The Grand Union's Paddington Arm
Part three - Northolt to Greenford
Northolt boatyard, offering services, gas and diesel. Its operated by High Line Yachting of Iver. This is the last opportunity to fill up before London. The next opportunity is Springfield Marina on the Lee Navigation - unless one happens to meet either of the area's working narrowboats that sell coal and diesel
The building seen towering above the wharf is the Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat, which recently recieved a visit from the Prince of Wales in February 2009
These names have been scrawled on the side of this warehouse for as long as I remember. James Dean & David Bowie yes i know who they are, but Jonny Boesom?? I've searched on the internet and drawn a blank. Who the hell is he? Incidentally there used to be a wharf here at one time and mooring rings may still be found
The Central Line bridge at Greenford. This is the first of the ONLY two deep-level tube lines to cross the canals anywhere on the entire London network. Nearby Greenford tube station is the only one in London that has semaphore railway signals. These are used to control the branch line from West Ealing which uses a centre platform between the tube lines
Lyons Dock before restoration as part of a new development in 2008. This used to serve the large factory belonging to J Lyons Ltd
The Lyons factory was a huge complex (see this article.) It was opened in 1921 and at its zenith employed 300 workers.The dock had the latest mechanical equipment and was used to unload the barges. This was proudly shown to King George V on his visit in the 1920's. On the west side was their ice cream factory. This closed in the early 1990's whilst the remainder of the site was vacated by 1995
Greenford has a long history of factories. The first was opened in 1856and was used to make dyes. W Bailey's glass works, Perkins and the British Bath Compnay were some of the locale's major employers. The latter still exists and the other the main industries today are Glaxo and Rockware Glass
The signs say it all. The Black Horse Pub at Greenford
The pub signs - depicting different kinds of barges
