103-594: The Paddington Canal or Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal is a 13 + 1 ⁄ 2 -mile (22 km) canal to Paddington in central London , England . It runs from the west of the capital at Bull's Bridge in Hayes . Little Venice — its only junction — is with the Regent's Canal , London that runs to Limehouse Basin to the east. The arm and the two canals it links are fed by water by
206-451: A Mr Arthur Atkins. While the practice declined as commercial use of the canals dwindled, it has seen something of a revival in recent times with the emergence of leisure boating. Narrowboat decoration with roses and castle themes are a common sight on today's canals, although these may utilise cheaper printed vinyl transfers in place of the traditional craft of hand-painted designs. The number of licensed boats on canals and rivers managed by
309-491: A boat and get afloat. The first narrow boats played a key part in the economic changes of the British Industrial Revolution . They were wooden boats drawn by a horse walking on the canal towpath led by a crew member, often a child. Narrow boats were chiefly designed for carrying cargo, though some packet boats carried passengers, luggage, mail and parcels. The first canals to feature locks in
412-742: A certain amount of "shoehorning") lie diagonally. Some locks on isolated waterways are as short as 40 feet (12.19 m). Where it was possible to avoid going through locks, narrow boats were sometimes built a little larger. Wharf boats or more usually 'Amptons, operated on the Wolverhampton level of the Birmingham Canal Navigations and were up to 89 feet in length and 7 foot 10.5 inches wide. Hire fleets on British canals usually consist of narrow boats in varied lengths from 30 feet (9.14 m) upwards, to allow parties of different numbers or varying budgets to be able to hire
515-739: A circuit known as the Leicester Ring. The Grand Union Canal has six main branches, usually termed ' arms '. Five miles (eight km) from Brentford , the Paddington Arm runs circuitously on the flat to a junction with the Regent's Canal , the latter running north and east of Central London. The triangular canal basin formed by the junction is called the Little Venice in Maida Vale. The Arm's final 500 m runs south-east to Paddington Basin . From Cowley Peachey,
618-597: A faithful imitation (false "rivets", and copies of traditional paintwork) through "interpretation" (clean lines and simplified paintwork) through to a free-style approach which does not try to pretend in any way that this is a traditional boat. They are owned by individuals, shared by a group of friends (or by a more formally organised syndicate), rented out by holiday firms, or used as cruising hotels. A few boats are lived on permanently: either based in one place (though long-term moorings for residential narrowboats are currently very difficult to find) or continuously moving around
721-467: A growing alternative community living on semi-permanent moorings or continuously cruising. For any boat to enter a narrow lock, it must be under 7 feet (2.13 m) wide, so most narrowboats are nominally 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) wide. A narrowboat's maximum length is generally 72 feet (21.95 m), as anything longer will be unable to navigate much of the British canal network, because
824-488: A holiday to the countryside within a mile of many Londoners who could afford the hire of a narrowboat . The Paddington Arm retains a present tourist function. These facilities in marinas and basins also support London's communities living on narrowboats. Some facilities are provided by the Canal and River Trust which administers many British canals. The London terminus, Paddington Basin , has public access integrated within
927-495: A large open deck between counter and rear doors, protected by a taffrail (railing), perhaps with built-in seating, around back and sides. The large rear deck provides a good al fresco dining area or social space, allowing people to congregate on deck in good weather and the summer holiday season. In winter (or less than perfect weather of summer) the steerer may be unprotected from the elements. The lack of an enclosed engine room means that engine heat does not contribute to keeping
1030-423: A major advantage that the engine is located entirely outside the living space. In this configuration also, it is common to find that the engine bay contains batteries, isolator switching, fuel tanks and seldom-used kit, spares and equipment. A so-called "pram cover" can be fitted to a cruiser stern. Named after a baby's pram , this usually consists of a cloth cover on a folding metal frame. When erected, it encloses
1133-486: A maximum of 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) wide to guarantee easy passage throughout the complete system. Because of their slenderness, some narrowboats seem very long. The maximum length is about 72 feet (21.95 m), which matches the length of the longest locks on the system. Modern narrowboats tend to be shorter, to permit cruising anywhere on the connected network of British canals — including on canals built for wider, but shorter, boats. The shortest lock on
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#17327725759591236-532: A missing link between the north and south of the UK for wide-beam boats - all current inland waterways have restrictive pinch points around the Midlands, only suited to narrowboats , effectively dividing wide-beam cruising grounds into two disconnected halves. The history of the proposal is considerably older; the route was first discussed in 1810, when its promoters included Samuel Whitbread . From Milton Keynes,
