Paddington Basin
The building of the Grand Junction Canal between Braunston and Brentford brought the canal network to the capital in 1801. Paddington Basin, and the terminus became a centre of important commerce for 160 years. The decline in commercial canal traffic led to a lengthy debate on the future of Paddington Basin. Some thought it should be filled in whilst others had the view that it was a valuable water space amenity for London. Many years in 'limbo' ensued and as the basin entered its 200th anniversary, it had gained a new, if somewhat rather un-canal related future. The increase in boating pleasure activity has ensured that at least there is ample moorings in the basin area for visitors.
This is not a new feature actually, it is what the original plans were for in the 18th Century! Commercial traffic somehow took a back seat in the original plans. A review of the provisions of canal facilities provided by the Grand Junction Canal Company saw that the world's first ever marina was not going to be and that the basin because a focus of commercial canal operations. As well as that it became a terminus for the famed Uxbridge packet express passenger services. What essentialy happened is that the original objective for pleasure provision was modified and the idea adapted to form the attractive pool that constitutes the hub of Little Venice
For more information on Paddington and the early canal see Paddington and its canals - a History
Note: the Paddington basin area is restricted in terms of photography. This is understandable because of security reasons etc. However it is possible to get a permit if you have a good reason for wanting to take non-commercial photographs of the basin area. A permit can be applied for at the security office next to the Helix bridge
This is an aerial view of the north end of Paddington Basin in 1967 when redevelopment work had hardly started. Prior to 2000, re-development was piecemeal. Monsoons and St Mary's Hospital, plus the M40 Westway were structures built long before 2000
The beginning of the basin's redevelopment began in 2000. By 2001 the tale tale signs were pretty obvious. Here's a series of pictures from 2001 & 2002:
2001 - Looking through the Harrow Road bridge into the drained basin area. The contractors had moved in
View of the Paddington Central development by the Westway. This is the site of the old Bishops Bridge railway depot
By March 2002 the Sheldon Square (Paddington Central) development was well underway
May 2002 - Landscaping had begun and lighting was in place. This view shows the old Bishops Bridge, which turned out to be cloaking the structure of a long forgotten Brunel bridge!
Back to 2001 and more views of the contractors infrastructure at what is now known as 'The Point' where the glass bridge is situated
A 2001 view just after most of the warehouses had been demolished. The old St Mary's hospital footbridge is evident in this picture. Compare with this picture below that I took in 1986:
Comparision of the two pictures (2001 and 1986) show that the basin had been much reduced in width before the major development here took place
This is a view in 2001 looking to the Edgware Road end of the basin. Still very undeveloped as yet save for the narrows where the corkscrew bridge will sit. This is now known as the Helix bridge
The former taxi ramp and the Bishops Bridge footbridge/ticket office are evident in ths picture looking from a point above the Hammersmith & City platforms to the Sheldon Square development.The building on the left now accomodates BW London's offices. Anyone remember the quaint, but delightful walkway across the rooftops of Platforms 9-14? And the sound of Maybach engines as the majestic Class 52's waited to begin their journeys westwards?
Paddington Basin - Part two
