“Hawley Lock is our next stop,” I announce. It’s a fascinating piece of engineering. Hawley Lock sits on Regent’s Canal in Camden. It’s likely named after the Hawley family. They were prominent in Brentford and Boston Manor. This prominence began in the late 1500s. The Hawleys even held the lease on Brentford market for almost 200 years.
The lock opened in 1820. Originally, it was a pair of locks. But in the 1970s, one lock became a weir. A lock keeper’s cottage was also built in 1820. Francis Read charged £204 for building it. Before 1850, the cottage was expanded. It was then split into two dwellings.
Sadly, the cottages suffered bomb damage in World War II. By 1952, they appear to have been demolished.
Hawley Lock helps boats navigate the canal. It overcomes an 8-foot drop in water level. The lock is 6.04 miles from Limehouse Basin. It is also 2.84 miles from Paddington Basin. Think about the boats passing through here over the years. They carried goods and people across London.
The nearest Underground station is Camden Town. The nearest Overground station is Camden Road. So Hawley Lock is easily accessible.
Hawley Lock stands as a testament to London’s industrial past. It shows how canals shaped the city’s growth. Today, it’s a peaceful spot. People stroll along the canal. They watch boats go through the lock. It is a reminder of a different time. This is the story of Hawley Lock.