When London Became An Island, which was published in May 2008, tells the story of the construction of the Regents Canal. Click here to find out about current points of sale.

These pages are a supplement to When London Became An Island and are divided into two parts.

Part 1 offers a look at the canal as it was when the book was being written and it will be updated occasionally. It has photographs taken at all times of the year. Part 2 carries the texts of three documents dating from the time when the canal was being built.

Part 1

Part 1 offers a photographic walk along the towpath for those viewing the site in, say, Shanghai or Santiago or even St Pancras. It is divided into four sections. Look at the blue buttons on the left and right and you will see what they are. Click on a button to go to that section. Google Earth might be useful in following the trip from the air. Type in Blomfield Road, London, W9, on the Fly To panel and you will find yourself hovering over Little Venice.

Direct quotes are italicised in the text and there are references to events mentioned in When London Became An Island, but it is not necessary to have read the book before using the website. As you read through the web pages you will see photographs on the right hand side. These (like the two pictures at the top of this page, which show the canal near Victoria Park) are all thumbnails. You can see an enlarged picture by clicking on the thumbnail and then return to the text by clicking on the Back button in the top left hand corner of the screen.

On the left hand side are a number of grey buttons, like the one below, which should take you to the website of an organisation linked to the canal or of a nearby place to visit.

There are also green buttons, like the one below, which should take you to to websites that have relevant historical information.

If it is yellow, like the one below, it will link to a file in PDF format, also of historical interest.

Of course, some people might decide they want to see everything for themselves. Running from the junction with the Grand  Union Canal at Paddington to the Thames at Limehouse the canal towpath has always been a place for leisurely strolls. John Eames, for example, the fine if finally disappointed hero of Anthony Trollope's The Small House at Allington  walked along it on many a Sunday. Here, a word of caution. I have walked the canal for years and never had any problems, but I would suggest that it is best to walk in daylight and aim to end the walk before dusk unless you know the place where you will leave the towpath.

Given the choked state of the capital's roads it is hardly surprising that the towpath is well used as a cycle path and pedestrians should always take extra care when walking under bridges in case a cyclist suddenly appears from the opposite direction. Signs similar to the ones below have been placed at many points along the canal and a towpath ranger is employed to, as the Community Newspaper produced by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets puts it, 'help combat conflict between towpath users'.

Despite reservations about the close mix of pedestrians and cyclists it should be remembered that the pedalistas offer an important service on the towpath; they provide busyness, which in itself is something of a deterrent to wrong-doers.

Part 2

Part 2 contains the text of three documents from the 1811 - 20 period. They are;

Text of prospectus for the Regents Canal. August 1811.

Text of Homer's letter admitting fraud. April 1815

Text of the Times report of the opening ceremony of the Regents Canal. August 1820.

Click on the relevant button to access a document.

If you want to go directly to one of the sections of the virtual walk click on a button below.

Updated Monday, May 4th, 2009