Stop 7 - Lee Navigation

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You are still on the Lee Navigation, with a towpath following the straight line of the canal. Here the footpath is only a little bit above the water level. There are old industrial buildings on the far side of the river, with a lot of graffiti. On this side there is a development of up to 650 new homes, a new school, employment, retail and community space, called the Sweetwater development.

There are usually canal narrow boats moored along the footpath here, home to modern day boat dwellers. There may be mooring ropes stretching from the boats to bollards on the waterside.

At some points along the towpath the ground slopes up to a low platform that continues for a few metres and then drops down again. There are metal rails crossing the platform, but they are recessed into the path.

In the distance, the Lee Navigation has a branch going off to the left, towards Victoria Park and the Regents Canal called the Hertford Union or ‘Ducketts’ Canal. Named after its original promotor, it’s the shortest canal in the capital at 2km. The main part of the river continues north, with modern apartment buildings replacing the older factories.