The Grand Surrey Canal

Two junctions existed on the canal, connecting the Peckham and 'Croydon' sections

The Surrey Canal's branches

Both the Grand Surrey and Croydon companies intended upon having a junction with the Thames at Rotherhithe. The Croydon Canal soon settled for a junction to be made with the Grand Surrey at Coldblow. Thus until 1836 Croydon boats shared the Thames connection with the Grand Surrey and there was a lot of friction between the two companies. The Grand Surrey's main trade was in timber and not surprisingly the Croydon often complained of obstructions to traffic from floating logs that were stored in the Grand Surrey's waters

The Grand Surrey acquired the stump belonging to the Croydon Canal soon after that canal's closure. The passage of time saw this small remnant of the Croydon eventually reduced to nothing more than a mere wharf, although widened, as seen below, by the London and Croydon railway in order to provide an interchange point with the Grand Surrey. It was last in use around 1965 and subsequently filled in

Used by permission - Croydon Local Studies Library

The colour picture shows the junction of Surrey Canal Road and Mercury Way, along whose alignment the Croydon canal ran. The Grand Surrey, although having closed in 1971, remained watered for a few years after closure. It was subsequently infilled during 1978, ultimately becoming the Surrey Canal Road

A view of the former junction at Coldblow through the arches of the London - Croydon Railway Line. A mooring bollard still exists at this point, as the picture shows. Some of these were evidently more suited for ships

A sign by the former junction with the Peckham branch. The Surrey Canal Walk forms a linear parkway that stretches from Peckham to Camberwell

View of the Junction looking east. The Peckham Branch heads off to the right. There is virtually no trace of the canal from here eastwards to the Old Kent Road

Looking to the junction from the Peckham Branch

A view along the canal alignment westwards. The junction is in the foreground. It can be said that one can see the entire length of the former canal route from here to Camberwell. (In the distance can be seen the lattice footbridge, the church and blocks of flats in Camberwell)

Parts of the old canal wall can be seen at the junction. On the right of the wall would have been the water, on the left the towpath

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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