The History of the English Canals
Originally created for moving goods (coal and pottery) otherwise moved on rivers, where the rivers didn't go.
Superceeded by the railroads in the late 1800's.
Discovery by the vacationing public and ongoing recovery. There are now over
2000 miles of navigatable canals.
Links to other historys of the canals.
The Canal Junction has their brief history at http://www.canaljunction.com/history.htm
Mike Steven's UK Inland Waterways Pages provides an interesting set of maps detailing the
growth and decay and regrowth of canals over the years.
British Express has another nice brief history of the canals at http://www.britainexpress.com/History/canals_and_waterways.htm