Apsley Marina
{{Short description|Marina in Hertfordshire, England}}
{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|static_image_name = Apsley Marina, Grand Union Canal, Apsley (geograph 7412178).jpg
|static_image_width = 250
|static_image_caption = Apsley Marina
|coordinates = {{coord|51.7333|-0.4596|display=inline,title}}
|official_name = Apsley Marina
|population =
|shire_district = Dacorum
|shire_county = Hertfordshire
|region = East of England
|constituency_westminster = Hemel Hempstead
|post_town = HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
|postcode_district = HP3
|postcode_area = HP
|dial_code = 01442
|os_grid_reference = TL0505
}}
Apsley Marina, also referred to as Apsley Lock Marina, is a basin used for mooring narrowboats on the east side of the Grand Union Canal at Apsley, Hertfordshire, England.
History
This former greenfield site is on the east side of the Grand Union Canal,{{cite web|url=https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW015685 |title=EPW015685 England (1926). The Apsley Paper Mills and the Grand Union Canal, Apsley, 1926|publisher=Britain from Above| access-date=11 November 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.9&lat=51.73188&lon=-0.46385&layers=168&b=1&marker=51.7333,-0.4596|title=Ordnance Survey Map|year=1913| access-date=11 November 2023}} immediately opposite to the former location of Apsley Mill.{{cite web|url=https://tringlocalhistory.org.uk/Canal/c_chapter_09.htm|title=The Grand Junction Canal: A Highway Laid With Water|publisher=Tring Local History and Museum Society| access-date=11 November 2023}} This was a flour mill on the west side of the canal, which was converted into a paper making factory in 1778, and then acquired by the papermaking inventor, John Dickinson, in 1809.{{cite web|url=https://frogmorepapermill.org.uk/apsley-mill/|title=Apsley Mill|publisher=Frogmore Paper Mill|access-date=11 November 2023}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LtIHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA28-IA4 | title=Tour of the Grand Junction|first=John |last=Hassell |year= 1819}} Following a change in ownership, Apsley Mill ceased the manufacture of stationery in 1999.{{cite web|url=https://frogmorepapermill.org.uk/frogmoretimeline/|title=Timeline|publisher=Apsley Paper Trail|access-date=2 March 2024}}
The site was acquired by Fairview Homes in the late 1990s, as part of a project to redevelop both sides of the canal for housing.{{cite web|url=http://www.glias.org.uk/news/219news.html|title=Ovaltine factory, Kings Langley|publisher=Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society| access-date=11 November 2023}} After much of the housing had been built and sold to householders, British Waterways took over ownership and management of the remaining land on the east side of the canal in November 2002.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B1a3AAAAIAAJ|title=Annual Report and Accounts|publisher=British Waterways|year=2001|quote=In November 2002, we took over ownership of Apsley Marina, a new 65 - berth mooring basin, from Fairview Homes }} Following the completion of extensive excavation, earth-moving and civil engineering activities, the new marina opened to boats in 2003.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EXOIAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT93 | title=Hemel Hempstead Through Time |first= Eve |last=Davis |year= 2011 |publisher=Amberley Publishing|isbn=978-1848686069}}{{cite web|url=https://marina-insurance.co.uk/node/39|title=Apsley Marina (BWML) | publisher=Marina Insurance|access-date=11 November 2023}} A new public house named "The Paper Mill" was erected on the west side of the canal,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jaZIEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT539 | title=Good Beer Guide|year=2012|publisher=The Campaign for Real Ale |isbn=978-1852493073}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hO4gCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT141 | title=Hertfordshire's Historic Inland Waterway Batchworth to Berkhamsted |first= John |last=Cooper |year= 2015 |publisher=Amberley Publishing|isbn=978-1445652986}}{{cite web|url=https://www.papermillapsley.co.uk/|title=The Paper Mill, Apsley|publisher=Fuller's Pubs|access-date=11 November 2023}} and a footbridge, designed by Mark Lovell Design Engineers, was installed to connect the public house, on the west side of the canal, to the marina on the east side of the canal.{{cite web|url= https://www.mlde.co.uk/apsley-mill-bridge.html|title=Apsley Mill Bridge|publisher= Mark Lovell Design Engineers| access-date=11 November 2023}}
Operations
The marina has 44 leisure berths for short-term customers and 20 residential berths for long-term customers.{{cite web|url= https://www.aquavista.com/find-a-marina/apsley-waterside-marina |title=Apsley Waterside Marina|publisher=Aquavista|access-date=11 November 2023}} It is operated by Aquavista,{{cite web|url=https://harbourassist.com/aquavista/|title=BWML becomes Aquavista|date=29 July 2020|publisher=Harbour Assist|access-date=11 November 2023}} formerly British Waterways Marinas Limited (BWML).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7B-FDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT87 | title=The Liveaboard Guide Living Afloat on the Inland Waterways |first= Tony |last=Jones |year= 2019 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1472963680}} Boat access to the Grand Union Canal is on the southwest side of the marina, through a lift bridge:{{cite web|url=https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit-pdf/Apsley.pdf|title=Apsley|publisher=Canbal and River Trust| access-date=11 November 2023}} a residential street, known as Dickinson Quay, runs along the other three sides of the marina.{{cite web|url=https://www.streetlist.co.uk/hp/hp3/hp3-9/dickinson-quay|title=Dickinson Quay|publisher=Street List| access-date=11 November 2023}}