160 miles of Birmingham Canals, 60 of them lost through time (well, in the last 50 years!), 250 years of history. A lot to talk about. Or write about. This is a collection of resources (books, maps, and videos) about anything BCN.
We are not an online shop. All the “Order directly” links point to our friends from the Canal Bookshop at Audlem Mill, and are provided for your convenience. Of course most of the books are available at other sources as well.
The list is by no means complete. If we missed anything, please let us know, via the comment form below!
Cover of the book “Birmingham Canal Navigations – A Cruising and Walking Guide”
Birmingham Canal Navigations
The legendary “Blue Book”, published by the IWA 1984, NOW ONLINE
A book from another time, published by the “Waterways Sub Committee, Birmingham Branch, I.W.A.”, with beautiful and highly detailed graphics and text of the BCN. The book is black and white only, hand-colouring the canals can make a huge improvement. It’s also a nice way to find out more about missing branches.
Tim Lewis has provided us with a hand-coloured, canned copy of the Blue Book, and IWA has kindly agreed to using it on this website.
The Blue Book can now be viewed online, or downloaded as a PDF document.
Book cover: Birmingham’s First Canal
Birmingham’s First Canal
A brand new book (published May 2022) by Dr Ron Dawson.
The development of Birmingham into a major modern industrial city can be said to have begun in 1772 with the opening of its first canal. At that time Birmingham was a small and largely rural town with a growing manufacturing base. The growth of manufacturing within the town, however, was severely constrained by the lack of a cheap, reliable and efficient means of transport for the goods it produced. These difficulties were largely overcome by the building of the canal, in that it provided a cheap and efficient means of transport to convey the town’s manufactured goods to markets beyond its boundaries. The why, when and how this first canal came to be built is explored in this detailed and highly referenced account. It tells the fascinating story of how a small group of innovative, determined and ambitious entrepreneurs joined together to plan and secure its construction, and thereby also secure the City’s future progress and prosperity.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
Book cover: BCN Canal Navigations – A History
Birmingham Canal Navigations – A History
A brand new (published April 2022) by BCN expert Phil Clayton.
With 140 illustrations, including maps and archive photographs, this book includes: the beginnings and expansion of the network; subsequent improvements to the system; supplying the water; the people who worked the BCN; trials and tribulations, including inclement weather, subsidence, breaches, wartime and accidents; the impact and influence of the railways, and finally its decline and subsequent transition into a New Canal Age
Cover of “A-Z of the Birmingham Canal Navigations” by Edward Paget-Tomlinson
A-Z of the Birmingham Canal Navigations
by Edward Paget-Tomlinson and Ray Shill, ISBN 978-0-9574037-8-9, published for BCNS by CanalBookShop, 2016
26 drawings of aspects of the BCN over the years, with detailed historical notes, and many old and recent photos.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of the book “The Birmingham Canal Navigations, Volume 1, 1768-1846” by S.R. Broadbridge
The Birmingham Canal Navigations, Volume 1, 1768-1846
by S.R. BroadBridge, ISBN 0-7153-6381-6, published by David & Charles in 1974
A highly detailed history of the first 78 years of the BCN. Unfortunately, volume 1 was the only only one ever published, there has never been a volume 2.
The book is, since many years, out of print, but you might find a used copy online.
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Cover of the book “Black Country Canals” by Paul Collins
Black Country Canals
by Paul Collins, ISBN 978-0-7509-2031-5, published by The History Press in 2011
Lots of information and black-and-white photos, many not published elsewhere. Dr Collins is a transport historian and author living in the Black Country. Recommended!
Might be found on eBay or Amazon
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Cover of the book “Birmingham Canals” by Ray Shill
Birmingham Canals
by Ray Shill, ISBN 978-0-7524-8856-1, published by The History Press in 2013
Lots of fascinating black-and-white photos of the BCN history, with detailed information by author and industrial historian Ray Shill.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of the book “The Birmingham Canal Navigation through time” by R.H. Davies
The Birmingham Canal Navigations Through Time
by R.H. Davies, ISBN 978-1-4456-0225-7, published by Amberley Publishing Plc in 2010
The book contains a large number of colour- and black-and white photos of the BCN along the main line through Tipton and Oldbury, exploring the Dudley and Stourbridge canals, and Walsall and Wolverhampton. The main focus of the book is on the photos, but the text is detailed and informative as well.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of the book “The Industrial Canal, Volume 1, The Coal Trade”
The Industrial Canal, Vol 1, The Coal Trade
by Ray Shill, ISBN 0-095-1775-5-3, published by Heartland Press in 1996
For anyone interested in the industrial and commercial past of the canals, this book contains a wealth of information. with detailed information from author and industrial historian Ray Shill.
