England’s canals make up over 2,200 miles, many of these running through London. Furthermore, many of these canals are manmade. These canals were essential to fostering the industrial revolution, as materials were moved more easily through boats that could travel through the water than by a horse-drawn carriage.
On this day October 14th, in 1812, construction on the Regent’s Canal begins. The canal was to be an arm to the Grand Junction Canal. Architect John Nash came up with a detailed plan for the canal, along with the idea to have it against a park – Regent’s Park.
His assistant James Morgan became chief engineer and was responsible for the building of the canal. In 1927 the Regent’s Company purchased the rights to Warwick Canals and the Grand Junction Canal, while implementing newer skinnier ships. In 1979, underground cables were placed underneath the Regent’s Canal, and it’s now part of the electrical national grid.