1339-599: A nationwide transport network during the Industrial Revolution , but with the advent of the railways, commercial canal traffic gradually diminished and the last regular long-distance transportation of goods by canal had virtually disappeared by 1970. However, some commercial traffic continued. From the 1970s onward narrowboats were gradually being converted into permanent residences or as holiday lettings. Currently, about 8,580 narrowboats are registered as 'permanent homes' on Britain's waterway system and represent
1442-575: A popular annual boat show . The stretch of the canal that passes through the centre of Leicester is known as the 'Mile Straight' and is home to Leicester Rowing Club , a rowing and sculling club. The club hosts regattas on a stretch co-running with the Soar , typically held in mid-April by over 100 crews over a 770-yard (700 m) course. Also on this section are the Foxton Locks and Watford Locks , both staircase locks . Beside Foxton locks
1545-430: A refurbished, slow-revving, vintage semi-diesel engine . There are some steam-driven narrow boats such as the ex- Fellows Morton & Clayton steamer President . By the end of the 19th century it was common practice to paint roses and castles on narrow boats and their fixtures and fittings. Common sites include the doors to the cabin, the water can or barrel and the side of the boat along with ornate lettering giving
1648-470: A set of mainly commercial, high-rise, turn of the 21st-century buildings and immediate grounds which has received national awards for architecture; some are luxurious residential use. Buildings include the Queen Mother Wing of St Mary's Hospital and the headquarters of Marks & Spencer . The similar length 500 m channel to Little Venice is for more than a quarter of its length lined by
1751-627: A short spur connects with the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal . Another 3 miles (4.8 km) lead to the Knowle flight of five locks. Finally, an 11-mile (18-km) level takes the canal through Elmdon Heath, Solihull, Acocks Green and Tyseley to the heart of Birmingham. The main line may be considered to terminate at Bordesley Junction . From here, there are two routes, both part of the Grand Union Canal. The original line of
1854-703: A steel superstructure, but when they were first being developed for leisure use in the 1970s glass reinforced plastic (fibre-glass) or timber was often used above gunwale height. Newer narrowboats, say post 1990, are usually powered by modern diesel engines and may be fitted inside to a high standard. There will be at least 6 feet (1.8 m) internal headroom and often or usually similar domestic facilities as land homes: central heating, flush toilets, shower or even bath, four-ring hobs , oven, grill, microwave oven, and refrigerator; some may have satellite television and mobile broadband, using 4G or LTE technology. Externally, their resemblance to traditional boats can vary from
1957-631: A tiller; spec. one not exceeding 7 feet (approx. 2.1 metres) in width or 72 feet (approx. 21.9 metres) in length Earlier quotations listed in the Oxford English Dictionary use the term "narrow boat", with the most recent, a quotation from an advertisement in Canal Boat & Inland Waterways in 1998, uses "narrowboat". The single word "narrowboat" has been adopted by authorities such as the Canal and River Trust, Scottish Canals and
2060-626: A warm stove, a steaming kettle, gleaming brass, fancy lace, painted housewares and decorated plates. Such descriptions rarely consider the actual comfort of a (sometimes large) family, working brutally hard and long days, sleeping in one tiny cabin. However many shore-bound workers endured harder indoor trades in less healthy conditions and in worse accommodation, where the family was separated for long hours rather than being together all day. The lifestyle afloat, by definition itinerant, made it impossible for children to attend school. Most boat people were effectively illiterate and ostracised by those living "on
2163-664: Is 5 miles (8.0 km) away. Beyond the top lock is Norton Junction where the Leicester line (not strictly a branch) heads off north. A few miles further on the canal passes through the 2040-yard (1865-m) Braunston Tunnel , which pierces a low range of hills that are part of the Northamptonshire uplands. The canal then drops down the Braunston flight of six locks until it reaches Braunston Junction having covered just over 93 miles (150 km). At Braunston Junction,
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#17327725759592266-461: Is an unpowered boat traditionally with a larger rudder with (usually) a wooden tiller (known as an elum , a corruption of helm ) as the steering does not benefit from the force of water generated by the propeller so the rudder must be of a larger area. The tiller is usually removed and reversed in the rudder-post socket to get it out of the way when moored. A few butty boats have been converted into powered narrowboats like NB Sirius . The term butty
2369-747: Is at Brentford on the River Thames in west London, where the canal follows the engineered course of the Brent . The double Thames Lock at Brentford separates the Tideway administered by the Port of London Authority from the River Brent/Grand Union Canal, administered by the Canal & River Trust . The locks on the canal are partially numbered: numbered consecutively south of its turn-off for Leicester, Braunston Junction. Thames Lock
2472-489: Is by tiller, as was the case on all working narrow boats. The steerer stands at the stern of the boat, aft of the hatchway and/or rear doors at the top of the steps up from the cabin. The steering area comes in three basic types, each meeting different needs of maximising internal space; having a more traditional appearance; having a big enough rear deck for everyone to enjoy summer weather or long evenings; or protection outside in bad weather. Each type has its advocates. However,
