You are here:

News

Canal heritage open for all to see

14th Sep 2005

The historic Accumulator Tower in Limehouse E14 will open its doors free of charge on 17 & 18 September as part of London’s Open House Weekend, offering a rare opportunity to see one of the first hydraulic power stations used in the original Regent’s Canal Dock, now known as Limehouse Basin.

Over the weekend, The Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society will lead a guided tour of the Octagonal Tower, which dates back to the 1860s, and offers panoramic views over the Thames and east London. Tours run between 1pm and 5pm and operate on a first come first served basis.

A guided walk of the Hanwell Flight of Locks and Three Bridges in West London will also take place over the weekend. The Inland Waterways Association will be offering a walk and an in-depth look at the restored flight of locks and the Three Bridges site, both of which are Scheduled Ancient Monuments.

The walk will be of particular interest for Brunel enthusiasts who can see the evidence of Brunel’s engineering prowess in the unique stacked intersection of road, rail and canal at Three Bridges. The one-hour tours run between 1pm and 4pm on the hour from the Fox pub, Green Lane W7 2PJ on both days.

Michael Manuel, environment and heritage manager, British Waterways London commented: “We are delighted to be able to play a part in this year’s Open House Weekend and offer Londoners the chance to see the historic canal network from a different perspective.

“London’s secret canal network hides many architectural treasures and we hope the Open House Weekend will encourage people to discover new aspects of their local waterside.”

Last updated: 22/10/2008