The Grand Surrey Canal
Council estates were built in the 1960's around the canal, which at that time was still busy at work as far as the Old Kent Road
Along the canal route - Plough Lane to Blackhorse Bridge
Back to the course of the Grand Surrey Canal! This is a view from Plough Lane looking south along the canal's infilled, but still present, alignment towards the Pepys Estate. Many of the modern buildings in the distance were there when the canal was still in use
Amongst those buildings that are part of the Pepys Estate. This playground now stands on the canal's alignment, which is quite apparent along here as a grassed area
The Pepys Estate was ahead of its time, a recognised example of good social housing. The quality of the buildings was very high and each property has an unusual design, with many flats being split level. There has been considerable concern over plans by the council to sell off flats or demolish parts of the estate and it is feared that any proposals will destroy an otherwise excellent housing estate. Notice how the planners attempted to give the canal sufficient space within the estate rather than cooping it up in a narrow alleyway like so many other developments. It must be said that this was probably the country's first council estate to recognise the value of waterspace and how this could play an important role in revitalising inner city areas. The most unfortunate aspect of this unique attempt has been the closure of the canal, leaving the central estate's layout looking somewhat like a haphazard design that has not been completed
The old map of the Pepys Estate, showing the Grand Surrey Canal. Notice some of the names are associated with the maritime. Windlass Place is an oddity as the Grand Surrey's one and only lock was operated by capstans! April 2011 - this sign displaying the route of the Surrey Canal still existed at the entrance to the Pepys Estate!
April 2011 - On one side of the access road by Evelyn Street is the old canal route estate map, designed by the GLC. On the other side of the access road is the new estate map designed by Lewisham Council. The latter of course does not show any canal
route
Two views of Oxestalls bridge. The north side is bricked in, however the south side still has its opening, showing what the bridge looked like when it crossed the canal
Just past Oxestalls Road/Eddystone Tower is a scrapyard on the site of the canal. There used to be a timber wharf here but like so many other locations, its now turned over to scrapping
On the far side of the scrapyard, this is the canal alignment. Eddystone Tower is prominent
Industrial estate where the canal once turned sharp right under Evelyn Street, Deptford
The GSC's sharp right turn looking towards Evelyn Street (Blackhorse bridge)
Blackhorse bridge dominated by the iconic Eddystone (left) and
Daubeny (right) towers on the Pepys Estate
Part three 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
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