Canals Over Time

The late 1700's and early 1800’s saw the formation of many of Britain’s most important canals, set up by merchants, aristocrats and bankers, but particularly by coalmine owners, textile manufacturers, pottery barons and others waiting to open up new markets for their products. As canals played a vital role in the industrial revolution.

Press the play button to see the changes over time.

At its greatest extent the wider inland waterway network stretched to over 5,000 miles and carried 30 million tonnes of goods and raw materials across Britain every year (not all these waterways are shown on the timeline map). Almost all the major cities and towns had a canal, from London to Lancaster and from Wales to the Wash. The number of miles for the waterways on our timeline was over 2900 miles by 1850.

Many believe that it was the railways that killed off freight on the canals, and it is true that the railways acquired many canal companies for reasons of self-interest.  Freight carrying, however, continued on the narrow canals until after the Second World War and it was competition from the new motorways and the terrible winter of 1962/63 that effectively killed off most freight on the waterways.

Waterways declined in this period and by the late 1960s the network had shrunk to 2,775 miles from a peak of over 5,000 in its heyday.  Many canals were abandoned, filled in, or severed by new motorways. Mileage for the waterways on our map: Between 1803 and 1983 over 1500 miles of canals were closed.

Passionate enthusiasts such as Tom Rolt and Robert Aickman began to highlight the threat to the waterways and the need to secure a future for them.  Together with other stalwarts, they founded The Inland Waterways Association in 1946 and it is thanks to the efforts of people like these that we have a waterway network of such value today.  Their involvement helped to save a priceless national treasure. Today nearly 450 miles of canal have been fully restored.

The Canal & River Trust are entrusted to care for over 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales. However miles and miles of derelict waterways remain and Volunteer Trust and Society groups are working hard to bring these waterways back to life.

Why not explore our lost waterways and get in touch with local groups through our  map