Researching Local History using the British Waterways Archive

The British Waterways Archive and Virtual Waterways online catalogue are a fantastic resource for the local historian. Local landscapes have changed beyond recognition over the past 250 years both in physical attributes and function. Our records can help chart these transformations with the development and commercialisation of canals and inland waterways. We hold a wide variety of documents that can be used to map the changing history of your local area from plans and photographs showing geographical alterations to deeds and agreements detailing who was utilising the land and for what purpose. Perhaps your street is built on land where a canal once flowed or your ancestors worked in local industry. Either way the British Waterways Archive and Virtual Waterways online catalogue are an invaluable source of information.

How to start your search

The endless subject of 'local history' may be too large and vague a subject area to tackle. It is more effective to concentrate on a specific area of interest, such as the development of local industries or land use over the centuries. You may wish to research a specific area of waterway or have ancestral links to the area around it. Our vast archive of information relating to inland waterways and the areas around them means your search may not be directly linked to a specific waterway. Gathering some preliminary information will help you to focus your search and clarify exactly what you are looking for. There may be established local history groups in your area who could help you or alternatively you could visit your County Archive.

Searching the online catalogue

The Virtual Waterways online catalogue should be used as a point of reference for the British Waterways Archive. The catalogue is a database of the documents held by the archive, detailing the reference number of the document and key information. It will be more beneficial to search the catalogue in broader terms rather than key in specific details. If the catalogue holds documents that may be of interest you can arrange a visit to the British Waterways Archive to consult the documents face to face! The online catalogue is designed to be a simple and accessible resource for researchers of all levels of interest.

Documents held at the British Waterways Archive that will be of most use to the local historian include the following:

Maps and Plans

Land use before the building of a canal varies greatly from present day use so maps may be of the greatest use to the local historian as they show at a glance how the local landscape has changed. Information about the expansion of an urban area or the businesses and industries that grew in your local area can be gleaned from maps and plans. Maps showing a proposed canal can be interesting as they may detail several proposed courses the canal could take.

Agreements

These can include tenancy agreements, sale of land agreements and water usage agreements. Tenancy agreements show who utilised local land and buildings whilst sale of land agreements show who profited from the expansion of commercial waterways. Water usage agreements help to show how local industries adapted and worked with their local waterways. The terms and conditions that both parties named in an agreement adhere to are also detailed.

Acts of Parliament

The archive holds a number of original Acts that legitimise the building of new canals and waterways. These often detail the location of the canal and where it will run from and to, the people authorized to carry out the work, their powers, plots of land the canal company intended to buy in order to build a new waterway, commissioners, their role and legality, and rates and tenders associated with the waterway. The canal builders and commissioners were often upstanding members of the district.

Surveys

Surveys tell us about an area at a given time. By looking at several surveys covering several years the changes in land use can be seen. Engineering surveys show the condition of a canal or what was physically there. Other surveys show who owned the land and who was responsible for it. Surveys are a helpful way to chart changes in the landscape for the local historian.

Other Documents

Depending on your research field, any type of document we hold may be of interest to you. Items such as correspondence, traffic records, gauge books, day books, rental records, wage records for canal workers or boat inspection records may be of relevance.

Photographs

The British Waterways Archive holds approximately 20,000 photographs. These are currently not available as part of the online catalogue but if you feel they would be of benefit to your enquiry please contact us for more details.

Further Information
Further information on local history research can be found at the following websites:
BBC online - www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/local_history
Advice and tips for getting started in local history research.
The National Archives - www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/localhistory
British Association for Local History - www.balh.co.uk

It would also be beneficial to get in touch with your local history society.