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The section of the Grand Union Canal from the River Thames at Brentford was opened in 1794. It was the first section of what was originally called the Grand Junction Canal. Its purpose was to provide a new, shorter and quicker transport route between London and Birmingham by connecting with a network of canals at Braunston near Daventry. When the canal reached Braunston in 1805 it cut 60 miles off the shortest alternative route.

With the demand for bricks for the buildings of London continuing to increase, a canal branch to Slough was first proposed in 1878. It was originally opened to serve the brick-making industry. Construction began from the Cowley Peachey Junction of the Grand Union Canal in early 1880. The route included a major cutting and embankment at Iver. The major earthworks at Iver were completed in June 1882, and the canal opened throughout on 4th December 1882. It was about five miles long, and did not require any locks.

The last commercial traffic was carried in 1960, but as the plans to fill it in were opposed locally, the stretch was re-opened in 1975 and has remained in-use since.