Winter 2024 - Issue 76

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The Winter 2024 issue includes the following features. You can purchase this magazine from our online Shop.

You can read the articles in this and all other NarrowBoat issues online by becoming a NarrowBoat subscriber.

Front Cover: Samuel Barlow (Tamworth) Ltd motor boat Kent (built in September 1942 entering service late in October) is shown here on a snowy winter’s day emerging from the relative shelter of a tunnel.

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Working the Waterways

Insights into a Black Country legend

Andy Tidy explores documents relating to late Birmingham boat-operator, Caggy Stevens

View an excerpt.

The Rattlechain Brickworks Breach featured image

Historical Profiles

The Rattlechain Brickworks Breach

Phil Clayton examines the contested causes and aftermath of a breach at Dudley Port in 1899

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A Place in History

East of Etruria

Andy Tidy details the history of the Caldon and Uttoxeter canals 

View an excerpt.

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From the Archives

Tom Rolt Files

Joseph Boughey shares some insights into L.T.C. Rolt’s private papers

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Rainbow Bridge featured image

Picturing the Past

Rainbow Bridge

Chris M. Jones looks at two views of the same location, showing traffic on the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation

View an excerpt.

Carrying on the Coventry featured image

Time and Place

Carrying on the Coventry

Chris M. Jones views several images of boats working on the Coventry Canal

View an excerpt.

Latter days on the L & L featured image

Last Traffic

Latter days on the L & L

A selection of colour images from the Jack Parkinson Collection capture the last regular coal traffic on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

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Derby's Deadly Canal Lock featured image

Time and Place

Derby's Deadly Canal Lock

Bobby Cowling explores the history of a particularly hazardous part of the lost Derby Canal

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On the Giants' Seat featured image

Picturing the Past

On the Giants' Seat

Chris M. Jones looks into the history of a little-known carrier from Manchester

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Somersetshire Coal Canal featured image

Historical Canal Maps

Somersetshire Coal Canal

Richard Dean examines an early plan of this long-lost waterway

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Historical Profiles

Early Barlow Boats

Chris M. Jones looks at a series of images showing some of the first Barlow boats

This is our free-access sample article from the Winter 2024 NarrowBoat

View an excerpt.