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The 2017 Lock

Boating for leisure

A new use for the waterways

Canal and waterways became leisure destinations

The Bow Back Rivers spent the decades after the 1950s becoming less and less attractive. People dumped car tyres, or even whole cars, into the water, and nature overgrew anywhere it could take root.

Elsewhere on Britain's waterways, however, things were starting to improve. More and more people were finding converted boats on the canals and rivers an excellent place to live or take a holiday. Walkers, cyclists and joggers used the towpaths to keep fit and get away from the city traffic.

Families could hire a boat and explore the river Lea northwards towards Luton. Boat owners could take their boat to almost any part of the 2,000 mile long waterways, if they had time. 

Boat-dwellers enjoyed an alternative lifestyle (not without its drawbacks) which had variety and closeness to nature at its heart. You can hear some of them talking about the lifestyle by clicking here.

The Bow Back Rivers, however, were not accessible and were almost totally unknown - partly because of the lack of working locks and partly because the channels and towpaths had not been maintained. But in 2005 the International Olympic Committee voted to hold the 2012 Olympics in London, with the promise of a huge change to the lower Lea Valley.

Next: A Massive Cleanup

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This page is part of History of the Lock