The book seems to be out of print, but you might find a used copy online.
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Cover of the book “The Industrial Canal, Volume 2, The Railway Interchange Trade”
The Industrial Canal, Vol 2, The Railway Interchange Trade
by Ray Shill, ISBN 0-0951-7775-6-1, published by Heartland Press in 1997
For anyone interested in the the latter stages of the commercial life of the the canals, when the railway interchange trade kept them alive, this book contains a wealth of information. with detailed information from author and industrial historian Ray Shill.
The book seems to be out of print, but you might find a used copy online.
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Cover of the book “Silent Highways – The Forgotten Heritage of the Midland Canals” by Ray Shill
Silent Highways – The Forgotten History of the Midlands Canals
by Ray Shill, ISBN 978-0-7524-5842-7, published by The History Press in 2011
Another fascinating book by author and industrial historian Ray Shill, covering the BCN in the context of the canals in the surrounding areas.
The book seems to be out of print, but you might find a used copy online.
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Cover of the book “Birmingham and the Black Country’s Canalside Industries” by Ray Shill
Birmingham and the Black Country’s Canalside Industries
by Ray Shill, ISBN 978-0-7524-3262-5, published by The History Press in 2005/2016
A very detailed history of the BCN and the industries it served, by author and industrial historian Ray Shill.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of book “The Other Sixty Miles – A survey of the abandoned canals of Birmingham and the Black Country” by Richard Chester-Browne
The Other 60 Miles
by Richard Chester-Browne, published by the BCN Society in 1981/1991
A must-have for anyone interested in the past, and the remains of the past of the BCN.
To order your copy, please email bookstall@bcnsociety.com
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Cover of the book “Birmingham Canal Navigations – A Cruising and Walking Guide”
Birmingham Canal Navigations
The legendary “Blue Book”, published by the IWA 1984
A book from another time, published by the “Waterways Sub Committee, Birmingham Branch, I.W.A.”, with beautiful and highly detailed graphics and text of the BCN. The book is black and white only, hand-colouring the canals can make a huge improvement. It’s also a nice way to find out more about missing branches.
The book is out of print, but you might find a used copy online. It’s worth it!
Sample pages from the book “Birmingham Canal Navigations – A Cruising and Walking Guide”
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Canals of Birmingham – historic map by Richard Dean
Canals of Birmingham
by Richard Dean
Single sided Historical Canal Map 2 covers the Birmingham and West Midlands canals at a scale of about 2″ to 1 mile.
An absolute must for anyone interested in the history of the BCN.
The image shows the first edition. The currently available edition is slightly different, with a superimposed road map of the area.
To order your copy, please email bookstall@bcnsociety.com.
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Cover of booklet “Black Country Canals”
Black Country Canals
by David Birt and David McDougall, published by Longman Group in 1984
A slim A4 book full of black and white photos of the BCN.
The book is, unfortunately, out of print, but you might find a used copy online.
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West Midland Canals Through Time
by Ray Shill, ISBN 978-1-4456-1073-3, published by Amberley Publishing in 2012
Illustrations of the complex history of the west midland canal network, via old and recent photos.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of “The Birmingham Canal Navigations 1950 to 1977 as seen through the lens of Philip Weaver”
The Birmingham Canal Navigations 1950-1977
by Philip Weaver, ISBN 978-0-9927321-1-0, published by Historic Narrow Boat Club (HNBC) in 2015
The BCN as seen through the lens of Philip Weaver.
Superb collection of period photographs, assembled by Mike Harrison and Val Roberts for HNBC
The book is, unfortunately, out of print, but you might find a used copy online.
