grand union canal 2014 - hertfordshire · the annual canal & environment festival in may...
TRANSCRIPT
N
Croxley HallWood
Harvey RoadPrimary School
Rickmansworth ParkJMI School
Malvern WayInfant & Nursery School
HolywellJMI School
WatfordCycle Hub
CassioburyJM School
CassioburyInfant & Nursey School
Holy RoodRC Schools
Croxley HallWood
Industrial Estate
WatfordBusiness Park
CroxleyBusiness Park
Business Park
Croxley HallFarm
Bury Lake
Stocker’s Lake
Chalk Pit
Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
River Colne
Rive
r
Ebury Way
Ebury Way
Ebury Way
Ebury Way
Ebury Way
Rickmansworth StationRail and Metropolitan Line,London Underground
Three RiversMuseum
TheCanalCentre
The Bury St Mary’sChurch
Halfords Three Rivers DistrictCouncil Offices
St Joan of ArcRC School
Rickmansworth ParkJMI School
Library /Information
WatersmeetTheatre
Batchworth Lake
Grand Union Canal
River Colne
Long ValleyWood
Croxley Common MoorNature Reserve
Site of Special Scientific Interest
River Gade
The Withey Beds
Moor LaneCrossing
Common MoorLock 79
CassiobridgeLock No. 78
West HertsGolf Club
West HertsGolf Club
Jacotts Hill
Dell Wood
Playing Fields
Playing Fields
Sports Clubs
The Grove ParkGolf Course
Marina
Fisheries
WatercressBeds
Lot MeadLock 80
BatchworthLock 81
Stocker’sLock 82
SpringwellLock 83
River
Gade Bank
Gade
Gade Avenue
Gade Avenue
Swiss Avenue
Lodg
e En
d
Link
s Way
Baldwins Lane
Girton Way
Malvern Way
Bart
on W
ay
Baldwins Lane
Winton Drive
Winton Drive
Road
New
Sycamore Road
Syca
mo
reA
pp
roac
h
Win
ton
Ap
pro
ach
New RoadDickinson Avenue
All
Sain
ts L
ane
Hazelw
ood Rd Oakleigh Drive
Byewaters
Blackmoor Lane
Lan
e
Viaduct
Frankland Road
Har
vey
Road
Valley Walk
Valley Walk
WATFORD ROADWATFORD ROAD
Croxley StationMetropolitan Line,London Underground Croxley Station
(closed)
Beggars
Asc
ot R
oad
Asc
ot R
oad
Bush
A412
A412
A412
A412
PARK ROAD
RIVERSIDE DRIVE
UXBRIDGE ROAD
UXBRIDGE RECTORY
LON
DO
N
LON
DO
N
ROAD
ROA
D
A404
MOOR LANE
TOLPITS LANE
TOLP
ITS
LAN
E
A4145
A4145
A4145
A404
A404
A412
A412
A412
A412
Canal Towpath
Canal Towpath
Ch
urc
h S
tree
tChu
rch
Skidmore
Norfolk Road
Bury Lane
Wat
ers
Driv
e
Ebury Road
Rectory Lane
ParsonageRoad
Wensum
Sprin
gw
ellLane
Sprin
gwel
lLa
ne
Way
Talbot Road
Road
Nor
thw
ay
Stat
ion
Road
Way
Street
A404, M25 Junc 18
Sandy Lodge Road,Moor Park& Northwood
Northwood
Maple CrossM25 Junc 17
Gre
enhi
ll C
resc
ent
Caxton Way
Caxton Way
GreenhillCrescent
Croxley View
Croxley View
Croxley View
Dwight Road
Dw
ight
Roa
d
Moor
Old’s Approach
Lane
Cro
ssin
g
Hatters Lane
High
High Street
Hig
h St
reet
Street
NCN Route 6to Maple Cross,Uxbridge, GrandUnion Canaljoins River Thamesat Brentford
ROAD
The Rookery,Oxhey, South Watford
Grand Union Canal
Canal Towpath
Grand Union CanalCanal Towpath
Sherfield
Lodge End
Links Way
Links W
ay
Bald
win
s
Winton D
rive
Winton Approach
Lane
WATFO
RD RO
AD
Beggars
Ascot
Bush
A412
A412
Grand Union CanalCanal Towpath
Grand Union Canal
River Gade
Canal Towpath
Grand
Canal
Canal
Union
Towpath
Grand
Canal Canal
