Possible Layout and Themes (CIA)

Ideas for discussion. The Canal Information Area (CIA) will occupy a rectangular area of approximately 10 feet by 7 feet. It could be used for displaying detailed information that would not be practical in the main coffee store. The information in this area should cover the whole canal, not just the Camden area.

Possible Layouts

Note - the diagrams below are merely suggestions (from Friends of the Regent's Canal) to illustrate a possible use of the wall space. The final design could look very different from this.

The logic behind the suggestions below is that visitors would be able to move through the display boards in a clockwise direction, starting with the West wall. It makes sense to start with the historical information and to progress towards the current usage of the canal.

History of the Canal There will be various opportunities to put old photographs, drawings and historical facts along the walls in the main coffee store, but at peak times it might be impractical for visitors to circulate through the store. So it is important that we can provide a synposis of the canal history within the Canal Information Area. We have yet to discuss allocation of wall space, font sizes, etc, but as a starting point let's assume a budget of 3,000 words to describe the history of the canal from 1811 to 1968. It seems highly appropriate to start the history with the Inaugural Meeting in a coffee house (31st May 1811). The history information should include the two separate construction phases, noting the legal, fincancial and technical challenges; the early years; the railway years; the war years; the decline in the 1960s; and the transition to leisure use. There are various illustrations available to accompany the text, including the key players, drawings and photos of the canal in use in the first 150 years. Plus some statistics and a timeline. We should be careful to avoid overstressing the decline of the canal as a means of transport, because the canal is still being used for freight traffic and there are very good reasons for the volumes to increase. This could be mentioned in the section on current uses of the canal.

Places of Interest Click here to see a suggested map, along with a list of places of interest.

Current Activities We need to itemise the regular opportunities available for visitors and Londoners to use the canal. For example:- Boat trips (with commentator) Waterbus service Boat hire (for parties) Kayaking and pedalo hire Guided Walks Unaccompanied Walks Cycling options and code of conduct

Signposts For the benefit of towpath users wishing to explore the canal in either direction, we could provide towpath signposts on the east and west walls near the entrance. Click here for some examples.

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