London's Minor Canal Tunnels
Three canal tunnels exist in London. Two of them are on the
popular western end of the Regents Canal between Little Venice and Regents Park
Lisson Grove photo gallery
Perseus is seen here approaching the west portal of Lisson Grove
tunnel - another boat having just come through it. The steerer was
Mike, who had worked for the London Waterbus Company for many
years, and this was his last year on the waterbuses, it being 2002.
He had joined the company in 1983 and lived on a houseboat at
Cumberland Turn
Above left: Having left Lisson Grove tunnel, Jason makes her way
towards Maida Hill. A bus (on either route 139 or 189) is passing
along Lisson Grove itself. The current
Jason narrowboat
dates from 1958 and once served under the Thomas Clayton banner.
Above right: Wear and tear from boats in the stone work at the west
portal of Lisson Grove tunnel. Compared to Maida Hill the portals
at Lisson Grove were more elaborate - perhaps either signyfying the
importance of the land it passed under or as a visual improvement
to placate the land owners and locals for having to build the canal
on this alignment between Paddington Stop and Park Road - a route
that involved the demolition of houses and a new road that had not
long been built - of which Aberdeen Place is its stump. So much
trouble was involved trying to placate landowners and locals in
finding a way from Paddington towards Regents Park - but of course
as a result we have these two canal tunnels!
Despite being just fifty yards long (above) its quite lengthy
once inside, otherwise it looks to all purposes and intents a
bridge of sorts with a house lumped on one side of it! The eastern
portal, as shown in these views (below) is (or was) quite elaborate
for any of the canal tunnels in London. At one time there would
have been a earth bank, perhaps grassed over, from the portal up to
Lisson Grove itself, but the Upside Down House now occupies that
space.
This is a view of the Upside Down House (officially called Canal
House) from street level. It looks like a very small country
cottage. Its main entrance, seen here, is at street level whilst
its lower floors sit astride the tunnel portal. The house may give
rise to the idea it is a bridge - since buildings are common on
bridges worldwide, such as Pulteney bridge in Bath. The gate gives
access down to the canal. NEXT:
The tunnel paths
London Canals
