The Britannia Stop Lock was a single-gate lock, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...

, that could be closed to cut off a section of canal for drainage and maintenance.

The lock gate was situated at the entrance of Limehouse Cut

Limehouse Cut

The Limehouse Cut is a straight, broad canal in the East End of London, which linked the lower reaches of the River Lee Navigation to the River Thames...

 to Limehouse Basin

Limehouse Basin

The Limehouse Basin in Limehouse, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets provides a navigable link between the Regent's Canal and the River Thames, through the Limehouse Basin Lock. A basin in the north of Mile End, near Victoria Park connects with the Hertford Union Canal leading to the River Lee...

. The gate would normally sit in a slot on the bank of the canal and only be used when needed.

Today, the stop lock gate has been removed, and the canal widened and rebuilt. The site is surrounded by modern housing.

Public access

Pedestrian and cycle access via the towpath that forms part of the Lea Valley Walk

Lea Valley Walk

The Lea Valley Walk is a long-distance path located between Leagrave, the source of the River Lea near Luton, and the Thames, at Limehouse Basin, Limehouse, east London. From its source much of the walk is rural. At Hertford the path follows the towpath of the River Lee Navigation, and it becomes...

.

Public transport

The nearest Docklands Light Railway station is Limehouse.

External links

• Site of Britannia Stop Lock No 21 (CanalPlanAC Gazetteer)