Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
British canals, a coke-fired engine that resembled a corrugated shed enveloped in steam, tak-
ing nine loaded barges through in 35 minutes. Diesel tugs took over in 1930. An alternative
use for the tunnel came in the cold winter of 1855 when skaters were able to use it.
Camden Lock, probably the busiest place on the British canal network
.
Unpowered craft are not permitted to go through. The walking route is long, follows a net-
work of streets, passes shops, most days takes in a busy market street with a large winged
sculpture of tubes, and crosses the dual carriageway A1 with central-reservation fencing -
not a trip for the sensitive.
The canal leaves the tunnel mouth between trees and Georgian terraces painted by Walter
Sickert as the
Hanging Gardens of Islington
. Islington is from the Old English
Gisla's down-
land
, although nothing could be much less like downland these days.
Hackney's Victoria Park was laid out in 1842-1845 by James Pennethorne, a protégé of
John Nash. It is London's oldest municipal park, the largest in the East End at 88ha, and in-
cludes a picnic area. Bonner Hall Bridge, with its fine ironwork railings, was part of the ori-
ginal formal entrance to the park.
Johnson's Lock is left past the Ragged Schools Museum with a Victorian schoolroom and
local domestic kitchen. Dr Barnardo used it to house London's biggest ragged school, a char-
ity that benefited from the takings earned from the lectures John MacGregor gave about his
groundbreaking 19th century travels with a canoe, giving free education to the poor.
Below the basin is the Limehouse Link. At the time of building it was the most complicated
and expensive British road ever; £220 million for 1.8km. The construction period left a new
marina with a link road between the City of London and Canary Wharf, the Isle of Dogs and
the Royal Docks passing underneath.