2575-639: Is certainly a similarity in style and a geographical overlap, but no solid proof of a link. There are similar styles of folk art in Scandinavia , Germany, Turkey and Bangladesh . In the 18th century, similar Dutch Hindeloopen paintwork would only have been a sailing barge journey away from the Thames. There is also an article in the Midland Daily Telegraph of 22 July 1914 that credits the practice of painting of water cans, at least, to
2678-420: Is derived from the dialect word buddy, meaning companion. While the vast majority of narrowboats have tiller steering at the stern, a small number of steel narrowboats dispense with the need for a rear steering deck entirely, by imitating some river cruisers in providing wheel steering from a central cockpit. This layout has the advantage (as have many Dutch barges ) of enabling an aft cabin to be separate from
2781-521: Is lock number 101. For more than 3 miles (4.8 km) upstream of Thames Lock, the canal and the Brent are one and the same, and the waterway is semi-tidal until the double Gauging Lock (lock 100) at Brentford. Just upstream of the Gauging Lock was a large canal basin , now known as Brentford Lock , from which the canal covers more distance passing through two more locks. The river and canal part at
2884-673: Is on the level. There is a modern proposal to dig a new arm from here to the Great Ouse navigation at Bedford . North of the centre, it traverses the modern New Bradwell Aqueduct, the first on the Grand Union in over 100 years. Leaving Milton Keynes at Wolverton , the canal runs on a high embankment before passing over the Great Ouse at Cosgrove aqueduct (the "Iron Trunk aqueduct"), the first cast-iron "trough" aqueduct in England. After rising through Cosgrove Lock, (and passing
2987-783: Is part of the British canal system . It is the principal navigable waterway between London and the Midlands . Starting in London, one arm runs to Leicester and another ends in Birmingham , with the latter stretching for 137 miles (220 km) with 166 locks from London. The Birmingham line has a number of short branches to places including Slough , Aylesbury , Wendover , and Northampton . The Leicester line has two short arms of its own, to Market Harborough and Welford . It has links with other canals and navigable waterways, including
3090-823: Is part of the same pound. The size of the pound means that a boat can travel from Slough Basin along the Slough Arm, south along the Grand Union to Bulls Bridge, along the Paddington Arm through Little Venice and along the Regents Canal (through the Maida Hill Tunnel ) to the Hampstead Road Lock in Camden without going through a lock. The Nicholson guide states that the pound is 27 miles long. In addition to waterways mentioned above,
3193-419: Is the site of a long-abandoned inclined plane boat lift . This was constructed as part of a project to create a wide-beam canal route to connect the northern and southern parts of the canal system, something which does not exist to this day. Funding to deal with the narrow locks at Watford was not forthcoming and the scheme was aborted. The canal north of Foxton Junction is wide-beam to Leicester and onwards. It
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3296-426: Is usually 10 mm thick, the hull sides 6 mm or 8 mm, the cabin sides 6 mm, and the roof 4 mm or 6 mm. The numbers of boats have been rising, with the number of licensed boats (not all of them narrowboats) on canals and rivers managed by the Canal & River Trust (CRT) estimated at 27,000 in 2006; by 2019, this had risen to 34,367. Although a small number of steel narrowboats dispense with
3399-621: The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust , other waterways campaign groups, and also local councils. The first element of the canal is an underpass under the A421, completed in 2009 and efforts are continuing to obtain funding to complete the scheme in 'bite-size chunks'. The new waterway would create a new cruising ring connecting through from the Grand Union to the waterways of East Anglia which are beneficial to leisure cruising as tourists are able to follow circular routes, as well as completing
3502-605: The Brent Reservoir . The Paddington Arm is part of a long pound that stretches for nearly thirty miles. The canal was authorised by an act of Parliament ( 35 Geo. 3 . c. 43) of April 1795, later called the Grand Junction Canal (No. 2) Act 1795 . At the time the Industrial Revolution was advanced. Promoters saw a purpose in opening a water-transport route between two divergent economies. London had many niche industries and global imports added to which from
3605-534: The Canal & River Trust (CRT), a charitable trust, formerly British Waterways, was estimated at 27,000 in 2006. By 2014 this number had risen to over 30,000. There were perhaps another 5,000 unlicensed boats kept in private moorings or on other waterways in 2006. Most boats on CRT waterways are steel (or occasionally, aluminium) cruisers popularly referred to as narrowboats. Modern leisure narrowboats are used for holidays, weekend breaks, touring, as permanent or part-time residences. Usually, they have steel hulls and
3708-534: The Northampton Arm branches off to the east. This arm has 17 narrow locks as it descends to join the navigable River Nene (see below). The long level stretch continues past several villages including Nether Heyford and Weedon Bec and is very rural in character. At Whilton , the canal reaches the bottom of the Buckby flight of seven locks which raise it to Braunston summit the village of which parish
3811-551: The Oxford Canal diverges north and south. The north section leads to Rugby and Coventry ; the southward fork carries both the Oxford Canal and the Grand Union for 5 miles (8.0 km) to Napton Junction . Here, the Grand Union heads north towards Birmingham , while the Oxford Canal veers south towards Banbury and Oxford . Shortly after Napton Junction, the Grand Union reaches three locks at Calcutt, which begin
