The Hertford Union Canal
Also known as Ducketts Canal as the main text will explain. The Hertford Union is the shortest canal in the capital, and the only one that has all its locks grouped together. It forms part of the mini London canal ring, which constitutes of a trip down to Limehouse on the Regents, then up the Lee Navigation and back up via the Hertford Union (or vice versa)
The bottom of the Hertford Union and the Lee Navigation
5 Images - Views around the bottom lock. Scene now changing quite a lot with the coming 2012 Olympics. There
will be new cuts planned off the canal if proposals are accepted.
Above: looking south along the River Lee Navigation. Canary
Wharf in distance. This part of the 'River Lee' (as many like to
call it) is actually one of its many artificial cuts, this section
being known as the Hackney Cut which avoided a sinuous section of
the river. The cut is NOT part of the River Lee or River Lea at
all. The Hertford Union Canal, from its bottom lock to the
junction, and Hackney Cut were at a lower level until the 1870's
when changes saw the water levels altered to improve navigation.
The works saw a number of locks on the Lee navigation removed and
levels altered accordingly.
Looking across the Lee Navigation to Hertford Union Junction with
the new development that towers over the area
Below: looking at the junction northwards to Carpenters Road
bridge (near by is the derelict, but hopefully to be restored Carpenters
Road Lock on the Bow Back Rivers)
Next: Why not look at the
Lee Navigation Pages?
London Canals