UnionTowpath
Canal Towpath
Iron BridgeLock No. 77
Cassiobury ParkLock No. 76
Cassiobury ParkTop Lock No. 75
Lady Capel’sLock No.74
Leavesden Aerodrome(disused)
Warner Bros.Film Studios
HuntonPark
The GroveBridge
The GroveMill
The Grove
Grove
Grove Mill Lane
Grove M
ill Lane
Durrants Drive
Little Green Lane
Rous
ebar
n
Rousebarn Lane
Rousebarn
Lane
Lan
e
Conningsby
Parks
ide Bellmount Wood
Cassiobury Glen Way
Hempste
ad Road
Western
Aven
ueG
ade Sid
e
M25
M25
A411
A411
A41
A41
A41
Hempste
ad Road
The Drive
CourtlandsDrive
Greenbank
Stan
bury
Beechpark Way
M25 Junc 19Chandler’s CrossChandler’s Cross
(no through road for vehicles)
No
rth
Avenue
Drive
Drive
Drive
Langley Way
Avenue
AvenueRickmansw
orth
Road
to Sydney Road
West Watford
A412 Watford North Watford
LeavesdenA405Bricket WoodSt AlbansM25, M1
Garston
A41
Kings LangleyHemel Hempstead
Kings LangleyHemel Hempstead
Berkhamsted......Birmingham
Road
Ascot Road
Wh
ipp
end
ell R
oad
routecontinueson other
side
routecontinueson other
side
Whippendell WoodSite of Special Scientific Interest
Cassiobury Park
River Gade
RiverGade
River Gade
N
Harefield
Lane
Viaduct
CassiobridgeLock No. 78
Gad
eBa
nk
Blackmoor Lane
Chess
Colne
River Colne
RecyclingCentre
Bridge175
Bridge174
Bridge173
Bridge170
Bridge169
Bridge169
Bridge168
Bridge167
Bridge166
Bridge165
Bridge164
Bridge163
Bridge162
Avenue
dismantled railw
ay line
LaneMill
Langleybury Lane
Langleybury Lane
Road
Marina
proposedlink
ROAD
Hunton BridgeLocks
No.73
No.72TowpathCanal
Grand CanalUnion
Old Mill Road
Bridg
eH
unton Bridge Hill
Gypsy Lane
South Way
Upper Highway
Hamilton Road
Long Elms
LangleyburySchool
St Paul’s C of EPrimary School
Proposedcycle route:
Proposedcycle route:
Proposedcycle route:
Road
Rickmansworth
WestWatford
Leavesden
Abbots Langley
Croxley Green
Holywell
Croxley Green
Batchworth
The Aquadrome
Track
Main Road
Motorway
Railway
Railway disused
Street / Minor Road
Bridge
Cycle Shop
Tourist Information
Railway Station
Pub / Restaurant /Refreshments
Supermarket / Shop
River / Canal / Lake
Canal Lock
Residential area
Commercial area
Woodland
FieldsOpen Land
School / College
FishingPublic / Private
Watersports
London UndergroundStation
Children’s Play Area
Miniature Railway
Museum
Arts Centre
Toilet
Car Park
Keyscale 1: 8,150
1 kilometre
1/2 mile
Shared Cycle Route /Bus Lane
Cycle Routes (traffic free)” proposed
” proposed
Grand Union CanalTowpath
Footpath
Cycle Route part of theNational Cycle Network
Cycle / Pedestrian Crossing
Cycle Routes signed on quiet road
Walking & CyclingThe Grand Union CanalTowpathfrom Rickmansworth to Watford
The Grand Union Canal wends its way from London to Birmingham through city, town and country. The towpath from Bridge 167 at Cassiobury Park to Abbots Langley was resurfaced in 2013/2014. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the canal or use the route as a traffic free journey to work away from busy roads. It’s an easy bike ride along 5 miles of towpath between Leavesden and the Aquadrome in Rickmansworth.
