Other Video Active DVDs

DVD - Historic Narrow Boats Ref: 724
For 150 years or so, the narrowboat was the principle means of carrying goods in this country. It's bright paintwork and traditional decoration made it easy to romanticise the boatman's way of life. The reality though was that it was a harsh existence.

This DVD is a record of a gathering of over 60 such ancient craft at Braunston in May 1999. Narrowboats, tunnel tugs, inspection launches and ice boats are featured.

Running time: 52 mins approx. DVD-R format. English PAL.
Price: £16.50

DVD - Hyperion & Kestrel Ref: 1783
This is the fascinating story of an epic journey by the narrowboat Hyperion and her butty, Kestrel, from Langton Dock in Liverpool, onto the tideway. Then entering the Manchester Ship Canal at Eastham and continue to Ellesmere Port for the Boat Museum's Annual Rally of working boats.

Hear from a Manchester Ship Canal pilot, and a woman who worked Kestrel in the 50s and 60s who gave birth to twins in the cabin.

Running time: 57 mins approc. DVD-R format. English PAL.
Price: £14.50

DVD - By Canal in the '50s Ref: 1492
The original silent films were made between 1949 and the mid 1950s on 16mm by Ralph Lee, a one time Chairman of the Midlands branch of the IWA. Much of the narrative has been provided by early surviving waterway pioneers, and part of the soundtrack is the recorded reactions of a group of retired boatmen and women who were also shown the films.

One of the films is a record of an IWA pilgrimage from the West Midlands to the Coronation in 1953.

Running time: 110 mins approx. DVD-R format. PAL
Price: £21.00

DVD - Millennium Ribble Link Ref: 732
The 18th Century builders of the Leeds & Liverpool and the Lancaster Canals always intended that the two waterways should be linked. However the ambitious scheme involved 75 miles of waterway and two costly aqueducts across the Lune and Ribble valleys, and it was never funded. As a result the beautiful Lancaster Canal has remained isolated from the rest of the canal network for over 200 years.

In 1984, The Ribble Link Trust was formed to promote the idea that the two waterways should be linked via the River Douglas, the Ribble Estuary and a short new canal to be constructed along the line of Savick Brook to join the Lancaster Canal in Preston's Haslam Park. This DVD tells the remarkable story of the Millennium Ribble Link, from early designs through to the official opening in September 2002.

Running time: 75 mins approx. DVD-R format. English PAL.
Price: £16.50

DVD - New Seven Wonders of the Waterways Ref: 769
This new version of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways includes the Bingley 5 Rise, Falkirk Wheel, Caen Hill Flight, Burnley Embankment, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Standedge Tunnel and the Anderton Boat Lift.

Many of these wonderful structures have been the subject of major restorations during the millennium.

Running time: 60 mins approx. DVD-R format. English PAL.
Price: £16.50

DVD - Boat Lifts of Europe Ref: 731
This DVD features some of the ingenious answers that canal engineers have come up with to make canals go up and down hills, under the general heading of 'Boat Lifts'. You visit lifts in England, France, Belgium, Germany and Scotland.

The oldest, newest and highest are all included.

Running time: 74 mins approx. DVD-R format English PAL.
Price: £16.50

DVD - Le Canal du Midi Ref: 733
The Canal du Midi was the first major canal construction in Europe. It was built in the late 1670s. It predates the work of James Brindley by 100 years or so. To obtain a water supply the (then) World's largest dam was built.Today it has the status of a World Heritage site.

Also included in the programme is an example of a water slope on the Canal Lateral a la Garonne at Montech.

Running time: 74 mins approx. DVD-R format. English PAL.
Price: £16.50

DVD - Le Canal du Nivernais Ref: 1533
The Canal du Nivernais is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cruising waterways in Europe. The journey take you through Burgundy, the vineyards of Bourgogne and up into the forests of the Morvan, over the summit where it passes through 3 tunnels and then the descent to the Loire through double and triple staircases.

This is a programme which really captures the essence of rural France at it's best.

Running time: 68 mins approx. DVD-R format. English PAL.
Price: £16.50

DVD - River Charente Ref: 915
The navigable section runs for around 100 miles through Western France, from Angouleme down to Rochefort on the Atlantic seaboard. It is estimated that there are only around 80 boats on the river.

It passes through the Cognac region, and some mainstream distilleries and a very small private one are visited.

Running time: 67 mins approx. DVD-R format. English PAL.
Price: £16.50

DVD - Canal Lateral a La Loire Ref: 1491
In the 1820s the Canal Lateral was built parallel with the River Loire because of the rivers shifting sandbanks, flash floods and shallowness in summer.It makes 3 spectacular river crossings, two on stone aqueducts and one in steel which is the longest aqueduct in Europe.

Also featured is the wildlife and places and industries along the way, including iron and wine.

Running time: 60 mins approx. DVD-R format. PAL
Price: £16.50