“And scrub it offthe map they (nearly) did” – that was how I summed up the harsh treatment meted out in the 1970s to the only recently closed Grand Surrey Canal, at the end of my last month’s article on the history of South London’s forgotten waterways.
But despite the haste with which much of the canal had already been consigned to history by the time I came to explore it just six years after closure, another forty-odd years later there are still plenty of traces to be found. Rather more surprisingly, the same is true of its ill-starred offshoot the Croydon Canal –despite it having been closed (with its alignment reused for a railway line) for over a century and three quarters, while South London gradually expanded along its route.
Notwithstanding their chequered history, the lack of interest in preserving them, and the pressure on space in South London’s suburbs, exploration of both canals is well worthwhile – by car (usual provisos about London traffic and parking!), on foot (the two canals total 14 miles), by local public transport (the railway which once destroyed the Croydon Canal now provides a frequent London Overground train service to explore it!) or perhaps most conveniently, by bike. We’ll begin at the Thames and head south and west along the Surrey, then further south on the Croydon.
Denne historien er fra September 2020-utgaven av Canal Boat.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2020-utgaven av Canal Boat.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
HIGH AND MIGHTY
Acorns make the perfect store food for jays’ larders
TAKING THE PLUNGE
Why Chris and Sarah Atkin will never forget tying the knot
LABELLED WITH LOVE
Helen Tidy enjoyed one weekend moored next to The Beer Boat ... simply the perfect solution to collecting bottle tops for her next project
MIDDLE THAMES
In the second part of our guide, we follow the Thames upstream from Reading through the steep sided Goring Gap and quieter countryide to reach Oxford
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Robert Davies recalls childhood memories of a popular holiday destination and uncovers a reminder of the golden age of canals
FIT FOR PURPOSE
Terry Hibbard from Harworth Heating offers his expert opinion following our feature on onboard stove safety
BUCKING UP...
We join Waterway Recovery Group’s first canal restoration working party in six months - as WRG’s volunteers help the Buckingham Canal Society get the project back on track after lockdown
ART ON THE WATER
Graphic artist Katie Ruby lives and works on 32ft narrowboat Poppy
GO WITH THE FLOW
What makes a boat truly stand out from the crowd? Sometimes you just need a little finesse and a taste for adventure
A GLASS HALF-FULL AT BUCKBY WHARF
Tim Coghlan raised a glass on the Grand Union Canal as The New Inn reopened to the relief of regulars