The canal and the Hanwell flight

The Hanwell flight

The Hanwell flight is a scheduled monument (first scheduled on 24 February 1975). It is six broad locks, numbered 92 to 97, with side ponds. The side pond of lock 92 is an underground chamber. The ends of the lock beams were painted white so boats could see them at night. (Historic England)

Alongside runs the boundary wall of the old asylum, about 744 metres of stock brick, rising from 2 metres to 3 metres and to 8 metres behind the hospital. (Historic England) See St Bernard's Hospital.

This was the Grand Junction Canal, engineered by William Jessop. Historic England's entry gives the canal as authorised in 1793 and completed in 1805; it became part of the Grand Union Canal when the Grand Union Canal Company was formed in 1929. (Historic England) The Canal & River Trust looks after it today.

The Three Bridges

At Windmill Lane, Brunel designed a crossing where the canal runs over the railway in an iron trough and the road crosses above the canal. It opened in 1859. It is known as the Three Bridges, though there are really only two. It is also called Windmill Bridge, after a windmill painted by Turner. (Historic England) Bus 483 terminates at Windmill Lane / Three Bridges.

Visiting

The towpath is open to walkers and cyclists; please read the Canal & River Trust's towpath advice. FitzHerbert Walk joins the towpath from Brent Meadow on the Uxbridge Road. (Ealing Council)

Sources: Historic England: Hanwell flight of locks and brick boundary wall, list entry 1001963, Historic England: Windmill Bridge (Three Bridges), list entry 1002020, Canal & River Trust: Hanwell Lock Flight, Grand Union Canal, Canal & River Trust: Cycling on canal towpaths, Ealing Council: Hanwell parks: other parks in Hanwell, Transport for London: TfL Unified API (stations, stops and bus routes; Powered by TfL Open Data). Last checked 24 Oct 2026.