London Canals' Archive Pictures
The 'Old Order' in London
This page looks at some old London canal scenes. The Thames isnt actually a canal but the pics are of interest so they are included as its an IWA cruise
This scene from January 1985 shows Alex Prowse's Barge Crook which was his art gallery for 23 years. The interest here is the simple gold lettering 'A & ;J Prowse' on the rear of Barge Crook
September 1987, and the greenhouse has been added to the top deck of Barge Crook. I think thats Alex by the steps talking to his wife Jan by the greenhouse. Note the motely collection of cruisers moored at Browning's Island
During the 1980's and early 1990's I often joined up with Kirk Martin as a volunteer to help out with the community trips up and down the Regents Canal. This view from April 1986 shows Kirk trying to remove some obstacle from the prop at the entrance to the Hertford Union canal
Tarporley was often adorned with flowers on the rear cabin. The colour scheme was also more attractive than the one it now has. The female is Caroline, an actress who can be seen in alternative theatre and has been in plays up and down the country as well as abroad. In 1986 she was an artist and hadnt even thought about going into acting. Her recent solo plays were a major success. The location is Old Ford September 1986
This is the old Limehouse ship lock in August 1986. This was the morning the large flotilla set out from here to Brentford where the National Waterways Rally of that year was taking place. The size of the old lock was immense compared to the tiny thing we now have!
Limehouse Ship Lock as the IWA flotilla prepares gather in the lock and set out for Brentfordv
I think there must have been over 30 boats in the old ship lock! We all squeezed in somehow. August 1986
The gates open and we are out onto the Thames. It was a very calm river that day
Blue Circle Enterprise passing the IWA flotilla on her way downstream by the Albert bridge
Gathered by Brentford High St bridge to wait for the gauging locks
Looking towards the gauging locks at Brentford. Notice the boats moored up the River Brent to the right. BW would have a heart attack if anyone tried to moor up there these days as notices forbid it on the basis that there are underwater obstructions
This is Portabella Dock when it was in use. Nov 1986
Brick chimney on residential barge moored in Paddington Basin. The Harrow Road/M40 flyover can be seen. November 1986
Paddington basin November 1986. A few barges moored up here out of use
Working on the top floor of Lesney's factory in Homerton gave splendid views of the London skyline and the Lee Navigation. This was taken in January 1987 showing BW workboats heading southwards through the ice. The other Lesney's building is now history as new houses have graced the offside of the navigation for a number of years
Progress on her moorings at Cowley in March 1987. She was the boat that opened the new Hatton Locks in 1934 and championed as the way forward for the then new Grand Union Canal Company. As it turns out she had to be taken by road to Hatton because the bridgeholes weren't big enough for her to pass through!
Little Venice March 1987. We had just moored Tarporley up and were about to have our lunch when I discovered this woman struggling in the water a little way out in the pool. Kirk and I rescued her and then the police came. She was found to be drunk, and escorted to nearby St Mary's for a check up. I recieved a note of commendation from the Metropolitan Police for helping to rescue her
This picture has some history. During 1987 the towpath through Regents Park was dug up for new electricity cables. At the same time it was also widened. This view shows the newly widened towpath with the cables in place underneath. The towpath at that time between Little Venice and Camden was known as Canal Way. A closer look at this picture will reveal the flats that formed part of a hostel (on the right with inthe trees) that used to overlook this section of canal in the park. These were demolished and of course the modern 1980's/2000's classical Nash style houses are now the main feature along this stretch
There was so much work going on that all the London trip boats (Jenny Wren, Jason, Tarporley, the London Waterbuses) all had to wait their turn to get through this work site! Waits were often up to half an hour as the barges had to be moved back to allow passage. Of course if work was underway then one had to wait until the piling had been driven in fully before the barges could even be moved.The steerer visible on Jenny Wren is NOT Marcus. He had not arrived on the scene at the time. His first job was assisting with Kirk and me on Tarporley. It was only a number of years later that he began working with Walker's on Jenny Wren and My Fair Lady
The barge with the crane doing the pile driving moved out of the way to let Tarporley though on her return to Battlebridge Basin. It was still a tight squeeze though for full length boats passing this section
Just round the corner from Regents Park is Marylebone Wide in January 1988.This used to be a busy location on the canal with transhipment to the railway depot which was sited where the flats are on the right. Although all traces of this depot have been swept away, there's still an overbridge on Lisson Grove and retaning walls along Penfold Street, Capland Street etc, and the remains of one of the gateways to the depot at Luton Street. The moorings are mostly side-on, just a handful of end-on moorings in the distance. Today the number of end on moorings have greatly restricted the navigable width of the canal
In October 1988 during a run from Battlebridge Basin to Litte Venice we were forced to stop in St Pancras lock and have a very early tea break. BWB were reparing the lock gates on site. After some wait BWB were able to let us continune through the lock. It was strange going up the lock with the staff continuing to to plane and ready large oak sections for the top gates
The boat guests having their early tea break while we wait for BW to finish those sections of oak gate protectors. As soon as we had left BW emptied the lock and carried on with their work. I dont think this kind of work would be allowed today given health and safety considerations etc
Tarporley passing President and Kildare above Boxmoor I think this was in 1987
Kirk Martin aboard Tarporley September 1986 passing Laburnum Basin on the Regents Canal
Another view of Marylebone Station. This time it is 1988, and the dear old departed BWB headquarters can be seen! This was the office block towering above the station known as Melbury House
