Forum Topic

Canal developments and news ..and points of interest.

We have been following Nigel Moore's involvement with Canal matters and his ongoing battle to retain parts of Brentford's heritage.He certainly has certainly concentrated some of our minds and helped draw our attention to the study of our rich Local History, the developement of the canals and railways, and the mass of different employments undertaken by residents of old Brentford.   And who are we to demolish these links with the past?. Who is waiting in the wings to demolish parts of St Lawrences Church and use the adjoining land too?On other threads (and on the Ealing Forum) we have been unearthing pictures and information about Brunel's Three Bridges,..and the Hanwell Viaduct..the route of the Canal (6 locks?) at the St Bernards Hospital site..and much more.Within the London Borough of Ealing..well just on the canalside borders with Hillingdon...my keyboard fingers have directed me to a place on the Canal....called Willowtree Marina.  Restaurant and a bar,  moorings for 95 vessels?, houses and canalboat repair facility and somewhere worth a visit.  (Do a Google saerch for Willowtree Marina...and many pages of information and history are available).But, in particular, is the Willowtree Marina's reports (in their on-line newsletter) on matters with which Nigel is involved. Mr Ken etc..  See link below  (hopefully!)http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.willowtree-marina.co.uk/news/images/View%2520forward.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.willowtree-marina.co.uk/news/index.php&h=375&w=500&sz=276&tbnid=InvPGmPa2c8J:&tbnh=95&tbnw=127&start=17&prev=/images%3Fq%3DWillowtree%2BMarina%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

Jim Lawes ● 7376d10 Comments

And by the way, Jenny Jones,  one of the GLA Assembly members, will be coming to Brentford on Thursday, to meet with campaigners at Kew Bridge, hoping to highlight the problems of that wholly inappropriate development proposal. We are determined to ensure Mayoral scrutiny of this Council's Planning reports, that consistently fail to address both their own and the Mayor's protective policies with regard to the waterways.

Nigel Moore ● 7374d

You can see photos of the real thing Jim. Even go on a trip yourself.http://www.horsedrawnboats.co.uk/

Nigel Moore ● 7374d

John: Keep up the good work..digging out the info.Soon we'll be able to take the Brentfordian exams!!Next job is perhaps to find a picture of a horse drawn canalboat/barge!!

Jim Lawes ● 7375d

In the year before the railway to the docks opened over 140,000 tons of goods were transported down the canal to the docks through the aforsaid locks etc, 15,000 tons of which was coal from South Wales. The horses would have been lean and fit pulling that amount!.

John Wood ● 7375d

Actually Jim, when times were hard, and feed for the horses too difficult to fund, the boatmen employed their wives to do the hauling!As is only right of course, they still had to brew the tea, cook dinner etc.Those were the days!

Nigel Moore ● 7375d

Jim,A great painting!Cue for a song from Gerry????

Ann S. Allridge ● 7375d

Jim,'Soag' stood for 'Sonnenberg A.G.'  It was one of the late Henry Sonnenberg's many companies throughout the world.My office window looked directly down on to the canal, and to my shame I never once made an effort to walk along the canalbank on a Sunday with my daughters.  It was a lovely view, like being right out in the country, with Boston Manor Park being directly beyond the canal, and our little row of flat roofed houses the other side of the park (in BMR).

Ann S. Allridge ● 7375d

http://www.auburn.edu/academic/liberal_arts/foreign/russian/art/repin-boatmen.htmlAnd not poor Brentfordians!!

Jim Lawes ● 7375d

Ann: Interesting area Transport Avenue. I've checked Kellys 1938 but it doesn't list either Transport Avenue, Commerce Road nor Harliquin Avenue. What did the initials SOAG stand for?  Paul Allen is an expert on local Industrial History..and hopefully he can help. It is possible to walk along the canal on the opposite side to Transport Avenue..and there may be indications on the left bank...of some previour side wharfs. I'll add it to my list of local trips!

Jim Lawes ● 7375d

Jim,Transport Avenue, Brentford:  I worked there for six years, and often wondered what was there before Soag's premises?  Obviously the access to the canal - right alongside - must have been important at some time, but was there ever any sort of loading bay or suchlike?

Ann S. Allridge ● 7375d