On the Boats – Recollections of Early 1930s Canal Journeys

On the Boats – Les Mason’s heart warming recollections of early 1930s horse-drawn canal journeys.

Friends of Cromford Canal are delighted to have been given permission to publish the recollections of Les Mason about the journeys he made on the horse-drawn narrow boats carrying coal from Hartshay to Cromford in the early 1930s, the last decade of their operation. The boats operated a regular twice weekly service with two loaded boats being pulled by a single horse. Most boats went to Cromford Whart but some went down the Nightingale, or Lea, arm to unload at the wharf at the end.

In On the Boats, Les also recalls the locomotives that shunted wagons at Hartshay Colliery and much about the local village when pubs, collieries and canal were all still working.

The story is fully illustrated with maps and images of the boats and of the canal as it was over 80 years ago.

The book costs just £5 (£6 inc p&p) and you can order it here.