Wenlock Basin facts for kids
The Wenlock Basin is a long, narrow waterway in London. It's about 320 meters (1,050 feet) long. This basin is part of the famous Regent's Canal. You can find it in the Hoxton area of the London Borough of Hackney. Another basin, the City Road Basin, is nearby in the London Borough of Islington.
People live in homes right next to the basin. These homes have their own special entrance. The basin gets much narrower at its southern end. It's also not very deep there. Only small boats like canoes can easily use that part.
The Wenlock Basin is different from the main Regent's Canal. It is not owned or managed by the Canal & River Trust.
Contents
History of Wenlock Basin
How the Basin Was Built
Workers built the Wenlock Basin in 1826. It is very close to the entrance of the Islington Tunnel. For many years, until the 1930s, special tug boats helped other boats through this tunnel.
The opening of the basin had a big problem. A temporary wall, called a cofferdam, was supposed to keep the water out. But it broke too soon! This caused the basin to fill up quickly. The water level in the main canal dropped by 13 inches (33 cm). Boats on the canal had to stop moving. Everyone had to wait for rain to fill the canal back up.
Naming the Basin
The basin got its name from a local farm called Wenlock Barns. The name "Wenlock" was also used for a voting area, or ward, in the old Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch. For a while, it was also the name of a ward in the London Borough of Hackney.
Homes Along the Basin
The Wenlock Basin area is mostly for people who live there. Only residents can easily get to it. Many buildings along the basin have been turned into apartments.
Main Buildings at Wenlock Basin
- The Royle Building: This was once a printworks, a place where things were printed. It was one of the first buildings to be changed into homes along the basin. It now has almost 100 apartments.
- The Canal Building: This building is next to the Royle Building. It used to be a warehouse, which is a place to store goods. It has an art-deco style, which is a cool design from the 1920s and 30s.
- Union Wharf: This building has 90 apartments. They are designed in a "loft-style," which means they often have high ceilings and open spaces.
- Estilo: This building has 43 homes with one, two, or three bedrooms. It was finished in 2006.
- Micawber Wharf: This building was finished in 2008. It has 18 smaller homes, including studios and flats.
- The Wenlock Building: This is a newer building with 82 homes. It was completed in late 2008.
Businesses at Wenlock Basin
In the past, the Wenlock Basin was used for moving cargo and storing goods. Today, many modern businesses have offices there. Some are on the ground floor of the apartment buildings. Others have their own buildings right by the basin.
Examples of Businesses
- Victoria Miro Gallery: This is a very important art gallery in London. It shows modern art from many different artists.
- British Ecological Society: This is a group of scientists who study Ecology. Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.
Images for kids
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A stitched image showing a wider view of Wenlock Basin.