3914-568: The Paddington Arm branches off to the north and runs 12 miles (19 km) to join the Regents Canal at Little Venice (see below). Just before Uxbridge is Cowley Peachey Junction, where the Slough Arm branches off westward. At suburban Cowley, before the 1930s a rural village, the canal begins to climb the valley of the River Colne north north-west into the adjoining town of Uxbridge . After Denham and Harefield villages, it passes to
4017-608: The River Nene . At Warwick the northernmost branch off of the Grand Union Canal (also known by regular users as the "GU"), the Saltisford Canal Arm begins. The restored arm is close to the centre of Warwick. It was originally the main line of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal, 1799, leading to the terminus and a basin with wharfs for timber. When the Warwick and Napton Canal opened, this bypassed channel remained as
4120-480: The River Thames at Limehouse , via the City Road Basin and five others. The Paddington canal was opened on 10 July 1801, when 20,000 people were reported to attend. Paddington was in 1801 a village buffered by a small line of fields from the closest parts of the rapidly expanding conurbation of London. It was said in 1853 that at the beginning of the 1700s "next to the beautiful fields and quiet village,
4223-554: The River Thames , the Regent's Canal , the River Nene and River Soar , the Oxford Canal , the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal , the Digbeth Branch Canal and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal . The canal south of Braunston to the River Thames at Brentford in London is the original Grand Junction Canal . At Braunston the latter met the Oxford Canal linking back to the Thames to the south and to Coventry to
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4326-633: The River Trent (collectively known as the 'Leicester line') are mixed in size. From Norton to Foxton, the route is a narrow canal. From below Foxton to Leicester it is a wide canal. From Leicester to the Trent, the route is effectively the River Soar and the locks and bridges are wide. Another act of Parliament in 1931 authorised the widening of the locks at Watford Locks and Foxton Locks , but with government grants for this section not forthcoming,
4429-498: The Slough Arm runs 5 miles (8.0 km) to the west. From Marsworth, about 35 miles (56 km) by canal from Brentford , two arms diverge: one to Wendover (currently in-part navigable as being restored by the Wendover Arm Trust; ) the other descends through 16 narrow locks for 4 miles (6.4 km) to Aylesbury . From Gayton Junction, about 60 miles (97 km) from Brentford, the Northampton Arm links with
4532-529: The gallows and the gibbet were the principal attractions in Paddington" in Robins' Paddington Past and Present , written by a writer who lived in the area in the 1830s and 1840s. Robins records the banks near to Paddington for many early decades were refuse transfer yards, i.e. onward dumping grounds for London dustmen and to an extent night soilmen : ...Immense heaps of dust and ashes towered high above
4635-516: The 'Leicester Line' of the Grand Union Canal runs north from Norton Junction for about 35 miles (56 km) until it reaches Leicester , where it joins the River Soar to provide a link to the River Trent and to the Trent and Mersey Canal . It includes tunnels south of Crick 1,528 yd (1,397 m) and north of Husbands Bosworth 1,166 yd (1,066 m) The village of Crick is home to
4738-505: The Grand Junction Canal) was built as a 'wide' or 'broad' canal – that is, its locks were wide enough to accommodate two narrowboats abreast (side by side) or a single wide barge up to 14 feet (4.3 m) in beam. The onward sections from Braunston to Birmingham had been built as 'narrow' canals, that is, the locks could accommodate only a single narrowboat . The Grand Union Canal Act 1931 ( 21 & 22 Geo. 5 . c. xc)
4841-671: The Lee & Stort Navigation). A few people are doing their best in the 21st century to keep the tradition of canal-borne cargo-carrying alive, mostly by "one-off" deliveries rather than regular runs, or by selling goods such as coal to other boaters. Enthusiasts remain dedicated to restoring the remaining old narrow boats, often as members of the Historic Narrow Boat Owners Club. There are many replicas, such as Hadar , ornately painted with traditional designs, usually of roses and castles. Boats not horse-drawn may have
4944-610: The Warwick and Birmingham Canal leads to the Digbeth Branch Canal of the Birmingham Canal Navigations at the Warwick Bar , while the later line of the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal leads to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal (and Tame Valley Canal ) at Salford Junction , which in turn has connections to the Coventry Canal and the Trent and Mersey Canal . Formed by amalgamations of once-independent canals,
5047-482: The arm. The Leicester Line has two modest arms of its own, see Grand Union Canal (old) . The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Consortium plans to build a 16-mile (26 km) canal connecting the Grand Union at Milton Keynes to the River Great Ouse at Bedford at an estimated cost of £170 million. The project is supported by British Waterways (and its successor, the Canal & River Trust ),
5150-455: The art form must have existed by this date. For some time, a popular suggestion was that it had some form of Romani origin; however, there does not appear to be a significant link between the Romani and boating communities. Other suggestions include transfer of styles from the clock-making industry (in particular the decoration on the face), the japanning industry or the pottery industry. There
5253-444: The authoritative magazine Waterways World to refer to all boats built in the style and tradition of commercial boats that were able to fit in the narrow canal locks. Although some narrow boats are built to a design based on river barges and many conform to the strict definition of the term, it is incorrect to refer to a narrowboat (or narrow boat) as a widebeam or as a barge , both of which are definable by their greater width. In
