Autumn 2026 - Issue 83

The Autumn 2026 issue includes the following features. You can purchase this magazine from our online Shop.

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Front Cover: The River Severn was one of the country’s most important traffic routes. This typical Severn Longboat, shows the extra freeboard for working on running water and strong timber-heads fitted for towing behind a steam tug. These boats had relatively small cabins and four beams – one for the mast and three stands – giving extra cargo room in the hold compared with the the typical Midlands canal boat.

Historical Profiles

The Cuckoo Dyke

Andy Tidy discovers why the Chesterfield Canal remains one of Britain’s most overlooked waterways

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Picturing the Past

Traffic through Thames Lock

Chris M. Jones looks at a series of images relating to traffic between the Port of London and the River Wey Navigation

This is our free-access sample article from the Autumn 2026 NarrowBoat

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Canals That Never Were

London to Birmingham

Richard Dean details unfulfilled hopes for a better waterway connection between England’s two principal cities

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Historical Profiles

Narrowboats of the North Midlands

Chris M. Jones studies a series of images showing craft at work, mainly in Cheshire and Staffordshire, and the various cargoes involved

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A Place in History

The Unbreakable Bridge

Bobby Cowling uncovers the remarkable story of the Derby Canal bridge that refused to collapse

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Picturing the Past

A Llifetime at Farmers Bridge

Andy Tidy provides a then-and-now perspective of one of Birmingham’s most recognisable waterway landmarks

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From the Archives

Charles Hadfield’s History 


Joseph Boughey reflects on the remarkable legacy of Charles Hadfield, whose pioneering work transformed the study of Britain’s inland waterways

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A Broader Outlook

Passing Bulholme Lock

Chris M. Jones examines Jack Parkinson photos of a loaded compartment-boat train on the Aire & Calder in 1964

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Picturing the Past

West Yorkshire Mystery

Chris M. Jones investigates a photograph of an Upper Trent boat far from home waters

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Last Traffic

Last Loads to Doncaster

John Tarry looks back on the final years of Waddingtons’ coal traffic to Doncaster Power Station on the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation 

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