Two structures span the Regent’s Canal at Hampstead Road Lock: the double lock itself, and the roving bridge. The elegant cast iron profile of the roving bridge (Grade II), which dates from 1845, makes it one of the best-known structures in Camden. Thanks to the popularity of Camden Lock Market, it has become an iconic symbol and an internationally familiar structure.
From the bridge there are fine panoramas west and east of the Regent’s Canal, including the former railway offices (now Henson House), the Interchange Warehouse and towpath bridge (both Grade II), Camden Lock Market and Dingwall’s Dock, Hampstead Road Locks (Grade II), Chalk Farm Road Bridge (Grade II), the Lock Keeper’s Cottage (Grade II), Gilbey House (the large white building on the south side of the canal) and the canal upstream to Southampton Bridge.
Gilbey House is the former Bottle Warehouse built by William Hucks. Next to the building frontage onto Jamestown Road, at Nos.34-36, is a very large ice well built in 1839 at the head of William Leftwich’s basin (now filled in) and deepened in c1846 to 100 feet (30 m) to hold about 2400 tons of ice. There is an information panel at the site.
The lock-keeper’s cottage on the south bank is now the Regent’s Canal Information Centre and dates from 1816. It was extended and altered c1975.
The stone parapets and cast iron handrails of the roving bridge are scarred by the tow ropes of barges drawn by horses out of the lock and under the bridge which takes the towpath back onto the northern side of the canal (see image). The scarring occurred because sand/silt from the canal picked up by cotton ropes, which sink in water, abraded the iron and stonework of canal structures.
For more information see History pages on Regents Canal, Roving Bridge, W & A Gilbey and Interchange Warehouse.