Ben Nathan introduces his unique photography project spotlighting people living and working on the River Lee Navigation

While the Lea Valley has huge environmental importance today, for many, this green corridor – only a mile from Edmonton Green Shopping Centre – is often ignored or overlooked.

As part of ‘Untold Edmonton’ – a two-year Enfield Council arts programme funded by a £250,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant – I undertook a two-week artist-in-residence last month, living and working aboard Barge Fiodra, moored near Alfie’s (Pickett’s) Lock on the River Lee Navigation.

My aim was to find out how people use and access the canal at Edmonton today, to celebrate and draw out the social histories, relationships and everyday lives of people who use the canal.

The project, called ‘Tales of the Towpath’, engaged boaters, anglers and canal users who together with me co-created analogue photographs and recorded their reflections on what makes the canal at Edmonton so special to them.

My photographs were captured using a Kodak Brownie Pinhole Camera conversion and a 100-year-old Avus folding-plate camera. Each photo was developed by hand in the darkroom installed aboard Barge Fiodra, a unique floating arts and entertainment venue. The participants’ photos were exhibited with archival photos and maps in the boat’s gallery.

We are delighted to share a selection of the resulting photos with Dispatch readers. The full series will be showcased at Edmonton Green and Fore Street libraries later this year.

For more information about Tales from the Towpath:
Visit bnathan.co.uk/untold-edmonton

For more information about Untold Edmonton:
Visit enfield.gov.uk/services/property-and-economy/untold-edmonton

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