Canal Recollections

During the Industrial Revolution in Britain, industrialists and engineers faced the challenge of transporting large amounts of raw materials and goods. The existing road system was outdated and the steam engine and railways were not yet available. To solve this problem, the Canal Age emerged as a reliable long-distance transport system. By the end of the 18th century, England was gripped by Canal Mania, leading to the construction of hundreds of miles of waterways by great canal engineers such as Thomas Telford, John Rennie, and William Jessop. Some of the major engineering features during this time pushed the limits of known technology. However, the canal companies flourished for only a few years before being overshadowed by the arrival of railways.