Narrow Boat (book) facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | L. T. C. Rolt |
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| Illustrator | Denys Watkins-Pitchford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Publisher | Eyre & Spottiswoode |
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Publication date
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1944 |
| Pages | 212 |
| ISBN | 978-0752451091 |
Narrow Boat is a famous book written by L. T. C. Rolt. It was first published in 1944 and is still popular today. The book tells the story of a four-month adventure Rolt had with his wife, Angela. They traveled on the English canals right when World War II was starting. This book helped many people become interested in England's canals again. It even led to the creation of the Inland Waterways Association. This group worked hard to save and restore the canals for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
About the Book: Narrow Boat
The book Narrow Boat is divided into three main parts. It shares the exciting journey of L. T. C. Rolt and his wife, Angela. They explored the beautiful and historic canal system of England.
The Amazing Journey Begins
The first part of the book introduces readers to the English canal system. Rolt explains that many people at the time knew little about canals. He hoped his book would change that. He describes how he got his wooden narrowboat named Cressy ready for living on. This happened at Tooley's Boatyard in Banbury.
Rolt paid special attention to decorating Cressy. He used traditional narrowboat designs called Roses and Castles. These are colorful, folk-art paintings. He also added a small bath, which was very unusual for a narrowboat back then.
Exploring England's Canals
In the second part, the adventure truly begins. In July 1939, Tom and Angela set off on the Oxford Canal. They entered a whole new world. They saw unique canal pubs and met interesting boat captains. These captains often wore gold rings in their ears.
They traveled along the Grand Union Canal to Market Harborough. Then they went north through Leicester to the Trent and Shardlow. Rolt describes a lively scene in the Canal Tavern there. It was full of interesting characters.
Their journey continued up the busy Trent and Mersey Canal. They passed through the Potteries, an area known for making pottery. After this industrial area, they reached the peaceful countryside of Church Minshull. Here, they enjoyed the quiet English landscape.
The Journey Continues South
The third part of the book starts with a challenge. Because of the war, petrol was scarce. Rolt had to change his boat's engine to run on paraffin. This allowed them to continue their journey.
They began heading south. They saw a horse fair at Market Drayton, a busy market town. After reaching Autherley Junction, they turned back onto the Coventry Canal. Their goal was to travel the entire length of the Oxford Canal. This route helped them avoid the many locks and industrial areas around Birmingham. The voyage finally ended as they neared the city of Oxford.
