BW164/1
Waltham-Abbey to Moorfields Canal
Date
1774
Reference code
BW164/1
Administrative / Biographical history
A precursor to the later Regent's Canal, the Waltham-Abbey to Moorfields Canal was the first proposed canal running east from Marylebone. In his report, Robert Whitworth envisaged a line beginning near the top of present day Baker Street, where he supposed it would join the proposed canal from Uxbridge. From there it would head east, following much the same course as the Regent's Canal later would to Waltham-Abbey. Nothing came of this scheme until the arrival of the Paddington Branch of the Grand Junction Canal in 1801.
For more details, see 'The Canals of the East Midlands (including part of London)' by Charles Hadfield and 'The Illustrated History of Canal & River Navigations' by Edward Paget-Tomlinson.