The Grand Surrey Canal
The old route from the Thames to Plough Way, consequently built over by the Surrey Docks and now themselves redundant
The former canal route through the Surrey Docks (2)
Whilst the docks have mostly disappeared (except Canada and Greenland docks) Russia dock has been partially filled, creating a wetland habitat for plants and birds. Stave Hill is a 30ft high hill offering good views all around and its situated at the north end of the old Russia dock
The quay walls of Russia dock exist as a reminder of its former glory days
The site of the lock that led from the Russia dock into Greenland dock. Boats heading for the Grand Surrey Canal would have often passed through here. It was a straight run from the far end of the lock across Greenland dock into the canal proper. This was also the original alignment the canal ran on before Greenland dock was extended. The notice (below) explains this in part
The Greenland Dock, with Canary Wharf to left. The Russia dock entrance is on the left. The Grand Surrey's original course ran across the picture from left to right.
The shortest route of all to the Grand Surrey was through the Greenland Dock and lock. It is through this lock that the last boats from the Grand Surrey passed through when the docks closed in 1970/71. After closure the lock was reduced in size to meet modern day needs - like its neighbour across the river at Limehouse
Access to Greenland Dock nowadays is via the modernised South Lock into South Dock etc
THE ROUTE:
Buildings / Surrey Docks 1 / Surrey Docks 2 / Surrey Docks 3 / To Old Kent Road / Canal Junctions / Canal Names / Bridges / Wharves / Peckham / Camberwell
Around Little Venice & Paddington: History and transport systems / Canute's 'Canal': The mythological waterway that wasnt / Croydon Canal: London's shortest-lived waterway, closing completely by 1837 / Cumberland Arm: A branch off the Regents Canal from Camden to Euston / Grand Surrey: The canal with an ambition to reach Portsmouth! / Grosvenor Canal: The Grosvenor linked Victoria to the Thames / Kensington Canal: The canal that became a railway and an underground route / London's Canal Tunnels: There are three canal tunnels in London / Paddington Arm: The Grand Junction/Grand Union from Bulls Bridge to London / Pudding Mill River: Requiem for London's lost waterway / Regents Canal: This runs between Little Venice, Camden Town & Limehouse / Romford Canal: The penultimate, yet unfinished, canal to be built in London / Ruislip Feeder: The former waterway that fed the canal / Westbourne River: The old waterway from Kilburn to the Thames / Woolwich's secret waterway: The Royal Arsenal Canal
Attractions near the London canals: Abbey Road / Bayswater / Crockers Folly / Derry and Toms / Edgware Road / Marylebone Goods / Nash Villas / Spitfire Works / St Pancras