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The Grand Surrey Canal

Greenland Dock was the start of the Surrey Canal and its unusual drop down lock

Along the canal route - Greenland Dock to Plough Lane

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The former entrance to the Grand Surrey Canal. The very tall building, known as Eddystone Tower which stands along the canal's alignment at the Pepys Estate in Deptford can be seen above the rooftops. Directly beneath it amidst the fencing stands the Canal Office

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Machinery formerly used to operate the Grand Surrey's lockgates

In 2008 this new development was underway. Unfortunately the canal office was no more. This is a view looking directly down the former canal alignment. Part of the Eddystone Tower can be glimpsed in the far distance

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The site of the lock where the new Plough Way now stands. The canal office can just be seen. These were taken while the canal office still stood. It has now been repalced by new residential units

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The new Plough Lane crosses the former course of the canal. The road leading off to the right is the stump of the OLD Plough Lane. The picture below which is from a 1954 film called 'Together' has a perspective that is just a little bit to the west of the above photograph

A view of a dredger at work next to the old Plough Lane bridge as seen in the 1954 film 'Together'. This is a comparable view with the previous one, the persepctive being slightly to the west, and it is hard to believe that such drastic change has occurred

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The other end of the OLD Plough Lane existed behind this wall. It took a sharp right hand turn at this point and climbed an incline that took it across the Grand Surrey Canal below the lock. The Eddystone Tower provides a constant reference to the siting of the roads and canal alignment

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The OLD Plough Lane! It turned left just past this point to cross the Grand Surrey Canal. The Eddystone tower can be seen in the background
New development has obliterated the old Plough Lane alignment. Fortunately a bit has been left at the far end and for the first time I was able to view the top end of the former lane where it turned east to cross the canal

Part two of Grand Surrey route to the Old Kent Road

 

THE ROUTE:
Buildings   Surrey Docks 1   Surrey Docks 2   Surrey Docks 3   To Old Kent Road   Canal Junctions    Canal Names   Bridges   Wharves   Peckham   Camberwell (Burgess Park)

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