'Dead Dog Bridge' Camden repaired and repainted 'Indian Red'

The Canal & River Trust (C&RT) has completed a £533,000 project to repair the Grade II-listed Interchange Basin Towpath Bridge on the Regent’s Canal, the busiest canal footbridge in the country.

Built in 1846, the historic bridge is an important local landmark carrying the Regent’s Canal towpath across the canal basin beneath the Camden Interchange Warehouse.

The bridge is crossed more than one million times by walkers and and cyclists per year.

It has also featured in the James Bond film Spectre.

The entrance to the Interchange Dock became known as ‘Dead Dog Tunnel’ because debris – including dead animals – historically accumulated here at the end of the 26-mile lock-free stretch of the canal flowing into central London.

Dead Dog Bridge before it was repaired and repainted by the Canal & River Trust (Image: Canal & River Trust)

The towpath was built the year the London & Birmingham Railway Co (L&BR) became part of the London & North Western Railway (L&NWR) and was designed to bring together canal, rail and road transport in one covered building, with three layers of storage. 

The work, which began in mid-January, included repairs to the bridge’s wrought iron lattice parapets, cleaning of the underlying cast iron beams, and cleaning and repointing of the abutments and approach parapets.

Phil Emery, the C&RT's regional heritage adviser,  said: “In recent years, the bridge’s striking ironwork has been painted black and white, but working with a specialist to analyse the paint layers, we discovered the original colour was most likely to have been ‘Indian Red’. 

Dead Dog Bridge repaired and repainted a historic 'Indian Red' (Image: Canal & River Trust)

"The name refers to pigment used to create the paint colour, made from ground haematite ore obtained in Bengal, the historic region divided between modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. 

"This paint colour was used by railway companies, including the L&BR."

The bridge repairs have been paid for by an award from Postcode Earth Trust thanks to money raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, says it was "fantastic" to see the impact player funding had on the bridge, adding: "It's important that it is preserved for future generations.”

Ros Daniels, the Canal & River Trust’s director for London & South East, said: “Research shows that being next to water improves your mental and physical health.  

"The Canal & River Trust protects and preserves London’s canals, making them welcoming to encourage more people to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of walking and cycling,and being by the water. 

"The works will ensure this historic bridge continues to carry millions of visitors enjoying the Regent’s Canal in Camden, for many years to come.”