Please click on a picture for a larger version and some additional pictures.
Starting from Brentford the canal passes through the following places of interest:-
Brentford Thames lock
Brentford Thames lock is at the junction of the Grand Union canal and the tidal River Thames. At this point the GUC is also tidal as it is actually the River Brent that is flowing into the Thames.
Brentford Gauging Locks
The Brentford Gauging locks are also in the River Brent and are there to ensure that only craft of the correct dimensions enter the canal system.
Brentford Dock
Brentford dock was once a major transhipment dock and has now been redeveloped into flats and restaurants.
Brentford is actually older than London and was once a bronze age settlement. Julius Caesar is known to have crossed the Thames here in AD54.
Gallows Bridge
Gallows Bridge was built by Thomas Telford using the Horseley Iron Works in 1820 and is now a Grade II listed building.
Hanwell Flight
The Hanwell flight consists of 6 locks that raise the canal by 52ft. They are next to the Hanwell Asylum that opened 16th May 1831 which is now part of the NHS. The entrance to Asylum Dock can be seen as the lighter coloured brickwork arch in the wall on the left side.
The side ponds to the locks are of historical interest and were installed to save water. They are now being refurbished.
Three Bridges
Three Bridges was built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
It is actually only two bridges - a road bridge over the canal and a canal bridge over the railway!
Bull’s Bridge Junction
Bulls Bridge junction was once a major Grand Union Canal depot and is now a Tesco superstore. Tesco have paid to refurbish a dry dock there complete with one of their trollies!