There is so much to see and do along the way. Explore ancient woodland and roam between the trees in Whippendell Wood. Take the kids to Cassiobury Park and ride the minature railway or get back to nature at the Aquadrome.
For those wanting to explore further, walk or cycle through history looking for the clues of the old railway line along the Ebury Way. Alternatively follow the towpath south towards London and Uxbridge or north towards Hemel Hempstead.
This guide will show you many places of interest en route, as well as all the access points including links into West Watford and Rickmansworth town centre. Leaflets in this series covering the Ebury Way and cycling in Watford are also available from local outlets.
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100019606 2013
This Local Nature Reserve provides a great habitat for meadowland wildflowers and many birds including green woodpeckers. Walking over the common shows how the damp moorland provides habitat for a variety of insects including ants which is a sign the land has never been ploughed.The banks of the River Gade and the canal are home to a variety of wildfowl and kingfishers are a common sight.
Croxley Common Moor
The lockside Canal Centre gives an insight into the past when the River Chess Lock and the Canal Lock here was an important point on the London to Birmingham route with overnight refreshment facilities for boatmen and their horses. Canal narrowboats were made at the Walkers Boatyard nearby.
Batchworth Lock Canal Centre
The Aquadrome lakes, Bury and Batchworth just south of Rickmanworth Town were once gravel pits that provided roadstone for Wembley Stadium and the M1 and now provide opportunity for a variety of water based activities from fishing to sailing or just walking and watching the wildlife.
Rickmansworth dates back to Saxon times and with its prominent position at the confluence of the 3 rivers Chess, Gade & Colne. It grew to a sizeable town gaining its royal charter in 1542.
The canal was built in 1797, and many businesses sprang up in the vicinity including 5 paper mills and a brewery. Later came the railway to Watford built by Lord Ebury in 1862 becoming the Ebury Way after the line finally closed in 1981. The state of Pennsylvania USA is named after a famous former resident William Penn who lived in Basing House - now Three Rivers Museum.
The annual Canal & Environment Festival in May promoted by Three Rivers District Council and Rickmansworth Waterways Trust brings together the local community and canal folk in a showcase of old working boats and traditionally painted canal wares, together with a variety of environmentally friendly goods, ideas, and events.
Rickmansworth
This lock with its picturesque white cottage, shares its
name with the 16th century farm nearby used for filming
tv series Black Beauty. The old Coal Post London
Boundary marker still stands outside the Toll House where
tolls were levied on goods going into London. Herts
and Middlesex Wildlife Trust manages the Nature reserve
at Stocker’s Lake which is home to a wide variety of wildfowl or birds, insects
and mammals.
From the Canal Centre at Batchworth there is a pleasant short circular walk or cycle of about 2 miles proceeding north up the towpath to the Ebury Way Ramp just before Lot Mead Lock.The ramp links to the Ebury Way traffic free route back southwards to Rickmansworth. Just over the Chess Bridge the circle is completed by the short cut south on the River Chess towpath back to the Canal Centre at Batchworth.
Batchworth Circular Walk or Cycle
Established in 1965, the park covers 43 square miles of varied countryside on the edge of London stretching from Rickmansworth down to Staines. It is a mosaic of farmland, woodland and water with many hidden treasures ranging from popular recreation areas such as Rickmansworth Aquadrome and Black Park to tranquil nature reserves such as Stockers Lake and Maple Lodge.
