Locks around the capital
London has an interesting variety of locks, not just on the canals but also on the River Thames and in Docklands.
The Camden locks are the Regents Canal's only flight. All the canal's other locks are set apart and not one can be seen from another with the exception of the last two into Limehouse
The Regents Canal's locks at Camden
The Camden locks are possibly the most famous in the country due to their proximity to the popular markets and shops and visitors using the towpath to access London Zoo. In terms of histroy, the Regents Canal to Camden was opened in 1816, but the locks and the rest of the Regents Canal were not completed until 1820. it is possible the Camden locks were actually completed and in use earlier than 1818 for the tranportation of construction materials to aid in the completion of Islington Tunnel. The Regents Canal employed a system of back pumping which must have been the earliest of its kind, and one of the pumping stations was located at Kentish Town lock. Until the 1970's all the Regents Canal locks were double paired, but the reduction in traffic and neccessities of economy made the second lock (always offside excepting that at St Pancras) redundant. The Camden locks were oringally known as the Hampstead Road Three, which explains the name origin of the top pair of locks. The other locks in time became known by their present names of Hawley and Kentish Town locks during the mid 19th century. Hawley lock has also been known as Lawley's Lock whilst Kentish Town has been called Kentish Road
Many views of the Camden locks show the top lock. By stint of its location next to the world-famous market the scene at Hampstead Road has to be included in ALL views of the canal! So we'll start the other way round for a change. Commencing at Kentish Town lock, the lowest of the three Camden locks, this view from the mid 1960's, showing the original My Fair Lady trip boat. The only similarities between this and today's scene is the barrel roofed warehouse and brick building on the right. Notice the second paired lock complete with gates. The bridge behind the locks was built in 1927 and replaced in 1993
Hawley Lock in 2008. More than 40 years has elapsed since the previous picture and there have been a lot of changes. There are less buildings (actually there are more but they're not so tall and the trees have grown larger concealing most of the scene.) The two remaining buildings from the sixties' view are those on the right. Another change but not so obvious, is that the pound is kept at a lower level than it used to be. Thats probably why its always causing problems nowadays - its often is more empty than full!
Kentish Town Road bridge has a rare double arch which is a remnant of the days when both lock chambers were in use. The ONLY other such location on the Regents Canal is at Commercial Road lock (thats the last one before Limehouse.) There are examples dotted elsewhere around the canal system, most notably at Marsworth and Stoke Bruerne where double arched bridges reveal the use of paired locks at one time. Kentish Town Road is a major thoroughfare linking Central London to points northwards including Archway and the A1/M1. In the roadside view a bus from Hollway garage is working the 134 to North Finchley (the service used to operate to Barnet Church till the 1990's and was operated by the now closed Muswell Hill and Finchley garages)
The photograph at the top of the page taken in the 1960's actually shows the 1927 built Kentish Town Road crossing. The plaque on the current bridge tells us that it is a repalcement for the 1927 bridge
The middle lock on the Camden flight is Hawley Lock. Here's a view of the tail of the lock with its unusual bollards sited on the raised towpath. They are rather close together was well and dont really contrubite much to the operation of the lock.
This is a more neater view of Hawley Lock. The former TV-am studios are on the left in their distinctive blue/white colours with the eggs on the roof apex. The eggs signified the concept of Breakfast TV. They are now rather tatty, but serve as a natural observation post for countless pigeons eyeing the spoils of humanity, as thousands of cartons of leftover food are discarded along the towpath every year. This is how it goes: Human dumps food on towpath. Pigeon spots discarding of said food/carton, and swoops down for a free sample of homo sapiens' food!
The seagulls get in on the act too! Dont need the sea when life at Camden locks offers the egg-cessive!
Those cill signs which have attracted much criticism all over the canal system have found their way to the Regents Canal as well. This is the sign at Hawley Lock
Between Hawley lock and Chalk Farm Road is Walkers Quay, the home of My Fair Lady and Jenny Wren. These are the only trip boats to offer excursions that include a ride through the locks
This is Chalk Farm Road and it crosses what is known as Hampstead Road bridge! Confusing but in older days the road was actually called Hampstead Road. Pigeons like to watch the people here too because many people drop food cartons and rubbish in the vicinity of the bridge, and much of it ends up on the towpath or in the canal
A nice stepped style of fencing can be seen between Hampstead Road locks and the bridge
Left: Guilders Stone from the old Hampstead Road bridge, which is all that is left of the very first bridge at this location. As the description relates, the bridge lasted until 1876. Right: Plaque on the wall of 'Starbucks' for the re-opening of the towpath between here and the Zoo. This made the entire Camden - Little Venice stretch almost fully accessible by foot (excepting the section from Lisson Grove to Edgware Road)
No description of Camden's locks would be complete without a look at the former lock-keepers cottage! This unique building is now Starbucks and there is a rooftop terrace offering excellent veiws of the going-ons around the lock
A general view of 'Camden Locks' as the locale is known. This wet-weather view shows both of the Hampstead Road locks. The castellated lock-keepers house (Starbucks) is on the left, and Lock 17/Jongleurs is on the right. Both have roof terraces that offer vantage viewpoints
Whilst the Commodore of St Pancras Cruising Club and his mate negotiate Hampstead Road locks, countless gongoozlers look on at the proceedings. Gongoozler is a rarely used word now, but it is a canal term meaning people who just watch boats going through the locks ( and sometimes getting in the way too!)
Above and below: More gongoozlers! It seems there's just nothing better than watching boats make their way through the locks
Despite the lock area generally being out of bounds to non-boaters, people do get over the railings, its not that difficult - and those who manage are afforded a first class grandstand of the lock operations
Left: Paddle gear that was used at one time to transfer water between the lock chambers, saving water. This technique was similar to that of a side pond. Right: Old winch form the Limehouse (Lee Navigation) lock. The constrained space at that location meant that winches were neccessary to operate the gates. After the lock was closed in the late 1960's this winch was brought here as an exhibit
This is a side-on view of the splendid turnover bridge at Hampstead Road locks, with Dingwalls basin on the left. This bridge is unusual because it is a form of suspension bridge. The radius of the arc is too shallow to enable the bridge to stay rigid. Four steel stays the entire length of the bridge give extra suspension and helps to keep it more rigid. Standing on the middle of the bridge it is easy to feel the structure move which is what is expected of a suspension bridge
This view of the area above Hampstead Road locks is a popular location for Camden's visitors. The many stalls in the market offer different kinds of cultural delight and many people choose to come to the towpath and sit on walls, eating, drinking, listening to a busker or two perhaps, and watching the boats
Next: The Hertford Union Locks