I was a gloomy day, but I set out! Sturt’s Lock, no.6, is named after Mr Sturt who was a landowner in this area, like Mr Acton, and Peter de Beauvoir who lived in Balmes House (eventually an asylum and the origin of ‘barmy’). (Good image of the house and the canal in 1830 here.) But who was Mr Sturt? I can find a ‘John Sturt’, engraver, who died in 1730 but as he died in poverty it is unlikely he was the landowner after whom the lock is named.
Wenlock Basin was dug in 1825 and privately owned. It used to be the site for the Wenlock Iron Works; now most of the buildings are converted to residential use.
The City Basin was very important to trade and the properity of the Grand Union Canal because it was closer to the City than the Paddington Basin. The Basin was privately owned but by the 1950s it was rundown and derelict. It was only in 2004 that regeneration began.
The final stretch before the Islington Tunnel.
But the canal was built for trade – look at this post to remind yourself of its original purpose.
You may be interested in
Old 1970s negatives of the Regent’s Canal – amazing!
The Kingsland Basin Development
The Regent’s Canal – excellent article, with maps
The Canal, Limehouse to Islington
Regent’s Canal, Appraisal Report, excellent
The City Road Basin
The Grand Junction Canal – amazing site with photographs; do browse
Laura Bloomsbury
Another very interesting post – I learn so much from you posts Candy – you seem to be getting out and about a great deal around London – have you got wings?!