Derek Pratt – författare

Our appreciation of the network of canals through Britain is greatly enhanced by the structures that dot their course bridges, locks, tunnels, aqueducts, cottages, pubs and workshops. This book looks at the variety of structures that made the canals work in their commercial heyday.

Competition from rail and later road forced many canals into closure, and a large section of the old system seemed doomed to crumble away into terminal decay. Then came a new industry: the canal leisure industry, and with it the birth of the restoration movement. This final volume in the Anatomy of Canals series looks at what has been achieved and how the new compares with the old. Cities such as Brimingham have now been won over and have made the old canals part of a lively rejuvenation programme, while a new generation of engineers has produced such marvels as the Falkirk Wheel.

Discover the beauty and delights of London''s waterways, on foot or by boat, with Derek Pratt and Richard Mayon-White''s fascinating and thorough guide.To really explore London''s canals is to see the city in a way you''ve never seen it before. A different world, away from the hustle-bustle of overladen streets and towering skyscrapers, the waterways offer a unique paradise, full of wildlife, brightly coloured narrowboats, lush greenery and an environment steeped in history. Discovering London''s Canals will open your eyes to this world and show you all it has to offer, walking with you along the vast stretches of each canal, pointing out the many sights to see and enjoy, pubs to quench your thirst in and history to marvel at. Enjoy whole days out with family and friends, or just an hour or two, choosing a stretch of canal and discovering so many sights and attractions either on or within a short walk from the water''s edge. With information boxes, travel directions, clear maps and beautiful photography, along with insightful travel writing from the kings of the waterways, Derek Pratt and Richard Mayon-White, Discovering London''s Canals is the perfect guide for anyone who loves walking, wildlife and the waterways of the great city of London. The book covers more than 60 miles of waterways in London, easy to get to and walkable for just an hour, an afternoon or a whole day, and each route is great for walking, running or cycling, with many traversable at any time of year. Go out there and see for yourself – there is a wonderful network of waterways just waiting to be explored in parts of London you hardly knew existed.

Discover the beauty and delights of London''s waterways, on foot or by boat, with Derek Pratt and Richard Mayon-White''s fascinating and thorough guide.To really explore London''s canals is to see the city in a way you''ve never seen it before. A different world, away from the hustle-bustle of overladen streets and towering skyscrapers, the waterways offer a unique paradise, full of wildlife, brightly coloured narrowboats, lush greenery and an environment steeped in history. Discovering London''s Canals will open your eyes to this world and show you all it has to offer, walking with you along the vast stretches of each canal, pointing out the many sights to see and enjoy, pubs to quench your thirst in and history to marvel at. Enjoy whole days out with family and friends, or just an hour or two, choosing a stretch of canal and discovering so many sights and attractions either on or within a short walk from the water''s edge. With information boxes, travel directions, clear maps and beautiful photography, along with insightful travel writing from the kings of the waterways, Derek Pratt and Richard Mayon-White, Discovering London''s Canals is the perfect guide for anyone who loves walking, wildlife and the waterways of the great city of London. The book covers more than 60 miles of waterways in London, easy to get to and walkable for just an hour, an afternoon or a whole day, and each route is great for walking, running or cycling, with many traversable at any time of year. Go out there and see for yourself – there is a wonderful network of waterways just waiting to be explored in parts of London you hardly knew existed.

Discover the beauty and delights of London's waterways, on foot or by boat, with Derek Pratt and Richard Mayon-White's fascinating and thorough guide.To really explore London’s canals is to see the city in a way you’ve never seen it before. A different world, away from the hustle-bustle of overladen streets and towering skyscrapers, the waterways offer a unique paradise, full of wildlife, brightly coloured narrowboats, lush greenery and an environment steeped in history. Discovering London’s Canals will open your eyes to this world and show you all it has to offer, walking with you along the vast stretches of each canal, pointing out the many sights to see and enjoy, pubs to quench your thirst in and history to marvel at. Enjoy whole days out with family and friends, or just an hour or two, choosing a stretch of canal and discovering so many sights and attractions either on or within a short walk from the water’s edge. With information boxes, travel directions, clear maps and beautiful photography, along with insightful travel writing from the kings of the waterways, Derek Pratt and Richard Mayon-White, Discovering London’s Canals is the perfect guide for anyone who loves walking, wildlife and the waterways of the great city of London. The book covers more than 60 miles of waterways in London, easy to get to and walkable for just an hour, an afternoon or a whole day, and each route is great for walking, running or cycling, with many traversable at any time of year. Go out there and see for yourself – there is a wonderful network of waterways just waiting to be explored in parts of London you hardly knew existed.

London boasts not only one of the most famous and awe-inspiring rivers of the world, but is also home to beautiful and majestic canals such as the Grand Union and Regents Canal - ever popular with tourists and increasingly sought-after by waterside residents. Tucked away in the city are also lesser-known (and in some cases completely hidden) waterways, which this book magically opens up for the reader. Rivers flow through shopping centres and across tube platforms as well as creating surprisingly rural settings within the capital.This visually stunning and often unexpected look at the iconic landscapes, beautiful scenery and secret places all around London''s waterways is the first book of its kind. By the same author as the popular Waterways Past and Present and The Thames: A Photographic Journey from Source to Sea, this book teems with fabulous photography and fascinating information, giving readers a unique insight into both well-loved and relatively unexplored aspects of London. With its stylish design, beautiful photography and quirky captions, this gorgeous coffee table book is the perfect gift for inland waterways enthusiasts, as well as tourists and Londoners.

