News, views and items of interest
This fascinating book delves into the forgotten history of the Midlands and border canal infrastructure, including the Grand Union, Staffs & Worcs, Stourbridge, Stratford, Trent & Mersey and Worcs & Birmingham canals amongst others.
This illustrated history recognises the skill of the engineers who designed and built them and had such an influence on the waterways in this region.
Price £16.99p and can be ordered here.
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal by Keith Gibson & David Finnis.
Two hundred years in the life of a Pennine waterway. A thorough history of the building, use, decline and restoration of the canal, well illustrated with many contemporary photographs, some rare.
£12.99p and can be ordered here.
The latest map to arrive from Heron Maps is the River Thames. The Thames Path is also covered for those wanting to walk beside the river.
The route of the Thames & Severn Canal is also shown from Sapperton Tunnel to Inglesham.
The price is £5.99p and can be ordered here.
Holidaying on the canals in the late 1920s was confined mainly to a few eccentrics and enthusiasts, even though much of the canal system was still accessible and operational at that time.
After many years of trying to get these guides, they are now in stock – all 7 of them. They are the non tidal Thames & Southern Waterways, Grand Union Canal Regents & Lee & Stort, Birmingham & surrounding waterways, East Midlands & connected East Anglian waterways, Four Counties & Cheshire Rings, North East waterways and North West waterways.
The first five are £12 each and the last two are £10 each and are available here.
The ninth in the children’s series of books about the narrowboat Muddy Waters and his friends, written by D.H. Clacher with illustrations by Stephen Preedy.
This story is about Dudley being awarded the Golden Windlass in Birmingham.
The price is £3.99p and can be found here.
Just published is the Waterways World Annual 2011.
Contents:
Cruising & Holidays – ten top tips for the perfect boating holiday, gazetteer, hire fleets, hotel boats.
Out & About – canals of the world, Britain’s best waterside walks, day tripping.
Practical Boating – a boat of your own, what does it cost, inland engines, designer narrowboats, so you want to buy a barge.
Restoration Report
Essential Tables – boat builders, brokers, shared ownership, timeshare, surveyors & examiners, boatyard services, moorings, call out engineers, canalmanac.
144 pages.
Also included is an A1 size route planning and boatyard map.
Pictured on the left are two of the eight different cross stitch kits featuring the boats from the front covers of the children’s books about Muddy Waters and his friends.
The latest quarterly heritage magazine from Waterways World, NarrowBoat Spring 2011, is now available, featuring articles on box boats, coal to Liverpool, the Charles Nelson fleet, Birmingham bypass, Huddersfield Narrow Canal etc.
Price £4.95p
Another lapel badge to add to the range, this time waterways in general rather than a specific one.
It features a narrowboat and bridge on a blue and green background, and the words Britain’s Inland Waterways on a red background around the edge.
The size is approx 16mm and is found here. Price £3.25p