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#17327725759595356-403: The bank", who considered themselves superior. As steam and diesel progressively replaced the tow-horse in the early years of the 20th century, it became possible to move even more cargo with fewer hands by towing a second, un-powered boat, referred to as a "butty", "buttyboat" or "butty boat". Although there was no longer a horse to maintain, the butty had to be steered while being towed. So that
5459-614: The base of the Hanwell flight of locks (92–97), before two more locks take the canal to Norwood Green . It then heads westward over level ground through Southall , Hayes and Yiewsley until it reaches the gentle valley of the Colne . Three miles (5 km) from Norwood on this long level is Bulls Bridge Junction, once the site of the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company 's main dockyard. At Bulls Bridge,
5562-407: The boat warm and there may be "wasted" space above the deck area. A "cruiser" stern allows the engine to be located under the deck, rather than in the body of the boat. Although this may make access to the engine more of a nuisance (due to weather considerations) the whole deck can usually be lifted off in whole or in sections, allowing the operative to stand inside the engine bay, the cruiser stern has
5665-478: The boat's name and owner. This tradition did not happen in all regions, the Chesterfield Canal being one waterway where narrow boats never bore such decorations. The origin of the roses and castles found on canal boats is unclear. The first written reference to them appears to be in an 1858 edition of the magazine Household Words in one of a series of articles titled "On the Canal", showing that
5768-577: The boats harder, faster and further, partly to keep families together. As late as 1858, a Household Words article states that "the Grand Junction Canal company did not allow the boatmen's families on board." The crew of the non-stopping (" fly ") boat in the article (skipper, two crew and a "youth") is said to be typical. The rear portion of the boat became the "boatman's cabin", familiar from picture postcards and museums, famous for its space-saving ingenuity and interior made attractive by
5871-453: The boundaries are not fixed, and some boats blur the categories as new designers try out different arrangements and combinations. Many modern canal boats retain the traditional layout of a small open, unguarded "counter" or deck behind the rear doors from which the crew can step onto land. It is possible to steer from the counter, but this is not very safe, with the propeller churning below only one missed step away. The "tiller extension" allows
5974-443: The butty boatman could lengthen or shorten towline as needed, the towline wasn't tied-off on the bow, instead travelled over the buttyboat through permanent running blocks on stands or retractable middle masts and managed in the stern. On a wide canal, such as the Grand Union Canal , the pair could be roped side-to-side ("breasted up") and handled as a unit through working locks. Cargo-carrying by narrow boat diminished from 1945 and
6077-554: The canal follows the course of the River Bulbourne through Bourne End with the well-known swingbridge at Winkwell, and the "Port of Berkhamsted , a small compact town". At Cow Roast Lock the canal reaches the 3-mile (5-km) summit at Tring in the Chiltern hills, having risen through 54 locks since Brentford. At the north-west end of the summit level is Bulbourne Works, where lock gates were manufactured until 2003 for
6180-543: The canal in parlance used by natives and canal staff was "the withered arm" and in fact was only really "opened" to allow the pumping station there to pump water into the uppermost level. A few hundred metres beyond the bottom lock of the flight, the Aylesbury Arm branches off to the south west. The Grand Union descends gradually by interspersed locks, past the villages of Cheddington , Horton and Slapton until it reaches Leighton Buzzard . Traditionally this section of
6283-420: The canal is called "Slapton Fields" or just "The Fields" by boaters. A few miles further on, a flight of three locks near Soulbury marks the descent towards the valley of the River Great Ouse . A few miles further on it enters Milton Keynes at the outskirts of Bletchley at Fenny Stratford Lock, which is unusual in lowering the level by only 12 inches (30 cm). The next stretch of 11 miles (18 km)
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#17327725759596386-453: The canal is now as busy as it ever was, with leisure boating complemented by fishing, towpath walking and gongoozling . More recently freight traffic returned with the carriage of aggregates from Denham to West Drayton in barges and narrow boats, and the opening of a new wharf for re-cyclables and aggregates at Old Oak Common . One end of the Grand Union Canal (Grand Junction Canal – Main Line)
6489-637: The canal is planned to pass beneath the M1 utilising an existing cattle creep , then cross over Brogborough Hill, and across the Marston Vale through to the River Great Ouse in Kempston. The Buckingham Arm once ran from Cosgrove, Northamptonshire to Buckingham . It was built as an arm of the Grand Junction Canal, in two separate phases, opening in 1800 and 1801. It was disused from 1932, but
6592-451: The canal rises by two locks to Budbrooke Junction (formerly the junction with the then-independent Warwick and Birmingham Canal). To the left is the restored Saltisford Canal Arm , a short stretch that used to run under the railway to the original canal basin complex and terminus of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal – the basin was filled-in in the 1970s. The canal used to serve one of the oldest gasworks . Two hexagonal buildings that housed
