Barging Round Britain by David Bartley is a beautifully-illustrated guide to a unique and fascinating part of our history: the canal network.
Explore the people and places that have forged this national treasure, from the birth of the Industrial Revolution to the leisure explosion on our waterways today. Fully-illustrated with maps and photographs, the book will trace canal routes across the UK, from the Georgian grandeur of Bath to the dramatic splendour of the Scottish Highlands.
This is the official tie-in to the ITV series, coming to prime-time TV in January 2015. David Bartley's Barging Round Britain includes a foreword and chapter introductions by the presenter of the TV series, John Sergeant.
'There is something very British in the way we cherish the canals'
Crisscrossing our small island are more than three thousand miles of canals, which pass through some of the most breathtakingly beautiful landscapes in the world and reveal the fascinating story of our country's past.
Barging Round Britain explores both the canals and their contribution to our history. Telling of their origins and workings, it looks at the pleasures and sights of the canals as well as their part in our industrial heritage - from Josiah Wedgewood's need to transport fragile bone china to engineer James Brindley's visionary solutions to the geological obstacles in his path.
Taking eight of our most celebrated waterways - including the Caledonian, Grand Union and the Trent and Mersey canals - Barging round Britain charts a course through the history of British inland navigation from its industrial heyday to today's pleasure seekers, looking for beauty and tranquility.
This is an essential guide for anyone with a passion for our country's waterways.