Canals of England

This is an illustrated guide to the canals and waterways of England. This book bears witness to the transformation that took place in the English landscape during the last 50 years of the 18th century, when canals were built from the Pennines to the English Channel. The canals were a way of carrying goods, as well as a tradition of life. The narrow boat was home to generations of navigators, and decorated in a particular style, and the buildings associated with canals – wharves, warehouses, lock-keepers' cottages, locks, bridges and aqueducts – are part of a familiar scene. The neglect in the past has given way to a new awareness of canals in town and country, as well as the opportunities they offer for pleasure and historical interest.