Canals and Waterways in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire is traditionally not noted for its navigable rivers and even the two largest rivers, the Lea and the Colne, were only navigable for short distances before the later 18th century when several major river and canal construction projects transformed the county's economy.

The Grand Union (Junction) Canal

This is the county's most famous waterway. It was intended to link Birmingham and London and was, before the coming of railways, one of the most important commercial highways in Britain. The Hertfordshire section was completed in 1799 and is 40 kilometres long and contains 37 locks.

The Grand Union Canal at Watford in the early 20th Century. Copyright HALS

The Grand Union Canal at Kings Langley. Copyright HALS

The River Lea and Stort Navigations

Hertfordshire also had two earlier artificial waterways, the Lea and Stort Navigation Canals, begun in 1739 and 1766 respectively. They were built mainly to carry malting barley and malt itself between farmers, the malt industry towns (Hertford, Ware, Stanstead Abbotts, Sawbridgeworth and Bishop's Stortford) and London. The Lea Navigation runs from Hertford to London and the Stort Navigation runs for 21 kilometres from Bishops Stortford to Hoddesdon. The Lea Navigation prospered but the Stort didn't because it was never extended northwards from Bishop's Stortford into the barley producing areas of East Herts and West Essex.

For more information about the Hertfordshire's malting industry.

A barge loaded with malt on The Lea Navigation at Ware in the 19th Century. Copyright HALS