Canal Life

Navvies were the men who built the canals. They were not desirable people to rent to as they had a reputation for drinking, rowdiness, and thievery. So often they lived in huts near their work site.

Here are some photos of the beautiful ways the boats were decorated.

Also shown is a canal ice breaker, which was drawn by a large team of horses and rocked by as many as 20 men to break the ice.Read more