Grand Surrey Canal
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2017 4:00 pm
The Grand Surrey canal
Authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1801, the Canal was originally intended to extend northwards to Rotherhithe and was 15K long.
Originally named the Kent and Surrey Canal it was built during the 19th Century. It opened to the Old Kent Road in 1807 and to Camberwell in 1810 and was extended to Peckham in 1826. The main cargo handled on the canal was timber. The Canal closed progressively from the 1940s with all but the Greenland Dock Section, which closed in the 1970s. Much of the route is traceable and has been turned into linear parks and many of the old bridges remain.
The original intention was for the Surrey Canal to be linked to the Croydon Canal, to Epsom, via New Cross and a series of 28 locks in two flights to keep the Canal supplied with water. Reservoirs were constructed at Sydenham and South Norwood, the latter still exists. The Canal was 34ft wide and a maximum depth of 5ft. By 1811, 22 barges plied the Canal the barges being 60ft long and 9ft wide and could carry 30 tons. After the initial flight of locks, most of the canal followed the 160ft contour. The final two locks at Croydon raised the Canal to 174ft. Because there was no source of water, the steam pumping station was built to pump water to the summit.
The Canal was never a success, and closed in 1836. Most of the alignment was used by the London and Croydon Railway Company. After the Canal closed, sections were retained for leisure use. A section at Betts Park in Anerley was used as a boating lake and can still be seen at the northern corner of Betts Park.
Authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1801, the Canal was originally intended to extend northwards to Rotherhithe and was 15K long.
Originally named the Kent and Surrey Canal it was built during the 19th Century. It opened to the Old Kent Road in 1807 and to Camberwell in 1810 and was extended to Peckham in 1826. The main cargo handled on the canal was timber. The Canal closed progressively from the 1940s with all but the Greenland Dock Section, which closed in the 1970s. Much of the route is traceable and has been turned into linear parks and many of the old bridges remain.
The original intention was for the Surrey Canal to be linked to the Croydon Canal, to Epsom, via New Cross and a series of 28 locks in two flights to keep the Canal supplied with water. Reservoirs were constructed at Sydenham and South Norwood, the latter still exists. The Canal was 34ft wide and a maximum depth of 5ft. By 1811, 22 barges plied the Canal the barges being 60ft long and 9ft wide and could carry 30 tons. After the initial flight of locks, most of the canal followed the 160ft contour. The final two locks at Croydon raised the Canal to 174ft. Because there was no source of water, the steam pumping station was built to pump water to the summit.
The Canal was never a success, and closed in 1836. Most of the alignment was used by the London and Croydon Railway Company. After the Canal closed, sections were retained for leisure use. A section at Betts Park in Anerley was used as a boating lake and can still be seen at the northern corner of Betts Park.