6695-533: The context of British inland waterways, a barge is usually a much wider, cargo-carrying boat or a modern boat modelled on one, certainly more than 7 feet (2.13 m) wide. Another historic term for a narrow boat is a long boat , which has been noted in the Midlands and especially on the River Severn and connecting waterways to Birmingham. Usage has not quite settled as regards (a) boats based on narrowboat design, but too wide for narrow canals; or (b) boats
6798-433: The cruiser stern, allowing more comfortable operation of the boat in cold or inclement weather. A semi-traditional stern is a compromise to gain some of the "social" benefits of a cruiser stern, while retaining a more traditional design and providing some protection for the steerer in bad weather or in cooler seasons. As with the cruiser stern, the deck is extended back from the hatch and rear doors, but in this case most of
6901-473: The deck is protected at the sides by walls which extend back from the cabin sides – giving a more sheltered area for the steerer and companions, usually with lockers to sit on. The engine is located under the deck, much like a cruiser, again allowing a separation between the cabin and the engine bay, with the steps down to the cabin being located past the false sides of the "semi-trad" social area. Semi-trad sterns can also be fitted with pram covers. A butty boat
7004-671: The descent to the Warwickshire River Avon . After a 3-mile (5-km) level, the canal descends into the valley of the River Leam by the Stockton flight of 10 locks (often known as 'the Itchington Ten'). Above the eighth lock down the flight, a short arm (now used as pleasure craft moorings) used to serve Southam cement works. This was where the last regular cargo of cement was loaded heading for Birmingham in
7107-414: The end of the 19th century it was common practice to paint roses and castles on narrowboats and their fixtures and fittings. This tradition has continued into the 21st century, but not all narrowboats have such decorations. Modern narrowboats are used for holidays, weekend breaks, touring, or as permanent or part-time residences. Usually, they have steel hulls and a steel superstructure. The hull's flat base
7210-442: The forward accommodation. Narrowboats are "Category D" boats under the Recreational Craft Directive , intended only for navigating inland - rivers, canals and small lakes - but under the professional supervision of a suitable local pilot , limited coastal passages linking inland waterways, such as along the tidal Severn Estuary between Bristol and Sharpness , can also be safely made in calm weather. Insurers will often require
7313-432: The full length of the Paddington Arm to the Main Grand Union Canal at Bulls Bridge. It continues about two miles south from there to the Norwood Top Lock (lock number 90 on the Grand Union) and north about five miles to Cowley Lock (number 89 on the Grand Union). About a mile south of Cowley Lock, at Peachy Junction, the Slough Arm branches off the Grand Union and heads west for five miles to terminate at Slough Basin. It too
7416-595: The gas holders are part of the world's oldest remaining gasworks buildings. After half a mile the mainline reaches the bottom of the Hatton flight of 21 locks that lift the canal up out of the Avon Valley. The first 10 locks are spaced out but from the middle lock the flight is tightly spaced. Three miles (5 km) from Hatton Top Lock the canal passes through Shrewley Tunnel , with its separate horse tunnel, and then passes Rowington village to Kingswood Junction where
7519-465: The hatchway edge, a high vantage point giving good all-round visibility. On trad boats, the bow "well-deck" forms the main outside viewing area, because the traditional stern is not large enough for anyone other than the steerer to stand on safely. Internally, trads may have an engine room forward of a traditional "boatman's cabin", or an enclosed engine tucked away out of sight and the increased living space this brings. The name for this style arises from
7622-516: The home of poet Robert Browning , 1862-1887. Bazalegette 's Northern Outfall Sewer — specifically two of its five interceptor sewers — has taken the sewage of surrounding areas since their completion in the 1870s. The Paddington Arm is part of a large canal pound . The pound stretches from the Hampstead Road Lock in Camden (lock number 24 on the Regent's Canal) into Little Venice, along
7725-407: The house-tops; and these artificial mountains are said to have been worth £10,000 a piece ... Not only the dust and ashes but the filth of half London were brought to "that stinking Paddington" (as it was now called) for convenience of removal. By the mid-19th century, refuse stations were moved elsewhere and grand mansions were built alongside the closing mile of banks, including Beauchamp Lodge,
7828-669: The interred include Mary Seacole , two Cardinals, a Bonaparte and two Polish leading spies against Nazi Germany : Andrzej Kowerski (aka Andrew Kennedy) and Krystyna Skarbek (aka Christine Granville). The cemeteries front the canal with a wall since the era of urban grave robbing in the 19th century and a disused gate. The opposite (south) bank is the towpath side which provides canal views from many buildings and those visiting. 51°29′59″N 0°24′24″W / 51.4997°N 0.4067°W / 51.4997; -0.4067 Grand Union Canal The Grand Union Canal in England
7931-414: The large open rear deck resembling that of the large rear cockpits common on glass-fibre ( glass-reinforced plastic or GRP) river cruisers which in turn derives from elliptical sterns used on cruisers and larger warships in the 20th century. At the stern, a "cruiser" narrowboat looks very different from traditional boats: the hatch and rear doors are considerably further forward than on a "trad", creating
