Canal and Narrow Boat Books

There is a great deal of history and tradition belonging to the vast waterways of the U.K.

Luckily for us, quite a bit of it has been recorded in word and picture, givng us a good range of Canal and Narrowboat books.

Every now and then I come across a book telling of the days gone by, and I cannot resist them!

Here are a few of the books I have that are worth getting hold of, if you can.

The Number Ones, by Robert J. Wilson

"Number Ones" were owner operators. They actually owned their own boat, and had crews work for them.

Some of the well known number ones were Arthur Bray, Joe Skinner, and Charlie Atkins.

This little book I picked up at the Canal Museum in London, and gives a look at the lives of the Midland Number Ones.

It is well written, and has a host of photographs of the boatmen, their craft and families.

You can get a copy of The Number Ones, and other books by Robert Wilson here.

Canal Narrow boats and Barges, written by Tony Conder.

This is a Shire Publication, and is an introduction to narrow boats, while also looking at a variety of other Waterways craft.

Photos and illustrations, (in colour and black and white) show boats on the inland waterways today, and older working boats with the background of industry.

The author, Tony Conder, worked at the Stoke Bruerne museum,before opening the National Waterways Museum at Gloucestershire.

Get a copy of Tonys fine book here.

Canal Barges and Narrow Boats, by Peter L. Smith.

Another fine Squire booklet, tracing the history of the Waterways Craft from the small sailing barges, to the present day boats re establishing canal transport.

This book has plenty of black and white photographs of both old and new boats.

A copy of this book is available here

A Short History of the Narrow boat, by Tom Chaplin

This fine book contains an interesting history of the design, construction of the boats, the firms who built them, the people whose lives were devoted to their operation, the traditions of painting and decorating, the cargoes carried, and the way of life on the waterways during the peak of the commercial trade.

Lots of pictures of the boats, and the families going about their daily activities design drawings and sketches.

A great little book, it's available here.

A Canal People, featuring the photographs of Robert Longden, by Sonia Rolt

I just love the waterways history and culture, and this book is just packed with excellent high quality photographs.

The photographs were taken around Hawkesbury Junction between late 1940 and early 1950.

The book shows a close community and represent its members in an intimate way, at work, at play, in their domestic affairs, and how they lived on their colorful narrow boats.

Sonia Rolt, who worked on the boats, and knew the photographer, tells how she came by the pictures, and provides informative captions to the pictures.

Highly recommended to all narrow boat enthusiasts.

Grab your copy of A Canal People

and enjoy it!

Canals of England

Martin and Robert toured the waterways, and documented them in all aspects -and in all weathers.

There are over 130 great photographs, and plenty of rich text in the history, people and legends of the old waterways.

This book captures the beauty of the waterways from stone bridges in Bath, to the bridges and aquaducts of North Wales.

You can get a copy of Country Series: Canals of England

here now.

Pub days out

The Cool Canal Group has put together a fine publication by Phillipa Greenwood and Martine O’Callaghan on the delightful pubs on the canals.

It is a great book, where they visit some well known and some lesser known cnal pubs.

Cool Canals Pub Days Out (Britain) (Cool Canals Guide)

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