The Colne Valley Regional Park
The Aquadrome
Stocker’s Lock
N
Croxley HallWood
Harvey RoadPrimary School
Rickmansworth ParkJMI School
Malvern WayInfant & Nursery School
HolywellJMI School
WatfordCycle Hub
CassioburyJM School
CassioburyInfant & Nursey School
Holy RoodRC Schools
Croxley HallWood
Industrial Estate
WatfordBusiness Park
CroxleyBusiness Park
Business Park
Croxley HallFarm
Bury Lake
Stocker’s Lake
Chalk Pit
Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
River Colne
Rive
r
Ebury Way
Ebury Way
Ebury Way
Ebury Way
Ebury Way
Rickmansworth StationRail and Metropolitan Line,London Underground
Three RiversMuseum
TheCanalCentre
The Bury St Mary’sChurch
Halfords Three Rivers DistrictCouncil Offices
St Joan of ArcRC School
Rickmansworth ParkJMI School
Library /Information
WatersmeetTheatre
Batchworth Lake
Grand Union Canal
River Colne
Long ValleyWood
Croxley Common MoorNature Reserve
Site of Special Scientific Interest
River Gade
The Withey Beds
Moor LaneCrossing
Common MoorLock 79
CassiobridgeLock No. 78
West HertsGolf Club
West HertsGolf Club
Jacotts Hill
Dell Wood
Playing Fields
Playing Fields
Sports Clubs
The Grove ParkGolf Course
Marina
Fisheries
WatercressBeds
Lot MeadLock 80
BatchworthLock 81
Stocker’sLock 82
SpringwellLock 83
River
Gade Bank
Gade
Gade Avenue
Gade Avenue
Swiss Avenue
Lodg
e En
d
Link
s Way
Baldwins Lane
Girton Way
Malvern Way
Bart
on W
ay
Baldwins Lane
Winton Drive
Winton Drive
Road
New
Sycamore Road
Syca
mo
reA
pp
roac
h
Win
ton
Ap
pro
ach
New RoadDickinson Avenue
All
Sain
ts L
ane
Hazelw
ood Rd Oakleigh Drive
Byewaters
Blackmoor Lane
Lan
e
Viaduct
Frankland Road
Har
vey
Road
Valley Walk
Valley Walk
WATFORD ROADWATFORD ROAD
Croxley StationMetropolitan Line,London Underground Croxley Station
(closed)
Beggars
Asc
ot R
oad
Asc
ot R
oad
Bush
A412
A412
A412
A412
PARK ROAD
RIVERSIDE DRIVE
UXBRIDGE ROAD
UXBRIDGE RECTORY
LON
DO
N
LON
DO
N
ROAD
ROA
D
A404
MOOR LANE
TOLPITS LANE
TOLP
ITS
LAN
E
A4145
A4145
A4145
A404
A404
A412
A412
A412
A412
Canal Towpath
Canal Towpath
Ch
urc
h S
tree
tChu
rch
Skidmore
Norfolk Road
Bury Lane
Wat
ers
Driv
e
Ebury Road
Rectory Lane
ParsonageRoad
Wensum
Sprin
gw
ellLane
Sprin
gwel
lLa
ne
Way
Talbot Road
Road
Nor
thw
ay
Stat
ion
Road
Way
Street
A404, M25 Junc 18
Sandy Lodge Road,Moor Park& Northwood
Northwood
Maple CrossM25 Junc 17
Gre
enhi
ll C
resc
ent
Caxton Way
Caxton Way
GreenhillCrescent
Croxley View
Croxley View
Croxley View
Dwight Road
Dw
ight
Roa
d
Moor
Old’s Approach
Lane
Cro
ssin
g
Hatters Lane
High
High Street
Hig
h St
reet
Street
NCN Route 6to Maple Cross,Uxbridge, GrandUnion Canaljoins River Thamesat Brentford
ROAD
The Rookery,Oxhey, South Watford
Grand Union Canal
Canal Towpath
Grand Union CanalCanal Towpath
Sherfield
Lodge End
Links Way
Links W
ay
Bald
win
s
Winton D
rive
Winton Approach
Lane
WATFO
RD RO
AD
Beggars
Ascot
Bush
A412
A412
Grand Union CanalCanal Towpath
Grand Union Canal
River Gade
Canal Towpath
Grand
Canal
Canal
Union
Towpath
Grand
Canal Canal
UnionTowpath
Canal Towpath
Iron BridgeLock No. 77
Cassiobury ParkLock No. 76
Cassiobury ParkTop Lock No. 75
Lady Capel’sLock No.74
