Denham

We had moored overnight just below Lady Capel's Lock and woke to another bright morning. we were a little later setting off than planned but with still enough time to get close enough to Packet Boat. Another boat had moored a short distance from us and, as we set off, they turned around and also set off in our direction. As a result we shared locks for the rest of the morning - they were heading back to their mooring at Harefield Marina.

Lady Capel's Lock

Bridge 163

Equally close to our mooring was the first bridge - not so famous as the one following, Grove Bridge, but perhaps the more interesting as it is a turnover bridge. It follows a design seen on other canals but less common on the Grand Union. It was devised later in the canal building age so that horses could cross from one side of the canal to the other without having to un-hitch the towline. The curved shape makes the process as efficient as possible.

Grove Bridge

The Grove

We no doubt have shown Grove Bridge before but it is included again just to show the blue sky! It's ornamental style resulted from being located in the grounds of a large country house, The Grove. We had not spotted it before as it is well hidden from the canal by trees, both alongside the canal bank and in the estate. However, with the trees no longer in leaf, there was just enough gap for a zoomed picture. The house once belonged to the Earls of Clarendon but was converted to a 5 star hotel in 1996 having had various uses since the Clarendons left the house in the 1920's, including being the wartime headquaters of the LMS railway company (see)

Occasionally today we saw, in addition to the familiar mileposts, some intermediate quarter milers as well.

Another sunny morning

Iron Bridge Lock

Iron Bridge Lock is on the edge of Cassiobury Park and a popular place people to watch boats working through. In the past we have had quite a crowd but perhaps we were too early today as there were only about six! Several rivers and streams flow in and out of the canal in this long valley and just above the lock the River Gade (we believe!) passes over a waterfall as it helps to make a series of ornamental lakes.

The name seems to be a misnomer as the bridge immediately below the lock is a brick bridge - so far we have not been able to find the origin of the name. Anyone know? (We've shown a picture of the lock rather than the bridge, just because of the colourful tree in the background!)

Iron Bridge

Oh, I give in - here's a picture of the bridge as well.

We have spotted some unusual boats at times - how about this one? We are not sure what would happen if 42 people tried to operate the lock all at once!

Shortly after Cassio Bridge Lock a former railway bridge cross the canal. In about four year's time the scene will be rather different as approval has been given for the Croxley Link which will see the Metropolitan Line connected to Watford Junction station, rather than ending at the Watford station which remains rather out of the town. Two new stations will be added and the line will connect in close to Croxley Station.


Little Union Canal

Just below Batchworth Lock (where we used the sani station whilst the boat was dropping down the lock) is the Little Union Canal which claims to be the "Only UK's Only Working Model Canal System" - but it was not very working today!

Royal Quay, Coppermill Lock

Alongside Coppermill Lock is an impressive building, now home to a number of small businesses and called Royal Quay. As far as we can discover, it became a copper mill, powered by the River Colne, from the start of the eighteenth century. It specialized in sheet copper and bolts which it supplied to the Royal Navy but later was used to manufacture asbestos goods.

 

The river joins the canal below the lock where it creates a notorious cross current alongside a road bridge and can easily catch boaters unawares.

Entrance to Troy Cut

Troy Cut was originally a private arm leading to a mill but is now disused and surrounded by the flooded remains of gravel pits.

Denham Deep Lock

Denham Deep Lock is what it implies: deep. At just over 11 feet rise, it is very different from most of the locks on this part of the Grand Union. Shortly below the lock we pulled in to moor for the night as we were unsure of where we might find if we went any further. Compared with previous times we have come this way there seems to be many more long term moored boats, whether officially or not, and numerous temporary Winter Mooring notices by CaRT.

10.2 miles - 13 locks

Shops

Tesco, with own mooring, just below Batchworh Lock 81