Other waterways books

by Sheila M. Webster and Peter Sylvester.

This is a collection of 34 coloured pen and ink sketches by Sheila of historic narrow boats that attended the Audlem Festival of Transport on one day in July. Brief notes of each boat are provided by Peter.

Soft back. 76 pages. 21cms x 14.9cms approx.

by Sue Wilkes.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of canals and the lives of the people who worked on them. It shows how to trace canal boatmen, workers and their families.

It explains the workings of the canal network, its expansion and decline, and also identifies key sources for family historians.

Soft back. 202 pages. 15.7cms x 23.4cms approx. Black and white illustrations.

by Cas Best.

34 recipes, from Barney boat stew to Wychnor Lock pudding, which reflect the unsophisticated and traditional way of cooking on board in the limited space available.

Soft back. 48 pages. 17cms x 11.8cms approx. Illustrated with many sepia versions of Alan Firth's paintings, and black & white drawings.

by Allan Scott-Davies.

In this book Allan presents a unique and fascinating collection of creepy tales and spine-chilling stories, covering locations from Cornwall to the Caledonian canals.

Mixing long-established ghostly myths with more recent experiences, it takes a look at some of the strange and unexplained hauntings across Britain's canals and waterway network.

Soft back. 160 pages. 15.5cms x 23.3cms approx. Illustrated with black & white photos and drawings.

by Nick Corble.

There are over 2000 miles of navigable waterway in the UK, and this book tells you how to get the most out of them. Whether your interests lie in the history of the canals, their flora and fauna, how to distinguish different types of boats and their decoration, just an interested tourist, dog walker or even a hopeful boat owner, then this book is full of useful facts, hints and tips.

Soft back. 144 pages. 12.4cms x 22.6cms (5" x 9") approx. Contains colour and black & white photos.

by Nick Corble.

There are over 2000 miles of navigable waterway in the UK, and this book tells you how to get the most out of them. Whether your interests lie in the history of the canals, their flora and fauna, how to distinguish different types of boats and their decoration, just an interested tourist, dog walker or even a hopeful boat owner, then this book is full of useful facts, hints and tips.

Soft back. 96 pages. 16.6cms x 23.6cms approx. Contains colour photos. This is basically the same book as the one above but from a different publisher. It is a different size and full colour.

by Jake Kavanagh.

This is a light-hearted look at the job of a lockkeeper, be it a rural little lock on the canals, or an ultra-modern affair out of a huge marina.

Narrowboaters, motorcruisers, yachtsmen, rowers and canoeists all use locks. All will readily relate to Jake's humorous survey, in cartoons and anecdotes, of the scrapes people get into when trying to use locks - and all will be embarrassingly familiar to flustered lock-users of all ages.

Softback. 103 pages. 13cms x 19.2cms approx.

by Geoffrey Lewis & Tom McManus.

These two long-term friends give us a collection of anecdotes and reminiscences with a heavy emphasis on the humour of each situation. Illustrations by Marlene Keeble.

Soft back. 112 pages. 12.8cms x 19.8cms approx.

by Tom McManus.

Following the success of his first book, L-Plate Boating, boater, canal trader and storyteller Tom invites you to join him for another hilarious journey on the inland waterways. From the bizarre to the ridiculous, the unfortunate to the downright daft, it is all contained within these pages.

Soft back. 104 pages. 14.7cms x 21cms. Some black & white drawings.

by Antony J. Barratt.

This book covers shipbuilding on the River Dee (such as Chester, Saltney, Neston and Parkgate), River Mersey (Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Widnes and Warrington), and River Weaver (Northwich, Frodsham and Winsford). There is also a photo feature on Northwich ships, some narrowboats included.

Soft back. 47 pages. 21cms x 29.7cms approx.

by Bernard McCall.

Coasters of the Avon and Severn is the first book in a proposed series looking in more detail at shipping activity in some areas. It covers a period of about 40 years.

It has a photo of a ship on each page plus a description. Whilst the ships may not be to everyones liking, the locations of the ships can be of interest to fans of this area.

Soft back. 80 pages. 21cms x 14.8cms approx.

by Antony J Barratt.

Shipbuilding on the Mersey has spanned many centuries, but it all came to an end in May 2004 when McTay Marine announced that it was withdrawing from shipbuilding. They were in existence for 30 years and pursued a policy of technological innovation building a number of first or largest vessels for British and overseas owners.

Soft back. 48 pages. 21cms x 29.7cms approx.

Introductory page, followed by a page each for boat details, owner details, crew details and important address. At the back of the book there is a page for the engine hours log and two pages for boat maintenance details.

In between are the cruising log pages, the left hand page is a blank page for cruise notes and photographs, the right hand page has spaces for waterway, start and end mooring, weather, engine hours, miles and locks, plus another half page for cruise notes.

Soft back. 96 pages. 21cms x 14.8cms approx.

Loose leafed ring binder log book with one title page and 50 pages made up of 18 lines of 1 large and 6 small columns with space at the top for voyage from, to and date. The reverse of these pages are blank for photos, drawings or your own notes.

LOG BOOK written on front in gold coloured lettering.

Measures 26.5cms x 17cms approx.

from the National Community Boats Association, and supported by Benjamin Zephaniah.

'Glide' has enabled local Black people from Birmingham to connect with their historic and cultural links in a waterways setting. This has involved have-a-go boating experiences, taster training courses and floating history sessions.

Local children have contributed to this book, providing the inspiration and poetry that celebrates the beauty of our canals. The book contains poems, fables and stories about Birmingham's canals.

Soft back. 22 pages. 15cms x 21.1cms approx.