The engineering and architectural history of our former water trade routes is here fully described together with features on every aspect of rivers and canals: the boats, countryside, locks, pleasure craft facilities, wildlife, people and unique variety of canal and river structures that combine to make our 4,000 miles of inland waterways a valuable national heritage. Even the squalid industrial scene in urban areas is greatly enhanced by the prospect of slowly moving boats on still waters and a growing awareness of the landscape potential of canals in towns has encouraged many local authorities to improve their surroundings. Few major centres of population are far away from an attractive stretch of navigable waterway. The author vividly conveys an appreciation of the subject, whether describing the sutble lines of an ancient bridge or the purposeful activities of trading vessels. It is fully illustrated by numerous photographs and line drawings together with maps of the whole system, ranging from Southern England to Scotland, Wales and the whole of Ireland. A detailed gazetter section covers all routes open to boats, with some mention of certain derelict navigations whose remains continue to provide absorbing study for the industrial archaeologist...