[2][3] Dodd’s canal was to be on a small scale, only 3+1⁄2 ft (1.1 m) deep and 24 feet (7.3 m) wide at the top for boats up to 20 tons (20.3 tonnes).

It would broadly follow the Ravensbourne valley to Lewisham and Deptford, finally turning west of north to join the Thames at Rotherhithe, a distance of about 12 miles.

[10] This canal took a more direct line to Rotherhithe along a ridge of higher ground, which could loosely be described as the west side of the Ravensbourne valley.

It headed northeast from West Croydon to Selhurst, turned north to South Norwood, Sydenham, Forest Hill and New Cross to join the Thames at Rotherhithe.

[14] A disadvantage of inclined planes was they could only lift smaller, lighter boats that limited the bulky goods that could be carried on the canal.

[25] The decision to implement a canal with locks was made soon after the act of Parliament was passed, because "it was realised the boats would be too small to meet the needs of the public, particularly the conveyance of large sized timber".

[12] Trade was also threatened by the Surrey Iron Railway, which had received royal assent a month before the Croydon canal.

Connection with the Grand Surrey Canal took boats close to the King’s Yard and victualing office at Deptford.

Rennie’s original plan was to pump water from the Thames, which with the cost of the locks made it nearly £20,000 more expensive than a canal with inclined planes.

According to the resident engineer Dudley Clark[33] the canal “is of itself so considerable, that, with the addition of a large reservoir upon Sydenham, and another upon Norwood Common, it leaves no doubt, of a most ample supply in the driest season.

[35][36] Rainwater was also collected by ditches on Plowgarlic / Telegraph Hill above New Cross that fed into small reservoirs or side ponds at the locks.

[38] The first 2¼ miles of the canal was dug approximately between today’s Penge West and Forest Hill railway stations.

[39] By 17 April 1804 tenders were invited for cutting the remaining 2 miles of the canal’s north end[40] and contracts for the iron and woodwork on “upwards of 20” locks were received a month later.

[41] By October 1805 Sydenham reservoir had been completed, the canal was in water and in use from within a few miles of the town of Croydon to Brockley Green for conveying bricks, timber and other materials for the works.

[45] Contrary to Rennie's original plan there were also locks between New Cross Road and the Grand Surrey Canal.

[46] The proprietors expected to join the Grand Surrey canal by July,[47] having announced to the public that it would be open for navigation from the Thames to the crossroads at (South) Norwood.

[51] They petitioned Parliament on 10 February 1808[52] and were granted authority to raise the additional funds via the Croydon Canal Act 1808 (48 Geo.

Tenders were placed for bricks, building the basin wall at Croydon, fencing, a crane, counting house, warehouse and lock keeper’s cottage at Forest Wood.

[66] Around 1827 there was a steam engine near today’s Towpath Way, south of Tennison Road, Selhurst to pump water from a well or spring.

The canal was officially opened on Monday 23 October 1809 with a procession that left Sydenham at 11am to a band playing "God save the King" and a 21 gun salute.

The proprietors witnessed the arrival of the barges at the Croydon basin, examined the wharf and warehouses before walking to the Greyhound at 4pm, led by the workmen marching in order with their tools on their shoulders and accompanied by a band.

[84][85] The tramway connected with the Croydon Merstham and Godstone railway and ran alongside the south side of the canal basis.

[91] It was subsequently let to Henry Doo on 23 October 1824 until the canal closed when he was a successful coal merchant, lighterman and boat owner with an average trade of £700 p.a.

The barges, or strictly lighters,  had flat bottoms, which were joined to the sides of the boat by a quadrant of a circle to reduce damage to the canal bank.

[94] Depicted in several paintings,[95][96] the barges had no living accommodation,[97] were steered by a large rudder and pulled by a horse led along the towpath on the easterly side of the canal.

[100] Navigation through the pool of London was particularly dangerous because of the shipping,[101] and in 1818 a Croydon canal bargeman was assaulted seeking shelter at a private mooring during tempestuous weather.

[102] The boats had to be registered with the canal company and the number, name of the owner and abode had to be painted in white letters 4 inches high on a black background (clause 105).

[113] The committee did determine its own forecasts following Rennie’s report,[114] but Phillips feared the lack of manufacturing towns, mines and heavy goods would prevent a proper return for investors.

The tolls authorised by parliament were also higher, although the company may have set lower rates: Profits and dividends were significantly less because of costs.

This was considered for redevelopment in 1989, but research by Lewisham Council resulted in its identity being confirmed and it now forms an attractive wetland, having been returned to its former width.