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Cover of “Midlands Canals, a History of the Canal Carriers” by Robert Davies
Midlands Canals, A History of the Canal Carriers
by Robert Davies, ISBN 978-0752439105, published by The History Press in 2013
The men, women and children of all ages who lived and worked on the inland waterways experienced a spartan existence.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of “Tales from the West Midlands Canals” by R.H. Davies
Tales from the West Midland Canals
by R H Davies, ISBN 978-0-7524-5500-6, published by The History Press in 2010
The experiences and voices of the people who lived and worked along the canal banks, with some of the colourful local characters.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of “Wyrley & Essington Canal through Time” by Ray Shill
Wyrley and Essington Canal Through Time
by Ray Shill, ISBN 978-1-4456-1063-4, published by Amberley Publishing in 2013
The development of the canal, its fascinating history, and changes over the years, via photographs.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of “Boats, Smoke, Steam and Folk” by Robert Davies
Boats, Smoke, Steam and Folk
by Robert Davies, ISBN 0-7524-1765-7, published by Tempus Publishing in 2001
Exploring the canals of the Midlands, this book will encourage the reader to move from his armchair and into this living piece of history.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of “In search of the lost canals of the black country” by Eric Richardson
In Search of the Lost Canals of the Black Country
by Eric Richardson, ISBN 0 904015 40 8, published by The Black Country Society in 1996
Based on excursions by the author in the 1980s/90s, a period of significant change, with the loss of various canals.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Towpath Tale, The BCN Remembered
by Arthur Truby, ISBN 0 904015 50 5, published by Ratchup Books in 1999
The author’s reminiscences of the BCN, mainly between the wars, with heavy local boat traffic.
The book seems to be out of print, but you might find a used copy online.
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Cover of “The Twilight Years of Narrowboat Carrying”
The Twilight Years of Narrow Boat Carrying
by Mike Webb, ISBN 978-0-9955180-4-9, published by CanalBookShop 2017
Evocative photos, dating mainly from the 1960s, of working boats around Braunston, the Shropshire union, northern Trent & Mersey, and western end of BCN.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of booklet “Birmingham Frame by Frame”
Birmingham Frame by Frame
ISBN 978-1-908695-65-9, published by Trinity Mirror 2013
Rare images from the Birmingham Mail archives, only some canal content, but a fascinating journey through time.
The book seems to be out of print, but you might find a used copy online.
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Cover of “Bradshaw’s Canals and Navigable Rivers of England and Wales”
Bradshaw’s Canals and Navigable Rivers of England and Wales
ISBN 978-1-90840-214-1, re-published by Old House Books and Maps in 2017
Not a book about the BCN, but with quite a few pages about our canals in this classic book.
“The Birmingham Canal Navigations comprise a large system of canals, with numerous branches situated in South Staffordshire, East Warwickshire, and North Warwickshire, having a total mileage of 159 miles....
The system is a very complicated one, owing to the many improvements and fresh canals which have been added to it from time to time“.
Order directly from the Canal Bookshop
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Cover of “The Canal Age” by Charles Hadfield
The Canal Age
by Charles Hadfield, ISBN 0 7153 8079 6, published 1968, 1969, and 1989 by David & Charles
Another classic book about the Canal Age, with a longer section about the BCN.
The book seems to be out of print, but you might find a used copy online.
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Cover of the DVD “The Flower of Gloster”
The Flower of Gloster (DVD)
All the parts of the Granada TV series from 1967, their first series produced in colour! It tells the story of a group of youngsters, and their adventures taking a 72″ narrowboat from Llangollen to London, with a long part covering the BCN 50 years ago. It’s children’s TV, but beautifully made, 5 1/2 hours of a journey in time.
VERY highly recommended. Should you know where the BCN scenes have been filmed, please let us know via the comment form below!
Might be found on eBay or Amazon
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Cover of “Ta-ra-a-Bit, Our Kid”Trooping the Colour 2015 – Official Programme
Ta-ra-a-Bit, Our Kid
by Stephen Burrows & Michael Layton, ISBN 981-1980328445, published by Bostin Books 2018
“A little book of language used by Brummies”. Really not about canals, but fun to read, and perhaps useful for non-Brummies visiting the BCN area!
Available online.