Your floating hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

Our guide to the waterways of the UK in detail.

The history of the Regents Canal.

In 1812 the Regents Canal was authorised with a capital of £400,00 It connected to the Paddington Branch of the Grand unction canal on the west of the city and ran to Limehouse docks on the east side. It was to be 8 miles long with 12 broad locks and two short tunnels. It's construction was plagued by problems. It took a Government loan designed to ease post Napoleonic War Depression in 1817 to get it restarted before it reached finally Limehouse in 1820

By 1824 it was carrying 400,000 tons, and in 1830 to 1835 it was carrying 500,000 tons a year. Mainly from the Thames up, only 25% down the Grand Junction. When in 1836 the 'London & Birmingham' railway arrived there were pressures for toll reductions and the building of transhipment basins.

On route it passed many large trading areas such as Camden and Islington and many more were soon established along the line. Building soon spread along the line of the canal.

Throughout the 19th century Limehouse Basin was slowly improved and increased in size.

In 1874 there was a great explosion on the canal in Regents Park. Over 600 claims were made as a result with a compensation bill of £80,000. Most of these had to be settled by the Grand Union Carrying Fleet one of whose boats had been the cause. As a result the fleet ceased trading in 1876.

In 1883 a new company was formed 'The Regents canal city and docks railway Co.' Various railway lines were authorised but none built. Then in 1900 it became the 'Regents Canal & Dock Co.' no railways were ever built.

In 1914 the Grand Junction formed an alliance with the Regents Canal in London. A joint committee was set up and the companies worked closely together.

In 1929, after 15 years of collaboration, the Grand Junction and Regents canal companies decided that a merger would be the best way forward to secure the future of both canals. So the Regents Canal bought the Grand Junction Canal and all of its arms and branches for £801,442. The whole network was reformed as the Grand Union Canal see the notes on that canal for further history.

Sources.

Nicholson Guides to the Waterways.

Roots & Routes, Peter Hardcastle's Website
http://www.canals.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm

Some pictures of this canal?

Little Venice to Limehouse. / Limehouse cut. / Ducketts.

General information on the canal.

Find our information about other canals and rivers on the canal index page.

We will not be on this canal in 2008

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk