Canal heritage
The Canal & River Trust is known for keeping people, nature and history connected. The heritage structures which can be found all along our network of canals and rivers are part of their enduring appeal for so many boaters, walkers and waterway visitors.
With almost 3,000 designated examples of industrial heritage and engineering feats nationwide, the Canal & River Trust are keen to encourage even greater numbers of people to visit their local waterways and discover the historic significance of our canal architecture.
Read about the ancient structures you can find on or near the waterways, and learn about the importance of lime mortar, in our heritage guide.
In This Section »
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Canal bridges
Man-made canals have only existed for a couple of hundred years, but the challenge of crossing rivers has been around for much longer. Some river bridges date back to the mediaeval period, like King John’s Bridge over the Avon at Tewkesbury. -
Canal cottages
In the hey day of the canals, when commercial cargo was a common sight up and down the waterway network, a considerable number of workers were required to keep our trunk routes operating efficiently. All of these people needed somewhere to live, and consequently, the lock keeper’s cottage evolved. -
Aqueducts
The idea of a 'canal in the sky' was ridiculed initially both by engineering sceptics and the canal builders themselves. Despite this, dozens of canal aqueducts have survived to become among the most inspiring of our waterway landmarks. -
Canal pubs
It will come as no surprise to learn that the long distance boatmen of old relied heavily on waterside pubs for their relaxation and recreation. -
Tunnels
The construction of tunnels was one of the most difficult tasks facing canal engineers. -
Locks
Feared and revered in equal measure since the early days of canal boating, our most well known lock flights have now become leisure destinations in their own right - and a valued part of British canal heritage. -
Mileposts
Britain’s canals were the life blood of the industrial revolution and a largely commercial machine. It was necessary for boatmen and canal companies to be able to calculate precisely how far boats had journeyed along the waterways as these distances formed the basis of toll charges. -
Industrial buildings
The canals were created to meet the transportation needs of a newly industrialized country, and it follows that this industry continued to develop alongside the new canals. Consequently, industrial buildings such as warehouses and kilns were common features of our 19th century waterways. -
Boat lifts
Stately and imposing, our boat lifts are among our most impressive examples of historic waterway architecture. -
Lime mortar and the canals
Lime mortar was in common use throughout the days of ‘canal mania’ and it can be spotted in numerous examples of canal architecture. It was also used extensively in the construction of the canals themselves - in fact our canal infrastructure is still dependent on lime mortar for its flexibility and permeability.
