Britain's Canals

Britain’s Canals is a charming and insightful exploration into the amazing architecture and engineering wonders that surround Britain’s inland waterways – from the awe-inspiring 30-lock flight on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, to the delightful chocolate-box lock-keepers’ cottages that line the cut of every canal, to masterpieces such as the 18-arch Pontcysyllte aqueduct, the highest aqueduct in the world, to beautiful bridges, grand company buildings, the social hubs that were, and still are, canal-side pubs, plus so much more.

In contrast to many inland waterways books which are organised geographically by canal, Britain’s Canals is structured thematically, with chapters covering the line (the shape of the canal), locks and lock cottages, bridges, aqueducts, lifts and planes, company buildings, wharves, basins and quays and finally the canal-side pub. Each chapter explores how these features were created and have changed through history, right through to the present, with plenty of ideas for places to visit – plus full information on how to get to them. An abundance of full-colour photography throughout, both historical and modern-day, will delight readers and inspire them to explore Britain’s wondrous inland waterways, whether on boat, by foot or by bike. In Britain’s Canals, two inland waterways experts and admired authors come together to produce the definitive word on the man-made wonders that make Britain’s canals so special, so loved and enjoyed by so many.

Author Biography

Anthony Burton and Derek Pratt have worked together for many years – their first joint effort Canal was published in 1976 and they have collaborated on several other canal books over the years. However this is the one they have always wanted to produce.

Anthony’s first book on canal history, The Canal Builders, was first published in 1971 and is still in print, now in its fifth edition. Since then he has specialised in transport and industrial history, most recently with a survey of canal building from the time of the pharaohs to the present day (The Canal Pioneers). He is an honorary member of the Cotswold Canal Trust.

Derek Pratt is a professional photographer who has specialised in photographing Britain’s waterways. His books include London’s Waterways, Waterways Past and Present and Great Waterway Journeys.