8034-421: The last regular long-distance traffic disappeared in 1970. However, some traffic continued into the 1980s and beyond. Two million tonnes of aggregate were carried on the Grand Union (River Soar) between 1976 and 1996, latterly using wide beam barges. Aggregate continues to be carried between Denham and West Drayton on the (wide) Grand Union Canal and on the tidal estuary of Bow Creek (which is the eventual outflow of
8137-449: The late 1830s was added almost direct access to the western rail terminus. The Midlands had mass-manufactured goods, raw and processed commodities such as coal, bricks, wood, steel and iron and remains the main destination from the western end of this canal. It was later extended towards the City of London by construction of the Regent's Canal which ran from a junction at Maida Vale to
8240-467: The late 1960s. From the bottom of the locks, a 3-mile (5-km) level leads to the four Bascote Locks . The top two form a 'riser' or staircase . Six more interspersed locks lead to Radford, after which a 5-mile (8-km) level takes the canal through Leamington Spa to Warwick . Between these two towns, the canal crosses the River Avon and the former Great Western Railway on aqueducts . At Warwick,
8343-503: The main network is Salterhebble Middle Lock on the Calder and Hebble Navigation , at about 56 feet (17.07 m) long. However, the C&;H is a wide canal, so the lock is about 14 feet 2 inches (4.32 m) wide. This makes the largest "go-anywhere-on-the-network" narrowboat slightly longer (about 58 feet or 17.68 metres) than the straight length of the lock, because it can (with
8446-548: The minimum width increased to 26 feet (7.9 m) to enable two boats of 12 feet 6 inches to pass. Lock works were completed in 1934 when the Duke of Kent opened the new broad locks at Hatton, and other improvements finished by 1937. These improvements to depth and width were never carried out between Braunston and London. Camp Hill Locks in Birmingham were not widened, as it would have been very expensive and of little point, since they lead only to further flights of locks not in
8549-399: The nearby paper mills. This realigned the canal to the south of its former course; the locks here are still referred to – without irony – as "The New 'Uns" by traditional boaters, and the term has been passed on to a new generation of canal users. After Kings Langley and Apsley – the site of more former paper mills – the canal passes the town Hemel Hempstead and Boxmoor Common. From here
8652-535: The need for a rear steering deck entirely, by imitating some river cruisers in providing wheel steering from a central cockpit, most narrowboats' steering is by a tiller on the stern. There are three major configurations for the stern: traditional stern , cruiser stern and semi-traditional stern . The narrowboat (one word) definition in the Oxford English Dictionary is: A British canal boat of traditional long, narrow design, steered with
8755-487: The network (perhaps with a fixed location for the coldest months, when many stretches of canal are closed by repair works or "stoppages"). A support infrastructure has developed to provide services to the leisure boats, with some narrowboats being used as platforms to provide services such as engine maintenance and boat surveys; while some others are used as fuel tenders, that provide diesel , solid fuel (coal and wood) and Calor Gas . On almost all narrowboats steering
8858-469: The nominal maximum length of locks is 75 feet (22.86 m). Some locks are shorter than 72 feet (21.95 m), so to access the entire canal network the maximum length is 57 feet (17.37 m). The first narrow boats played a key role in the economic changes of the British Industrial Revolution . They were wooden boats drawn by a horse walking on the canal towpath led by a crew member. Horses were gradually replaced by steam and then diesel engines. By
8961-541: The north via the Coventry Canal . "Grand Union Canal" is also the original name for what is now the Leicester line of the modern Grand Union, running from short east of Braunston to Leicester, and which is now sometimes referred to as the Old Grand Union Canal to avoid ambiguity. The Grand Union Canal in its current form came into being on 1 January 1929 when the Regent's Canal and the Grand Junction Canal agreed that amalgamation and modernisation were
9064-675: The now standard size were the canals designed by James Brindley and approved by Parliament in 1766, including the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and Trent and Mersey Canal . Although construction took many years, the lock size became standard for many canal building projects. Boatmen's families originally lived ashore, but in the 1830s as canals started to suffer competition from the burgeoning railway system, families (especially those of independent single boat owner/skippers) began to live on board, partly because they could no longer afford rents, partly to provide extra hands to work
9167-418: The only way to remain competitive against rail and newly developing road transport: A five/mile (eight-km) section of the Oxford Canal forms the main line of the Grand Union between Braunston and Napton-on-the-Hill . Although the Grand Union intended to buy the Oxford Canal and Coventry Canal , these purchases did not take place. The section of the main line between Brentford and Braunston (formerly
9270-472: The ownership of the Grand Union. A new basin and warehouse were constructed at Tyseley, above Camp Hill , to deal with this. Although the Grand Union company had a number of broad boats built to take advantage of the improvements, they never really caught on and the canal continued to be operated largely by pairs of narrow boats, whose journeys were facilitated by the newly widened locks in which they could breast up. The three sections between Norton junction and
