Derelict London - Photography, Social History and Guided Walking Tours
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    • Homes North of the Thames
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    • London's Lost Music venues 2
  • Various Derelict London Buildings
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    • North London
    • Derelict East London Pubs >
      • East London Pubs from Dereliction to Demolition
      • East London Pubs - Dead Pubs to Conversion
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  • War - Bunkers and Pillboxes
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  • Vehicles
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  • London Riots 2011: The Aftermath
  • Derelict London Boats
  • London's Long Lost Sports Grounds
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    • Derelict Kent DA postcodes
    • Derelict Kent ME postcodes
    • Derelict Kent TN postcodes
  • Derelict Essex
    • Derelict Essex RM postcodes
    • Derelict Essex SS Postcodes
    • Derelict Essex CO postcodes
  • Derelict London Public Buildings
  • Derelict London Offices
  • Sponsors wanted!
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies Info
  • T-Shirts
  • Homepage
  • 22 Years of Derelict London
  • Author's Guided Tours of London
    • Minories to Poplar
    • Woolwich Alldayer
    • Roman Road
    • Whitechapel & Bethnal Green
    • Derelict Limehouse & Poplar
    • Lost Docks of Wapping
    • Isle of Dogs
    • Grand Surrey Canal
    • London's Lost Rivers Tours
    • Shadwell & Stepney
    • Silvertown
    • Bow Creek: River Lea from Bromley by Bow to Leamouth via Canning Town
    • Croydon Canal
    • Dartford guided walk
    • Hammersmith
    • East Finchley to Gospel Oak
    • London's Lost Music Venues
    • Tower Hamlets Special
  • 2025 New Pics
  • 2024 New Pics
  • Books by Paul Talling
  • Contact
  • Dereliction and Beyond...Then and Now Photos
    • Derelict London 2008 Book Then and Now Pics
    • Then and Now Pics South of the River
    • Then and Now Pics North of the River
  • London Transport
    • Derelict London Tube Trains and Stations
    • Derelict London Railway Stations,Lines and Rolling Stock
    • Derelict London Trams
  • Factories and Warehouses
    • North of the Thames Factories and Warehouses
    • South of the Thames Factories and Warehouses
  • Derelict London Homes
    • Homes North of the Thames
    • Homes South of The Thames
    • Derelict homes now Demolished
  • Derelict London Cinemas
  • Derelict London Hospitals
    • Hospitals North of the River
    • Hospitals South of the River
    • Hospitals: Then & Now pics
  • Derelict London Pools and Baths
  • Music History
    • London's Lost Music venues 2
  • Various Derelict London Buildings
  • Derelict London Pubs
    • North London
    • Derelict East London Pubs >
      • East London Pubs from Dereliction to Demolition
      • East London Pubs - Dead Pubs to Conversion
      • East London Pubs Back from the Brink
    • Central London
    • West & South West London
    • South & South East London Pubs
  • Derelict London Cemetery & Churches
  • Derelict London Hotels and Restaurants
  • Graffiti & Streetart
  • Misc London Derelict pics
  • Derelict London Cafes
  • People
  • Porticos and Pillars
  • Shopping Trolleys
  • Derelict London Shops
  • Signs and Murals
  • Derelict London Sportsgrounds
  • Post Offices
  • Derelict London Toilets
  • Toys
  • Derelict London Telephone Boxes
  • War - Bunkers and Pillboxes
  • Waterways and Wharves
  • Wildlife
  • Vehicles
  • Long Lost Burial Grounds
  • London Riots 2011: The Aftermath
  • Derelict London Boats
  • London's Long Lost Sports Grounds
  • Derelict Kent
    • Derelict Kent DA postcodes
    • Derelict Kent ME postcodes
    • Derelict Kent TN postcodes
  • Derelict Essex
    • Derelict Essex RM postcodes
    • Derelict Essex SS Postcodes
    • Derelict Essex CO postcodes
  • Derelict London Public Buildings
  • Derelict London Offices
  • Sponsors wanted!
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies Info
  • T-Shirts
Derelict London - Photography, Social History and Guided Walking Tours
Picture
​Walking the Route of the Long Lost Croydon Canal
These guided walking tours with Paul Talling sell out of tickets several months ahead. Click the WeGotTickets logo for upcoming tour dates and availability.

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West Croydon
Since writing the book London's Lost Rivers, I have been on foot returning to the routes of these rivers and canals. The route of the Croydon Canal is particularly interesting, and I have been organising some guided walking tours of a large chunk of the route of the Croydon Canal -   the 'Croydon Canal Alldayer'

The Croydon Canal opened at the same time as the Grand Surrey Canal in 1809 -  a 21 gun salute met the first barge as it entered the canal basin at West Croydon, cheering crowds had gathered, and a band played the National Anthem. The canal enabled lime, timber, chalk and agricultural produce to be sent to London in exchange for coal being handled to Croydon, then an ancient market town. Although the canal was only just over 9 miles long it had 28 locks between New Cross and Honor Oak (a stretch of just over 2 miles), which beset the canal with problems, as these locks were costly to maintain, and caused queues & congestion for the barges waiting to negotiate them. The proprietors raised money to build the canal by selling shares at £100 each but by 1830 £1 could buy 10 shares! 


The canal was a financial failure and closed in 1836 and the railway line from London Bridge to Croydon was built, generally following the route of the canal, but the railway line used cuttings and embankments to avoid the twists and turns of the canal. The railway opened in June 1839, and is the second-oldest passenger line in London. West Croydon Station stands on the site of the Croydon Canal Basin.  Lengths of canal unsuitable for the railway survived a little longer and carried on trading & used for pleasure boating though these were soon lost due to the rapid residential development as London expanded into the suburbs. 
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Forest Hill
Paul Talling's Derelict London - all photographs are copyright © 2003-2025
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