From Super Highway to Linear Park: Re-working English Canals to meet the changing needs of society

The English canal network was created between 1760 and 1820. Subsequently transport technology moved on with the coming of railways and later lorries. Fortunately, for the canals, the combination of the 1960’s leisure revolution, and demand for waterside dwellings, enable them to be rebranded as a linear national park to meet changing society needs.

Transcript

1. FROM SUPER HIGHWAY TO LINEAR PARK.
 
 Reworking English Canals to meet the changing needs of society By Dr Roger Squires
2. Land Transport in 1750
3. IN WINTER ROADS BECAME QUAGMIRES
4. The new SUPER HIGHWAY : 1820
5. Canal Family Christening.
6. Competition forces canal families to live on board
7. Railway competition takes away valuable loads
8. Boaters still continued to seek trade.
9. A VERY HARD LIFE TO EARN A MEAGRE LIVING.
10. ROAD COMPETITION
11. Local Coal Trade ends at Kings Cross. [1930] [1950]
12. Declining system in 1950
13. Snowed in during Winter 1962/3
14. Last of the regular Barge Traffic in London in the 1960’s
15. During 1960’s Pleasure craft and Trip Boats replace commerce.
16. Timber Wharf at Camden cleared for reuse.
17. Kings Cross Railway lands regeneration.
18. Limehouse Basin changes from commerce to a marina.
19. Limehouse Basin coal jetty cleared and ship lock re-sized.
20. Limehouse Basin – partly infilled for regeneration and building flats
21. Transformation of Limehouse Basin.
22. Locks at Old Ford on the Lee Navigation - site redevelopment
23. Bow Back Rivers redeveloped as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
24. Canals now provide a leisure resource
25. Waterways for all to enjoy.
26. Space for wildlife and for recreation.
27. Recycling –by using canal freight or maintenance residue.
28. CANALS : NOSTALGIA : Recreating those past memories.