as my 4x Great grandparents and subsequent generations lived in the new estate that was built alongside in Hoxton (now Branch Place estate), from 1823 until the end of the century.
Cornish Cockney | 02.08.20 - 3:06 p.m. | #
|
Huzza indeed!
Huzzas, Maiden-lane, Islington-hill, Regent’s Canal, well-dressed, &c., in the original.
Strangely disappointed yet terrified to learn there’s no towpath in the Islington tunnel.
Rich G | Homepage | 02.08.20 - 3:06 p.m. | #
|
Few tunnels have towpaths -- digging tunnels was expensive enough without making extra space for the horse.
The original option was to leg it -- the crew lie on boards on the narrowboat roof and walk along the walls. I did that many years ago during an outing to the Dudley tunnel near Birmingham.
For the past century, steam and now diesel engines mean there's no need for legging.
AlanBG | 02.08.20 - 3:13 p.m. | #
|
|
A walk along the towpath of the Regent's canal is something I always try to fit in on a trip to London.
Michael | 02.08.20 - 4:12 p.m. | #
|
|
I've found the bridges scary when cycling along the tow-path. Dip, narrowish and you can't see who's coming!
Half a physicist | 02.08.20 - 5:38 p.m. | #
|
I once steered Tarporley through Islington Tunnel thirteen times in a day when the Camden Canals and Narrowboat Association were running short trips from King's Place. The worst bit was winding (turning the boat round) in City Road Basin. And I once volunteered for Hallowe'en trips through the tunnel, but the kids' screaming in the enclosed space was too much for my nerves.
You get all sorts of ornaments on boats in London, but the traditional thing to have on a cabin top isn't a jug but a two-gallon 'can'.
You can see how few boats have been moving by the amount of weed.
Thank you for a lovely -related post.
Sarah | Homepage | 02.08.20 - 6:14 p.m. | #
|
About 4 years ago 3 friends and I went for an amble along the towpath from Limehouse to Islington. A very enjoyable way of seeing different aspects of London away from the main tourist trail.
On the way we found The Palm Tree pub between Mile End and Old Ford. A piece of East London history, which would not be out in place in an episode of The Sweeney. A pure delight. I wonder if it will still be there the next time I do the walk, though I've no idea when that will be.
IanD | 02.08.20 - 9:30 p.m. | #
|
|
Passing that way last weekend, the app I have been using for bike navigation felt the need to remind me frequently that I was also passing along a section of the Eurovelo 2
Philip | 02.08.20 - 11:40 p.m. | #
|
|
Half a Physicist, you're meant to dismount at bridges. Of course no one does, least of all on the Regents Canal, but you can't complain! Probably more scary for the pedestrians coming the other way.
Sarah | Homepage | 03.08.20 - 9:35 a.m. | #
|
|
It’s some time since I drank at the Palm Tree. It was, I hope still is, a lovely traditional, high-class (there is carpet on the floor) boozer. The landlord, who had a droll sense of humour, would look quizzically at the beer as he drew it and ask what state the canal was in. The pub looks as if it should be on the corner of two streets but now stands alone at the end of a rather bleak expanse of grass. The pub was lucky to survive the war: London’s first V-1 landed nearby (there’s a blue plaque recording it) and there was extensive damage in the area. On one occasion the landlord pointed out the terrace of houses some distance away: ‘Those houses were owner occupied’ Nearby houses were owned by landlords who could claim for war damage and the properties demolished. I don't know whether they sell Beck's but their draft canal is good.
Bill | 03.08.20 - 9:41 p.m. | #
|
|
|
TridentScan v2.10.0 | Privacy Policy
|