Leavesden Aerodrome(disused)
Warner Bros.Film Studios
HuntonPark
The GroveBridge
The GroveMill
The Grove
Grove
Grove Mill Lane
Grove M
ill Lane
Durrants Drive
Little Green Lane
Rous
ebar
n
Rousebarn Lane
Rousebarn
Lane
Lan
e
Conningsby
Parks
ide Bellmount Wood
Cassiobury Glen Way
Hempste
ad Road
Western
Aven
ueG
ade Sid
e
M25
M25
A411
A411
A41
A41
A41
Hempste
ad Road
The Drive
CourtlandsDrive
Greenbank
Stan
bury
Beechpark Way
M25 Junc 19Chandler’s CrossChandler’s Cross
(no through road for vehicles)
No
rth
Avenue
Drive
Drive
Drive
Langley Way
Avenue
AvenueRickmansw
orth
Road
to Sydney Road
West Watford
A412 Watford North Watford
LeavesdenA405Bricket WoodSt AlbansM25, M1
Garston
A41
Kings LangleyHemel Hempstead
Kings LangleyHemel Hempstead
Berkhamsted......Birmingham
Road
Ascot Road
Wh
ipp
end
ell R
oad
routecontinueson other
side
routecontinueson other
side
Whippendell WoodSite of Special Scientific Interest
Cassiobury Park
River Gade
RiverGade
River Gade
N
Harefield
Lane
Viaduct
CassiobridgeLock No. 78
Gad
eBa
nk
Blackmoor Lane
Chess
Colne
River Colne
RecyclingCentre
Bridge175
Bridge174
Bridge173
Bridge170
Bridge169
Bridge169
Bridge168
Bridge167
Bridge166
Bridge165
Bridge164
Bridge163
Bridge162
Avenue
dismantled railw
ay line
LaneMill
Langleybury Lane
Langleybury Lane
Road
Marina
proposedlink
ROAD
Hunton BridgeLocks
No.73
No.72TowpathCanal
Grand CanalUnion
Old Mill Road
Bridg
eH
unton Bridge Hill
Gypsy Lane
South Way
Upper Highway
Hamilton Road
Long Elms
LangleyburySchool
St Paul’s C of EPrimary School
Proposedcycle route:
Proposedcycle route:
Proposedcycle route:
Road
Rickmansworth
WestWatford
Leavesden
Abbots Langley
Croxley Green
Holywell
Croxley Green
Batchworth
The Aquadrome
Track
Main Road
Motorway
Railway
Railway disused
Street / Minor Road
Bridge
Cycle Shop
Tourist Information
Railway Station
Pub / Restaurant /Refreshments
Supermarket / Shop
River / Canal / Lake
Canal Lock
Residential area
Commercial area
Woodland
FieldsOpen Land
School / College
FishingPublic / Private
Watersports
London UndergroundStation
Children’s Play Area
Miniature Railway
Museum
Arts Centre
Toilet
Car Park
Keyscale 1: 8,150
1 kilometre
1/2 mile
Shared Cycle Route /Bus Lane
Cycle Routes (traffic free)” proposed
” proposed
Grand Union CanalTowpath
Footpath
Cycle Route part of theNational Cycle Network
Cycle / Pedestrian Crossing
Cycle Routes signed on quiet road
5 m i l e g r e e n r o u t e b e t w e e n Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, Watford & Leavesden
The Grand Union CanalTowpathwalking & cycl ing
The Ordnance Survey mapping included within this publication is provided by Hertfordshire County Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function to provide information relating to its activities, services and plans. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice should they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping for their own use. © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey 100019606 You are not permitted to copy, sub-licence, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form.
