Virtual Waterways Archive Catalogue  
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Features

A closer look at some of the people, places and events from the archives
Photograph of men working on the Caledonian Canal, undated. Ref. CC2. Courtesy of the Highland Council Archives
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Research and investigation

Through use of the waterways-related archive material held at the 15 repositories, researchers are able to trace the planned, as built or altered routes of most waterways that have ever existed in England, Scotland and Wales. They can also trace the fortunes, or otherwise, of the navigation companies that initiated and owned the waterways.

The records in the collections can be used for many different purposes including:

  • Family, house and local history
  • Research into the UK's social and economic history
  • Vessel history and restoration
  • Industrial and other archaeological projects
  • The history of Britain's waterway and transport networks
  • Environmental and conservation issues
  • Current engineering and maintenance works by British Waterways

The feature pages of this website will include sections covering each of these purposes. Each section will give explanations about the sort of material that can contain useful information and what you can discover from it. Useful search tips and links will also be included.

Researching the history of canals using minute books. 		Researching the history of canals using minute books.

A brief look at minute books held at British Waterways’ archives and how they can be useful for researching the history of Britain’s waterways.
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Researching Vessel History using The Waterways Archive 		Researching Vessel History using The Waterways Archive

How The Waterways Archives can assist vessel history research
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Using the British Waterways Archive to research the history of Britain's Waterway and Transport Networks 		Using the British Waterways Archive to research the history of Britain's Waterway and Transport Networks

The British Waterways Archive contains documents spanning the history of the canal and inland waterway network and is the largest collection of related documentation in the UK. The Virtual Waterways online catalogue is designed to help the searcher access these records and see what we hold in the archive. Whether you are researching the origins of the first purpose built canals, the impact of railways or are simply interested in a certain canal, searching the online catalogue should form a fundamental basis of your research. Using it will give you the opportunity to access primary source documents written by people at the time. Our documents not only chart the rise of canals but the impact they had on other types of transport such as roads and railways, giving an insight into British transport history in more depth.
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Researching the UK's Economic and Social History using the British Waterways Archive 		Researching the UK's Economic and Social History using the British Waterways Archive

The UK's canal system grew at the heart of the Industrial Revolution and British Empire in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Waterways became arteries to industry, transporting raw materials such as coal to various industrial centres and delivering manufactured products such as cloth to all corners of the UK and beyond. The canals themselves were established by increasingly wealthy merchants and other middle and upper class gentlemen willing to expand on their entrepreneurial assets. Therefore a study of canals can give a broad insight into the UK's economic and social history. The British Waterways Archive and Virtual Waterways online catalogue can provide a vast array of material related to economic and social history with many local and personal stories that add depth and context to this type of research.
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Researching Local History using the British Waterways Archive 		Researching Local History using the British Waterways Archive

How the British Waterways Archive can aid you in local history research
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Researching family history using British Waterways' archives 		Researching family history using British Waterways' archives

How British Waterways' archives can help you build on a family history
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Researching the history of your home using the British Waterways Archive 		Researching the history of your home using the British Waterways Archive

How British Waterways' archives can help you to find out about the history of your house or property
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