Researching the UK's Economic and Social History using the British Waterways Archive

Why are waterways beneficial to the study of economic and social history?

The growth of canals charts the growth of the industrial and consumer revolutions in Britain. Canals fuelled the two by transporting both industrial and commercial goods around the country. The transportation of fresh food helped aid the population boom that occurred in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and provided a faster means of transport than the decrepit road network. The improved physical mobility of goods coupled with the growth of industry led to the development of regional towns such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, each incorporating major canals such as the Grand Union, Leeds and Liverpool and Manchester Ship Canal. The establishment of canal companies and the type of shareholders who invested in them give us an insight into society at the time whilst generations of the same family often worked on the same canal for many decades. The growth of railways in the 1840s is seen as the main reason of decline in the number and use of canals, and the archive holds records showing how railway companies often bought out canal companies in order to let a canal degenerate in favour of railway transport. The nationalisation of the transport network in the 1940s also provides interesting records of the UK's economic and social history. Canal land was often sold off to generate income whilst other sections of canal were closed as they were no longer navigable and the cost of restoration was too great. Those sections of canal that were retained often saw their use change from industry to leisure with the growth of pleasure craft and the use of waterways for holidays and tourism.

How to start your search

In order to conduct more fulfilling and focused research it is beneficial to concentrate on a certain subject within British economic and social history, such as the growth in the use of commodities like tea and coffee, or the economic impact of canals in your local area. The online catalogue and archive can also be beneficial to researchers investigating family and house history, which are explained in separate features on this site. Having chosen an area of research you should gather any information you already have in order to begin your investigation.

Searching the online catalogue

The Virtual Waterways online catalogue should be used as a point of reference for the British Waterways Archive. The catalogue lists what the document is and gives a brief description of its scope and content, as well as date ranges and size. It will always be more beneficial to search the catalogue in broader terms rather than search for specific details. If you find items that may benefit your research then please contact the British Waterways Archive to arrange a visit.

Documents held at the British Waterways Archive that will be of the most use to people researching economic and social history include the following:

Minute books

These show the minutes for various canal company meetings. They list who was involved in the establishment and running of the canals, major decisions to be taken in conjunction with accounts and spending. They often include the name of the public house in which the meetings took place!

Accounts ledgers

Accounts ledgers could belong to the canal company or the British Transport Commission after nationalisation. These show how much money was being spent on a canal with the date and location or area of expenditure. The prosperity or failures of a canal can be read from these records. They may also include the name of the person in charge of finance or an accountant.

Wage and employee records

Employee records include the name of the employee, date of birth and age, job title and description, length of service and reason for leaving if applicable. These show the many types of employment associated with canals and how difficult career progression was. Wage records show how much employees were paid depending on their type of job.

Traffic records

Traffic records are a good source of information when researching the type of cargo carried on a canal. They often record the boat name, skipper, date, type of cargo, weight, length of journey and where the cargo is coming from and going to.

Other records

Depending on your research field, any type of document may be of interest to you. Items such as correspondence, gauge books, agreements, Acts of Parliament, surveys, maps and plans and share records could all be useful.

Further information

Further information on British Economic and Social history can be found at the following websites:

www.bbc.co.uk/history

www.cottontimes.co.uk

www.canaljunction.com

Alternatively visit your library for books giving an overview of the industrial revolution.