London Regents Canal (#0172)

At the former toll house at Westbourne Terrace bridge. Lock-like structures built into the wall reflect the history of the canals as privately owned. At the time of the construction of the Regent’s Canal, canals were private enterprises that had specific rights for accessing the water needed to operate the canal. Since the Regent’s Canal and the Grand Junction Canal were different companies, they had different sources for water and thus there was a need for a lock at their juncture that controlled the flow of water. See: www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-regents-canal