Back to Paddington - Again

Today's Canals : Regents Canal, Paddington Arm

The mooring outside the Canal Museum is only until 10 am so we were away by that time. We could have stayed a little longer if we wanted to visit the museum but in the end we did not think that it was worth it. In any case, the time to get back to Paddington just fitted with the earliest arrival time of 1 pm.

Battlebridge Basin has had a a varied history as well as several names. It was constructed in 1820 and the building that now forms the Canal Museum was once used to support the trade of importiong ice from Norway. Until the invention of freezing machinery a ready supply of ice was important, especially to up market caterers. Inside the building is a large pit that was used to store theice once delivered from the docks. At one time, many large houses in the UK had an ice house which was filled each winter with snow which was tightly compacted. Food, especially meats, was kept on top of what was, in effect, a large block of ice. This gradually meted but was expected to last from one winter to the next, when it was re-filled.

By 1970, the basin was all but derelict and destined to be filled in and used for building projects. However, a group that became named The London Narrow Boat Company, campaigned for the basin to be retained and they leased the end section for permanent moorings for their members. They did much to ensure that the basin was properly dredged and tidied up.

One one corner of the entrance is a development called Kings Place (on the right in the picture) which includes an arts centre and auditorium as well as being the head office of The Guardian.

Close by, on the main canal, is a step of steps, created in a development as a public space. It has been improved since we last saw it and today was host to a dance-exercise class.at St Pancras Lock here again is the Gas Holder development. Since our blog yesterday, Lady C from the Canal World Forum has been in touch to correct a comment we made. The gas works were not on this location, which was at one time part of the huge coal depot, but on the opposite side. They were re-erected here in 2013 after their restoration. The gas works closed in 2000. More about this history here. The land that was once the gas works has largely been taken over by expanded rail lines into St Pancras.

Close to the lock is the above structure, a Victorian Water Tower, built to provide water to power the nearby steam locomotives running in and out of Kings Cross. Again, it is not in its original location.

Land in London may be scarcer but it is often repurposed. Here, one building is being  pulverised to be replaced, no doubt, by something much grander and more profitable! the demolition team are trying to minimise the effect of the dust that they create by spraying the site with a mist of water.

The Elm Village housing project opened in 1983 and was considered a major new evolution in the way in which 'affordable' housing was to be provided, breaking down the previous harsh division between private and publicly funded housing. A report at the time sets out the aims of the project and how it was realised.

Yesterday we poked fun, ever so gently, at the architectural style of one development but directly opposite is this much older terrace. A contrast, but that is the delight of urban development over a longer term.

We also mentioned yesterday how the food and drink provision alongside the three Camden Locks has expended - this is between the two lower locks, Hawley Wharf.

At the middle lock this chap asked (or being French a lady asked for him!) if he could help. Not just little ones that take delight in working a lock that they have not done before. By the time we had worked through there was quite a crowd and we were able to arrange that he had a good round of applause!

At the top lock we had the help of a volunteer - just as well as Mike, having walked up from the previous lock, had a struggle to discover the way across to the far side, the safety barriers to keep crowds from falling in did almost too good a job! By the time Mike made it over (pushing through dense crowds around the Camden Market basin) the lock keeper had just about brough Christine + boat up to the top level..

Lots of trip boats of various sizes - you can even have a serenade (although we could not hear what the lass was singing)

From the top of the locks there is no towpath mooring for some distance - but these two found a way! The places that some people find just to live in London is quite astounding (and worrying)

We took a closer look at the Snowden Aviary and did manage to spot a couple of the colobus monkeys but too far away to capture on photo. You can see, however, the place where visitors inside the netting can watch them close up.

The next section of the Regent's Canal has numerous bridges of many different purposes. At times it seems as if there is almost nothing in between. The Lisson Grove footbridge is currently closed as the sign indicates. Pity there is no spell checker for such signage! (Not that we are in any position to comment . . . )

For some reason this view of the Western end of the Maida Hill Tunnel always seems intriguing.

The section of the canal through Little Venice before is always lined by boats on both sides, double bankled to one side. So it was strange to see this behemoth advancing towards us. Fortunately we manged to find a spot where there was only a single set of boats of both sides so we could pull in to let it pass. No thanks! It was, of course, yet another trip boat, this one with food being served.

After passing through Brownings Pool we made our way down the final section the moorings in Paddington Basin. This is another of the restaurant boats - fortunately they don't do trips!

Christine spotted this cormorant on the first mooring pontoon. Mike nearly missed it (concentrating on avoiding possible GoBoats!) but was instructed to take a photo.

Our mooring awaited, immediately opposite where we moored before - perhaps even quieter at night.

After lunch Mike had a few maintenance tasks to complete. The first he had attempted yesterday but failed through lack of time. A hing on one of the under bunk doors in the front cabin had come unscrewed. It was very awkward to reach and it needed time to be able to remove the bunk top to gain better access. Once that was done it was reasonably straightforward.

We wanted to improve the wooden gang plank (aka scaffolding board) that we bought in an emergency in Newbury a few weeks ago. We have decided, at least for now, to keep it for those usually rare occasions when the aluminium rescue ladder/gang plank cannot reach. However, when wet it is a bit slippery and we also wanted to be able to keep most of it just off the roof surface. So we brought with us this time, materials to add cross pieces to resolve both issues - they had to be cut to size and screwed on. After doing the first few, a really heavy thunderstorm arrived and work had to be suspended for a while. There was not enough time to do the final task, tightening screws on another cupboard door so that will have to await another break in cruising (or another heavy rain storm)

Meanwhile Christine went to the nearby tesco for a few items but found the shelves very inadequate. Not even carrots. So she had to go around to the other side of the basin back to the M and S Food shop, which is surprising well stocked but not as close from where we are moored this time.

4.1 Miles - 4 Locks