The Erewash Canal in context

Packed with over 350 original contemporary photographs, "The Erewash Canal in context" sets out to show how this small canal fitted in to the national network, with particular reference to those waterways that were directly connected. Its strategic importance is confirmed by the fact that it was bought by the Grand Union Canal Company in the mid-20th Century and later nationalised by the government.

There is significant coverage of the Erewash, Cromford, Nottingham, Nutbrook, Derby and Trent and Mersey Canals and the River Trent, including current restoration projects. The River Soar, the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal and the Bridgewater Canal also get honourable mentions. In addition, the book also deals with some general information concerning canals, such as how tolls were charged and tunnels dug, the impact of mining subsidence, horses and horsepower, the counterbalance principle and how it applies to boat lifts and inclined planes and the role played by James Brindley in the development of the canal network. The stunning Bennerley Viaduct, part of the transport infrastructure of the Erewash Valley and now open to the public, gets its own appendix.

Other books in the UK Canals series are, 1: The Kennet and Avon Canal in pictures, 2: Wildlife of the Kennet and Avon Canal, 3: Weird and wonderful canal photographs. The author has also produced the Pandemic diary series, featuring many photographs taken along the local stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal, as well as in and around Newbury. This includes Pandemic diary: Newbury in a time of crisis and Pandemic diary 2: Newbury emerges from lockdown. The author has also written Living in a digital world: Demystifying technology.

For more details on books by Mark C Baker, see educationvision.co.uk/books.html