Cartography, photography, leaflet design and cycling by Stephen & Esther Wragg - Wragg Art House: www.wah.co.uk Additional photographs by Simon Jacobs.
2nd edition September 2013 – © WAH 2013 Printed on environmentally friendly paper
Places to VisitBatchworth Lock Canal Centre - Tel: 01923 778382 www.rwt.org.uk
Cassiobury Park -Tel: 01923 226400 Web: www.watford.gov.uk/cassioburypark
Colne Valley Park - Tel: 01895 833375 Email: [email protected] www.colnevalleypark.org.uk
The Grand Union Canal - The canal and towpath are looked after by the Canal & River Trust: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.
The TownsWatford www.watford.gov.uk Watford Information - Tel: 01923 226400 Email: [email protected]
Rickmansworth www.threerivers.co.uk Rickmansworth Info. Point - Tel: 01923 776611 Email: [email protected]
Walking and Cycling
Watford Cycle Hub is a non-profit community bike centre situated in the Pavilion at the Holywell Community Centre. It offers bike repair services, maintenance courses and cycle training, and accepts your old rusty old bikes for recycling, and sells affordable reconditioned bikes and bike parts. www.watfordcyclehub.org.uk
Spokes campaign for better conditions for local cyclists and organise regular rides. www.spokesgroup.org.uk
Other free leaflets available in this series include: The Ebury Way. For free copies Tel: 01923 226400.
What links West Watford and the Star Wars Episode 1!? Well, it was this woodland that was used as the environmental backdrop for the the sacred temple ruins in the forest of Naboo. Historically managed for timber, firewood and game, the woodland is a now a site of special scientific interest. During the hurricane of 1987 and gales of 1990 more than 2,500 trees were blown down or damaged creating glades that are now the home of many butterflies such as speckled wood, ringlet and holly blue. The wood is also home to over 270 species of plants. The recently improved path between the towpath and the wood provides improved access for all including the disabled and cyclists.
Whippendell Wood
The park’s history can be traced back to the Domesday Book when the park
belonged to St Albans Abbey. In the 1500’s Richard Morrison began the
construction of a grand mansion which was eventually completed by his son.
The park passed into the ownership of Watford Borough Council in 1909.
Recently being voted the nations third favourite park it is now a mecca for
recreation and leisure. You can take a stroll through the park or use pedal
power. For children there is a miniature railway running at weekends. Sporting
facilities include football, cricket, basketball, tennis and croquet.
Cassiobury Park
The first substantial house on the site was thought to be Elizabethan. The fashion for a ‘weekend in the country’ was more or less invented here, with regular visitors such as Queen Victoria, Edward VII, Horace Walpole and Lord Palmerston. Now it is a leading hotel, hospitality and recreational centre, with a championship golf course set in 300 acres. For more details see www.thegrove.co.uk.
The Grove
Many attractive cycle routes have been created in Watford including access to the main shopping area along the part-pedestrianised High Street. A circular ride incorporating the canal towpath, and the town centre can be made by following The Ebury Way (NCN 6/61) to Lower High Street, along the High Street to the Town Hall and then rejoining the canal at Bridges 165, 167 or 168 - see the leaflet/map Cycling in Watford for more information.
Cycling in Watford
Previously goods from the Midlands had to travel south to Oxford, then transfer onto the River Thames to reach London. Built over 200 years ago, this new canal provided a far more convenient route cutting 60 miles off the journey. In addition, many side branches were added to link towns along the way. Last used in earnest for goods transportation during the 2nd World War, it is now a haven of tranquility for boating, cycling or walking.
The Grand Union Canal