Man-made waterways, we visited Regent's Canal.
According to the Canal Museum, John Nash was one of the directors of the canal company. Commissioned to be built in 1812, construction started in 1816. There were problems building the canal, as there were money shortages and design failures.
Thomas Homer, once the canal's promoter, embezzled its funds in 1815 causing further financial problems. To build the canal cost £772,000, twice the original estimate of expenditure. The Canal was short of water supplies and it was necessary to dam the river Brent to create a reservoir to provide them, in 1835, extended in 1837 and 1854. A number of basins were built such as Battlebridge basin where the London Canal Museum now stands, which was opened in 1822.
In the late 1920's talks took place between the Regent's Canal, the Grand Junction Canal, and the Warwick Canals, resulting, in 1929, in a merger between them. The Regent's Canal Company bought the canal assets of the other two parties and the new enlarged undertaking was renamed as the Grand Union Canal Company.
In the latter part of the second world war (1939-45) traffic increased on the canal system as an alternative to the hard pressed railways. Stop gates were installed near King's Cross to limit flooding of the railway tunnel below, in the event that the canal was breached by German bombs. Along with other transport systems the canal was nationalised in 1948, coming under the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive, a part of the British Transport Commission, which traded under the name "British Waterways". The British Transport Commission was split up in 1963 and the British Waterways Board , who still own and operate the canals, took over. They now also use the name British Waterways. -Canal Museum
The notion of a man-made canal interests me when it comes to travel competition. There were railways and an apparent attempt to turn the canal into a railway. To me, this seems like a notion to try and please the masses instead of practically using what is there for commercial gain.
Today, the canal is a perfect walk by many sites of interest. From the magnificent homes with perfect gardens, a view of the Regent Zoo, a lane of houseboats, and a trail for cyclists and runners makes the Canal a really enjoyable walk to see another view of London that takes you away from the underground and the hustle of city living.
This photo is only here for my viewing purposes ands I love Banksy
