Paddington Basin (2)
As previously mentioned, the basin's redevelpment began in 2000.
By 2001 the tale tale signs were pretty obvious. Here's a series of
pictures from 2001 & 2002:
Looking through the old Bishops bridge towards Paddington Station.
The basin is behind the wall to the left. This stupendoulsy
landscaped walkway from Sheldon Square to Paddington Station was
opened in May 2002. It lasted just a few months before being
demolished to make way for contractors offices!
View of the Paddington Central development by the M40
Westway/Harrow Road. This view shows the business barge Cowforth at
temporary moorings before being permantly attatched to its current
location at The Point
Summer of 2003. The Paddington Waterside development was well
completed. Open days were being held and this was taken during one
of those. The BT Tower is clearly seen from The Point
Summer 2003 - work underway to build the ramps at the Helix bridge.
The last remaining bit of the old basin area - the Westminster
Council refuse collections office, built by the former Marylebone
Council - can be seen to the left of the bridge
All is not well with the new Helix bridge. It took ages to get the
bridge to work in the way envisaged when the bridge was first
operated. The staff had a headache trying to get the bridge locking
mechanism to engage properly during trials in January 2004
A summer 2002 of the Starbucks Sheldon Square under
construction
A summer 2003 view of Starbucks in use
The south west corner of Paddington Basin during April 2003 when it
wa drained for works. The buildings seen belong to St Marys
Hospital
A view looking west down the main basin area in April 2003. The
walkways & mooring pontoons had not yet been built
The area by St Mary's/Marks & Spencers. New footbridge in place
and the walkways and connecting steps/ramps being built June
2003
The new pontoons/walkways by The Point. Its a shame the width of
the basin was reduced so much here
The glass/steel composite bridge under construction June 2003. It
is now known as Paddington Bridge
Business barge Flemming temporarily moored at the Edgware Road end
of the basin before being permantely allocated to its spot by The
Point
Water was sometimes the only way to deliver equipment! In some
respects the canal was not utitlised as much as one would have
wished, especially when compared to the intensive use the Regents
Canal now sees in conjuction with the many new developments along
it
We now move onto 2004 and more changes, including the discovery
of the Brunel bridge on the next page:
Paddington Basin - Part three
London Canals
