Britains Waterways

An Introduction

Britain's canals remain a time capsule of a unique way of life dating back more than 200 years, when the first canals were constructed by gangs of labourers ("navigators" or "navvies"), to provide a man made waterways network for transportation of goods and materials to fuel the industrial revolution.

The craft used, known as narrowboats, were constructed initially of wood and later steel and were built to dimensions to allow passage through the many pound locks which raise or lower boats from one level to another. Boats were typically a maximum of 70 feet long by 6 feet 10 inches wide, with most locks being 72 feet long and either 7 feet or 14 feet in width.

The life of the working boatmen and women was very tough, with the entire family living in an aft boatmans cabin around 6 feet in length. Boat children recieved little or no education and were expected to assist with the heavy work from a young age, often leading the horse or mule which pulled the boat for many miles each day.

To brighten an otherwise austere existence, boats were decorated with a unique style of folk art typically depicting brightly coloured roses and scenes of castles together with symmetrical designs in red white green and yellow.

Typical example of Narrowboat Rose Art

Today, following much work by many dedicated groups, most of the original canal system has been restored following the decline at the turn of the century when the railways replaced the waterways for transporting goods. It is now possible to navigate more than 2000 miles of canals still preserving a slower pace of life and a wealth of industrial history, through some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain.