This film is part of Free

Grand Union Canal

Short film looking at life up and down the Grand Union Canal, including several scenes shot in London canals and docks.

Documentary 1938 11 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for London's Screen Archives

Overview

This short film explores life on the Grand Union Canal, showing boats operating on the 300 miles of canal. The film explains that despite the introduction of trains and planes, canals remain the best way to transport material around the country, and shows raw materials being taken from London to towns as far as Nottingham, before manufactured goods return via the canal to London for sale or export. Includes footage of barge horses, London tunnels, cabins and London docks.