The Golden Age Of Canals [DVD]

Description

Take a journey through the history of Britain s canal system. This is the story of the history of Britain s narrow canals told through some fantastic amateur film archive and home movies shot by the people who took the trouble to restore the network from the 1950s. Of course there are lovely films of boating trips, Stan Offley an IWA activist from Ellesmere Port filmed his trips around the wide canals in the 40s, 50s and 60s in fantastic 16mm colour. But equally charming is the film made by Ed Frangleton with a little help from Harry Arnold of a hostel boat holiday on the Llangollen in 1961, whereas Ed puts it ironically, I married the cook . There is astonishing film of the last days of working boats some shot by John Pyper when he spent time with the Beechey s in the 60s and film taken by Keith Christie of the last days of the cut around the BNC. Then there are the films of key restorations, the Stourbridge 16 talked about with great wit and affection by one of the leading activists in that watershed of restorations in the mid sixties, David Tomlinson, and John Maynard s beautiful films of the restoration of the Huddersfield, the impossible restoration shot over two decades. All these and more are in the programme alongside the people who made the films and some of the stars of them. Together they tell the story of how in the years after 1945 a few people fought the Government to keep canals open and restore ones that had become defunct, and against all odds won their battle. Review: A great insight into the social history of the canals - I found this very interesting especially the films on the restoration of certain canal sections which seemed an almost impossible task but they managed to pull through after years of sheer hard work ,determination and persistence. It was great to see the old films of the restorations and battle to keep the canals open against the Goverment and other bodies and for the countless thousands who holiday and live on the canals in the U.K and take great pleasure in doing so (my son included) It was well worth the money and would certainly recommend this DVD to anybody interested in social history not forgetting the people who worked and made a living from the use of the canals. Review: THE GOLDEN AGE OF CANALS - I just loved the dvd from start to finish. I recognised so many of the canals, and places which were visited in the films. I have always said that the canal system in Great Britain is the biggest National park in the country, as there is something for everyone on the system.You can walk for miles on the tow-paths,or boat if can afford it. It thanks to many people in the restoration game that we are able to do so.