London Canals

The Kensington Canal

The route from Lots Road to West Brompton

The council highways depot off Lots Road, built on the canal's former alignment. The space between warehouses and railway (on far left) was the full width of the Kensington canal, around 100ft of it. However it was a tidal stretch and lots of mud was the rule rather than the exception. One of the major problems the canal faced was the amount of mud that found its way up the navigation, and no amount of dredging much improved the situation

A rather poor picture, but it was felt important to include this from an article on the canal written in 1970 because almost every one of buildings in the present day photograph (apart from the modern red/white structure) can also be seen in this one. It shows just how much change has occured

View of the council depot from Kings Road bridge, with part of Chelsea Harbour visible in the distance. A-Z street maps covering London featured this section as a stretch of waterway until at least 2000. A signal box stood where the trees are on the right. The signalman must have been tempted to do a bit of fishing at quiet periods for the fish in the canal was said to be excellent

Another poor image but at least it shows the canal and signal box. By this time no barges were using the top half of the canal. The square topped building can be seen in both old and modern views

This view of Stanley bridge (Kings Road) by William Greaves shows the canal and a barge at the wharf which stood here. In the distance the original Stamford bridge can be seen. *Acknowledgements to Kensington & Chelsea Libraries Local Studies Centre for allowing London Canals permission to use this*

One would think that London Canals is about to become a rail enthusiast's website! Virtually every picture from now is rail related. We do like railways, tramways, mountain railways, cable cars, funiculars, minature and narrow gauge railways, tube lines, steam locomotives, and a good bit of clag! However let's keep to the theme of canals from, erm, a railway point of view.... This is a view of the West London line just south of Fulham Road, and this picture shows the track bed as being reasonbly level, thanks to the canal that once stood here. The bridge carries Fulham Road and just to the west is the Chelsea FC ground, known as Stamford Bridge, which was the name the canal bridge was known by

A view looking south from Fulham Road towards Kings Road and Chelsea Harbour (the pointy top building in the distance.) The old Fulham Station platforms can be seen

View of the West London railway looking north from Fulham Road. Much of the line northwards is bounded by the high walls of Brompton Cemetery so its difficult to see anything further along here.The next place of interest is West Brompton station

West Brompton station is currently the only one in use on the course of the Kensington canal

A Southern dual voltage Electrostar unit at West Brompton en route for Clapham Junction, having arrived from Watford Junction. For a couple of years the service ran as far as Rugby, but light loadings saw it terminate at Watford, before being re-introduced as far as Milton Keynes. This view looking south shows the graceful curve that the Kensington canal must have made at this point (see watercolour below.) The walls of Brompton Cemetery and the chimneys of Lots Road power station can be seen in the distance

This charming watercolour by William Cowen shows the canal from the same view point as the one above, possibly in the 1850's. The Brompton Cemetery wall is in the same location in both views. If one looks carefully Fulham Bridge and a sailing barge can be seen in the distance. *Acknowledgements to Kensington & Chelsea Libraries Local Studies Centre for allowing London Canals permission to use this*

This is West Brompton District line station. Although not actually on the alignment of the Kensington canal, this shot is included because of the rare twin footbridge layout

Next: The route to Olympia

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 to Euston / Fleet River & Canal: The former Thames - Kings Cross waterway / 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