The birth of the inland waterways network over 200 years ago changed the face of the countryside forever. Canals were the heavy goods routes of pre-railway Britain. In this book Nigel Crowe recaptures the atmosphere of this momentous transport revolution, which can be seen today in the surviving 2000 miles of canals (now managed by British Waterways). Part of the English Heritage series in which leading archaeologists and historians bring the past to life by recreating the bustling world of entrepreneurs and engineers from the physical remains. Includes details on the boating communities and their painted craft and draws on a recent British Waterways and English Heritage architecture survey.