Britain's Canals: Exploring their Architectural and Engineering Wonders

by Anthony Burton, Derek Pratt

Overview

A charming and insightful exploration of the amazing architecture and engineering wonders that surround Britain's inland waterways.

In Britain's Canals, two inland waterways experts and much-loved 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. They explore features from the awe-inspiring 30-lock flight on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, to the downright delightful chocolate-box lock-keeper's 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 on The Line (the shape of the canal itself), Locks, Lock-keeper's Cottages, Bridges, Aqueducts, Lifts and Planes, Company Buildings, Wharves, Basins and Quays and finally (and perhaps most importantly) 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-color 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472971951
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	07/14/2020
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	7.51(w) x 9.56(h) x 0.54(d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

1 Setting the line 9

2 Locks and lock cottages 17

3 Bridges 37

4 Aqueducts 65

5 Tunnels, cuttings and banks 83

6 Water supply 103

7 Company properties and structures 115

8 Wharfs, warehouses and basins 133

9 The industrial world 157

10 Connecting links 181

11 A changing world 201

Index 222

Acknowledgements 224

Editorial Reviews

"Beautifully photographed." - Yachting Monthly

From the Publisher