Individuals

by Christopher Lewis.

James Brindley was the pioneer of the practical age of canal construction in eighteenth century Britain. Unlike John Smeaton, Brindley was untutored, and began his work as an apprentice millwright. However it was Brindley who developed and laid down the principles of early canal construction.

Brindley's vision and organisational ability was evident when he created 'a school of engineers', to reflect his designs, draw detailed maps, survey territory under his direction and build the canals he was commissioned to construct.

This illustrated book chronicles the lives of these engineers as well as their various achievements, and supporting the unique aspects of this latest analysis of Britain's emergent canal system, the book includes a detailed gazeteer which provides opportunity for the reader to visit many of these sites around Britain.

Soft back. 160 pages. 15.6cms x 23.4cms approx. Colour and black and white photos and drawings.

This book is the autobiographical memoir of the retired working boatman John Blunn.

The book is full of anecdotes about not only the hardships of life on the canals, but also the humour and rivalry between boating families. It covers working the boats on the canals, moving to the land as commercial carrying went into decline.

First published in 2008, this second edition (2016) includes additional material and illustrations, some now in colour.

Soft back. 73 pages. 18.5cms x24cms approx.

by Christine Richardson.

From the time of the industrial revolution to the present day, misinterpretations and fables surrounding Brindley have become 'facts' that distort our picture of him. Yet original documents reveal the true Brindley - a man of integrity and a trusted figurehead of eight canal schemes.

In this book, Christine Richardson places Brindley's real story alongside that of the development of England's early inland waterway network in the mid-eighteenth century.

Hard back. 128 pages. 21.5cms x 27.8cms approx. Black & white photos and drawings, blue, black & white maps.

by Nick Corble, who also supplied the following text.

A FRESH LOOK AT JAMES BRINDLEY

Why is it that the exploits of Stephenson and Brunel are part of the history curriculum while the name of James Brindley, the man who laid down the basis for the first national transport system, is largely unknown?

A new biography written by Nick Corble attempts to redress this imbalance. Published by Tempus Publishing, and called 'James Brindley: The First Canal Builder' the book takes a fresh look at Brindley's achievements and asks the bigger question of what might have happened if Brindley hadn't come along.

Nick describes Brindley's story almost as if he was writing a thriller, focusing on the dramas behind the building of the canals and how close Brindley came to failure - failure that would have set Britain's industrial development back for a generation. He also focuses on the very human tale behind the man - how he was born into poverty, how he was barely literate and how he rose above all this to do things no one else thought were even possible.

The book suggests that Brindley was the man who put the 'united' in United Kingdom. In a compelling argument, Nick describes how Brindley's achievements pulled together a Britain of parts and kick-started the process which led to Britain becoming the world's first modern superpower.

This book is a 'must read' for anyone with an interest in how the canal system came about and is illustrated with dozens of original photos, many of them in colour.

Soft back. 160 pages. 17.3cms x 24.8cms approx.

by Robin Jones.

2006 was the 200th anniversary of Brunel's birth.and this commemorative book gives a guide to the life and achievements, including railways, ships, tunnels and bridges.

Soft back. 130 pages, 21cms x 29.7cms approx, Illustrated with colour and black & white photos.

by Derrick Beckett.

This book is mainly about the railway work of Brunel, with sections on the Brunel family, the era of railways and the Paddington - Penzance line, stations, bridges, tunnels and locomotives. The three great steamships are also featured.

Soft back. 222 pages. 15.5cms x 23.5cms approx. Illustrated with Black & white photos and diagrams.

by L.T.C. Rolt.

This short biography traces the creative and adventurous life of Brunel. It tells the story of the obstacles he overcame and his immense achievements, many of which can still be seen today.

Soft back. 118 pages. 12.7cms x 19.7cms approx.

by Paul Clements.

Marc Isambard Brunel (1769-1849) served in Louis XVI's navy as an officer cadet, left France and came to Britain via America at the age of 30. This biography reveals how much Marc contributed to Napoleon's ultimate defeat.

He was the 19th century's most innovative engineer, and father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Marc was primarily an inventor, but Isambard took his father's inventions when they were barely visible seeds and turned them into highly visible fruits in the shape of steam ships and railways.

Hard back. 268 pages. 17.7cms x 25.2cms approx. Illustrated with black & white photos. RRP - £16.99p.

by Brian George.

Canal Builder & County Surveyor (1781-1849). James Green worked in Devon as an assistant to the great John Rennie. Green was to design and construct canal systems at Bude, Torrington, Grand Western Canal and at Kidwelly and Llanelly in Wales. He was also the engineer at the commencement of the Chard canal and constructed the extension to the Exeter Canal.

Soft back. 189 pages. 20.5cms x 20.5cms approx. Illustrated with black & white photos and drawings.

edited and revised by Tim Rolt & Andrew Thynne.

This definitive catalogue of L.T.C. Rolt's output as a writer covers more than five hundred of his publications, ranging from his better known books on engineering history, through articles, fiction, philosophy, to book reviews and letters. It also contains a rapidly growing section listing works by others writing about Tom Rolt.

This book is illustrated with over sixty pictures, mostly of book covers, with an emphasis on early and rarer editions from the rich period of the nineteen fifties and early sixties. Many of these covers are works of art in themselves.

Soft back, 76 pages, 19cms x 24cms approx.

edited by Hugh Potter.

Joe & Rose Skinner were the last Number Ones. This book brings together their story along with their long-serving horseboat 'Friendship'.

The book combines the transcripts of inteviews with Joe & Rose, with a history of 'Friendship' and its preservation at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port.

The book is accompanied by a CD-Rom of Brian Vaughton's interviews for a BBC radio documentary recorded in 1961.

Soft back. 96 pages. 15.6cms x 23.4cms approx, Illustrated with black & white and colour photos.

by L.T.C. Rolt.

The son of a shepherd from the Scottish borders, Thomas Telford rose to be the greatest engineer in Victorian Britain, whose bridges, aqueducts, roads and canals combined aesthetic grace with brilliant engineering.

His life spanned one of the most dynamic periods in British history, the decades of the industrial revolution, and no one contributed more to making Britain the 'workshop of the world'.

This book has been reprinted to coincide with the 250th anniversary of his birth.

Soft back, 268 pages, 15.6cms x 23.6cms approx,

by Charles Hadfield.

For many years Charles Hadfield had been puzzled by the fact that Telford's autobiography makes almost no reference to William Jessop, even though Jessop had been officially appointed as Telford's senior on both the Ellesmere and Caledonian Canals. Hadfield therefore carefully examined all the surviving evidence and made some intriguing discoveries.

All Jessop's personal papers have been lost and all the letters which Jesop wrote to Telford about these two canals have vanished from official archives. Why? The author unfolds a fascinating tale of detection and offers his evidence for the reader to judge.

Hard back, 205 pages, 15.3cms x 23.8 approx, 23 illustrations.