9373-496: The pound also encompass the Paddington Basin and a private arm off the Grand Union main line, located just north of Norwood Top Lock, that connects Maypole Dock to the Grand Union main line (the canal arm, about 600 metres (660 yd) long, and dock were built in 1912–1913 at a cost of £27,670). In other use since the outset, the canal, for some Londoners together with the Regent's Canal provided an easy way to embark on
9476-544: The same width as narrowboats but based on other types of boat. Narrowboats may have ship prefix NB . The key distinguishing feature of a narrowboat is its width, which must be less than 7 feet (2.13 m) wide to navigate British narrow canals. Some old boats are very close to this limit (often built 7 feet 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches or 2.17 metres or slightly wider), and can have trouble using certain narrow locks whose width has been reduced over time because of subsidence . Modern boats are usually produced to
9579-620: The shops and apartments of luxury development Sheldon Square. In places the canal forms the edge of public parks, between Greenford , Yeading , Northolt and nearest the city at Meanwhile Gardens , North Kensington (a part also known here as "Kensal Vale"). The largest park adjoining is Horsenden Hill , Sudbury . It forms one long boundary of elongated Kensal Green Cemetery , a Grade I diversely wooded site of 72 acres (0.29 km) featuring two conservation areas and grave memorials such as to Brunel and two British Princes; this continues with St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green where
9682-728: The south of Rickmansworth . Here it merges with the Rivers Chess, Colne and Gade. After Rickmansworth, the canal follows the valley of the Gade , passing the site of Croxley paper mill. The canal skirts Watford through Cassiobury Park , passing under the M25 motorway as it approaches Kings Langley . Locks become more frequent as the climb into the Chiltern Hills steepens. The original four locks here were replaced in 1819 by five shallower ones to alleviate problems with water supply to
9785-545: The southern canal network. Half a mile (800 m) further on, the canal reaches the top of the Marsworth flight of seven locks, which begin the descent to the Vale of Aylesbury . A Wendover Arm branches off westwards from the summit level under a bridge adjacent to Marsworth Top Lock and is currently navigable for just over a mile to moorings and a winding hole ; it has restoration project to extend it back to Wendover. This part of
9888-555: The start of the abandoned Buckingham Arm ) another long level section brings the canal to the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight of seven locks. At the top of this flight is the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum followed shortly by Blisworth Tunnel , at 3,056 yards (2,794 m) one of the longest of UK canals. Once clear of the tunnel, the canal passes Blisworth village and reaches Gayton Junction where
9991-433: The steerer to stand in safety on the top step, forward of the rear doors. (On a working boat, this step would have been over the top of the coal box). On cold days, the steerer can even close the rear doors behind themselves, and be in relative comfort, their lower body in the warmth of the cabin, and only their upper body emerging from the hatchway and exposed to the elements. In good weather, many trad-stern steerers sit up on
10094-566: The town's wharf. The Saltisford Canal Trust have restored most of the surviving canal, 1990–2015, such as installing long lengths of sheet piling and restoring a warehouse in 2007. Its last 160 yards (150 m) were lost in the 1970s saving a disused road bridge that stands isolated in a car park. Warwick's narrowboat moorings are on the Arm by a public park partly in view of the Castle . Over 800 visiting narrowboats cruise to Warwick each year and moor on
10197-596: The work was not carried out. The Grand Union Canal was nationalised in 1948, control transferring to the British Transport Commission , and in 1962 to the British Waterways Board, later British Waterways . Commercial traffic continued to decline, effectively ceasing in the 1970s, though lime juice was carried from Brentford to Boxmoor until 1981, and aggregates on the River Soar until 1995. However, leisure traffic took over, and
10300-454: Was not finally abandoned until 1964. It is now the subject of a restoration project. The predecessor to the Canal and River Trust, British Waterways, received mild financial support indications from the two local authorities covering Slough and Eton, Berkshire to extend the Slough Arm to join the Thames , via any course i.e. covering a minimum 2 miles (3.2 km); the 2008-estimated cost
10403-509: Was originally intended to build a canal at this width all the way to the River Nene at Northampton. However, that canal never went further than the basin at Market Harborough . The Leicester Line continues along the River Soar Navigation, and reaches the River Trent at Soar Mouth, north of Ratcliffe-on-Soar . It is possible to continue to the Trent and Mersey Canal , Coventry Canal and North Oxford Canal , to complete
10506-484: Was passed authorising a key part of the modernisation scheme of the Grand Union, supported by government grants. The narrow locks (and several bridges) between Napton and Camp Hill Top Lock in Birmingham were rebuilt to take widebeam boats or barges up to 12 feet 6 inches (3.81 m) in beam, or two narrowboats. The canal was dredged and bank improvements carried out: the depth was increased to 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) to allow heavier cargoes, and
10609-474: Was £30 million. The trust confirmed in 2012 this remains a long-term objective, to be actioned when the economic conditions allow. 52°03′03″N 0°44′02″W / 52.05076°N 0.73400°W / 52.05076; -0.73400 Narrowboat A narrowboat is a particular type of canal boat , built to fit the narrow locks of the United Kingdom . The UK's canal system provided
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