Hanwell is a built-up suburb of London but when the locks were built the canal and River Brent were deep in open countryside. Now it is an oasis of tranquility in the heart of the capital.
We heard about Sam Holt while on a visit to The Waterways Trust Archive, and he kindly agreed to be interviewed. Sam gave us his stories of family life on the narrowboats - as a child he helped to shovel twenty tons of coal on to Asylum Dock at Hanwell. Today the canal is buzzing with wildlife that the leaflet encourages visitors to explore.
Hanwell Locks is a popular site for tourists, boaters, anglers and people out for a stroll - and the towpath is an everyday shortcut, too. Some of our display panels cater for occasional visitors, while other displays (such as those shown below) are for people making repeat visits.
