Although some sections of river were improved to carry vessels before the 18th Century, it was this century that heralded the beginning of proper planned canal construction.

The beginning - the innovation of the Bridgewater Canal

The Duke of Bridgewater, who owned coal mines in Wormsley needed an effective way to move coal his coal to the wealth of the city of Manchester. Working with one of his estate managers, John Gilbert, he hired engineer, James Brindley to come up with a solution, a solution, as it turned out, which changed the face of British transport. The waterway that was constructed was able to carry vessels swiftly from within the coal mines themselves, across an aqueduct and into the heart of Manchester. Although it took decades and several Acts of Parliament to complete, the Bridgewater Canal, opened in 1776 and set the scene for a trend in canal building which would underpin the industrial revolution.

Creating a network for industry

After the success of the Bridgewater Canal, James Brindley was regarded as the leading canal engineer of his day. He went on to be involved in the construction of the ‘Grand Cross’, a network of canals which joined the four great river basins of Britain, the Severn, the Mersey, the Humber and the Thames. By the end of the 18th Century, Britain could boast a comprehensive transport network of canals, stretching from London in the south to Glasgow in the north. With this network in place, products could for the first time be easily transported to consumers, bringing down prices and increasing mass production.

The role of the working boats

In parallel with development of canals came the development of the craft that would sail them. Due to the challenges of construction canals were difficult to traverse so necessitated specially designed narrow boats and great skill to sail them. A large community of skilled boating families began to emerge who passed the skills of canal transport down from generation to generation. Living and working on the boats a unique culture developed which, continued well into the 20th Century, as industry depended on working boats to move goods across the UK.

The changing fortunes of canals and working boats

Though the canal network was nationalised in 1948, the advent of the improved road networks in the 1960s suggested the role of the working boat and canal was becoming obsolete. In 1963 the National Carrying Fleet was disbanded, with only a few enthusiasts continuing to supply coal and fuel to other canal users. In the decades that followed hundreds of miles of canal fell into disrepair and many working boats were either scrapped or converted for leisure use. In recent years however, the fortunes of the canals have once again improved and with that the interest in their original purpose.

It is with this in mind, and in an effort to increase understanding and conservation for the future that the Heritage Working Boats Project has come about. Allowing everyone to see working boats as they once were and recognise the role they play in our heritage.