Paddington Basin
Paddington Basin (2)
The changes since 2000 have been the biggest for the area in decades
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, early 2004. 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 full 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
