Brentford and Old Isleworth.

This morning it seemed that we were to be stuck here for a while longer as the Grand Union was closed by the Police. I little later we heard that it was no longer closed but restricted so that they would allow boats through when ever they could. On of the boats waiting went straight off to get through. We needed milk so we went for a look around Brentford to see what we could find. By the time we got back we had a text saying that the canal was once again closed for navigation with no guess as to when it would reopen. There are other boats waiting and one, a single hander, has decided to go via Limehouse but was nervous about it. I volunteered to go with him and help with the lock. So that is for tomorrow now.

After lunch we decided to go for a walk to Isleworth and back following the Thames Path that travels each side of the river. The house was not open but we got a look round the garden centre and the gift shop and walk through the grounds.

The dome of the Syon House Conservatory with a plane bound for Heathrow.

West aspect of Syon House with the haw haw in front.

This is a grid where, when the tide goes out, a boat moored on it will settle on the grid and so can be worked on until the tide raises again.

Richmond Footbridge with a weir and lock. The weir was needed to maintain the level in the river between Richmond and Teddington. When the old London Bridge was removed in 1832 the tides ran in and out much faster than previously. The effect was increased by dredging in the lower reaches so much so that the Thames was just a muddy trickle at some states of the tide. It was officially opened in 1894 and for pedestrians it cost a penny each way. The lock is on the Surrey side. For two hours each side of high water the weir is raised and there is free passage under the bridge. Out side those times the lock must be used and has a maximum fall of 10ft.

Locking north from Town Wharf Old Isleworth with All Saints Church in the distance. The trees on the right are on the nature reserve that is Isleworth Ait island.

A street of lovely buildings in Old Isleworth.

Back in Brentford we found this secretive little mooring that is called Town Wharf and is found round the back of Brentford Ait and under a little bridge.