Before roads and rail, the industrial hubs of Great Britain were linkedto the ports by a network of manmade waterways. These canals fell intodisuse in the early part of the twentieth century, but in the lastfifty years they have undergone a complete revival. Opened up,developed and transformed, the urban waterways have become attractiveleisure destinations, and waterside properties rank high on estateagents'' ''most sought-after'' lists. For newcomers to a city, walking itswaterways will unlock famous highlights as well as hidden delights. Andthat is just what this book does too.With the lavish colour photography for which he is renowned, Britain''s''biographer photographer'' Derek Pratt explores all the major cities andtowns linked by waterways, bringing to life the canals and theirenvirons with images that are stunning and beautiful. Throughinteresting, informative and typically quirky text, Derek also revealslots of fascinating things most people don''t know about theseindustrial landscapes, whilst also revealing the commercial history ofthe waterways, their subsequent decline and recent revitalisation.Towns and cities covered include: London, Oxford, Bristol, Liverpool,Manchester, Sheffield, Stoke on Trent and the Potteries, Leeds,Gloucester, Reading, Birmingham and the Black Country, Rugby,Worcester, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham and Bath.

The Thames is an extraordinary river: linking London to the countryside and the sea, the Thames is the heart of the capital and its waters the lifeblood of England. Following the river is a voyage through Britain''s history, as its varied path joins landmarks of the past with the urban landscape of the modern world. This stunning photographic journey offers a unique and comprehensive showcase of the Thames we know ... and the Thames we don''t... Derek Pratt''s photography gives readers a unique insight into the river''s many facets, comparing the rural idylls with the urban landscapes, the industrial buildings with the famous views, the royal landmarks with the river used by people all along its course for daily recreation and famous events. London has so often been the beginning and the end of the Thames story, and whilst it forms a major part, this book gives an altogether more complete and unexpected view of one of the most famous, remarkable and well-loved rivers in the world.With a stylish design, beautiful photography and interesting insights, this gorgeous coffee table book will appeal to a wide range of readers. It will be the perfect gift for anyone living near, visiting or enjoying this magnificent river, with its visual variety, hidden secrets and fascinating history.

London boasts not only one of the most famous and awe-inspiring rivers of the world, but is also home to beautiful and majestic canals such as the Grand Union and Regents Canal - ever popular with tourists and increasingly sought-after by waterside residents. Tucked away in the city are also lesser-known (and in some cases completely hidden) waterways, which this book magically opens up for the reader. Rivers flow through shopping centres and across tube platforms as well as creating surprisingly rural settings within the capital.This visually stunning and often unexpected look at the iconic landscapes, beautiful scenery and secret places all around London''s waterways is the first book of its kind. By the same author as the popular Waterways Past and Present and The Thames: A Photographic Journey from Source to Sea, this book teems with fabulous photography and fascinating information, giving readers a unique insight into both well-loved and relatively unexplored aspects of London. With its stylish design, beautiful photography and quirky captions, this gorgeous coffee table book is the perfect gift for inland waterways enthusiasts, as well as tourists and Londoners.

Before roads and rail, the industrial hubs of Great Britain were linked to the ports by a network of manmade waterways. These canals fell into disuse in the early part of the twentieth century, but in the last fifty years they have undergone a complete revival. These newly transformed waterways have become attractive destinations, and for newcomers to a city, walking its waterways will unlock famous highlights as well as hidden delights. And that is just what this book does too.With the lavish colour photography for which he is renowned, Britain''s ''biographer photographer'' Derek Pratt explores all the major cities and towns linked by waterways, bringing to life the canals and their environs with images that are stunning, stylish and beautiful. Through interesting, informative and typically quirky text, Derek also reveals a whole treasure trove of fascinating things most people don''t know about these industrial landscapes, whilst also explaining the commercial history of the waterways, their subsequent decline and recent revitalisation.Towns and cities covered include: London, Oxford, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Stoke on Trent and the Potteries, Leeds, Gloucester, Reading, Birmingham and the Black Country, Rugby, Worcester, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham and Bath.

This is a guide to circling England using its inland waterways, by boat or on foot. Along the way we learn about our industrial heritage, how cities grew and thrived, as well as passing through spectacular landscapes and idyllic countryside. Beginning in leafy Surrey and ending at Bristol Docks via north Yorkshire, this 780-mile journey passes through the industrial landscape of the West Midlands and the stunning Pennine hills, as well as famous cities such as Oxford and Bath, taking you via the first canal in Britain, Hampton Court Palace, Cadbury World, idyllic Shropshire villages and iconic pieces of Victorian engineering.The route is split up into different sections, so readers can either take on the whole circumnavigation or one part of it. Celebrating the restoration of the canals that make this journey possible, the book features (and uses, if you''re travelling by boat) iconic pieces of waterways history such as the Anderton Lift, the Barton Swing Aqueduct, and the 29 locks at Devizes. Each section of the route is illustrated by a map, and features practical information on locks, tunnels and aqueducts, nearby places of interest, good pubs, useful transport links etc. Giving readers a unique way to discover the beauty and variety of England''s waterways, and laying down a new challenge to inland waterways enthusiasts, this is a practical and fascinating guide.

This is a guide to circling England using its inland waterways, by boat or on foot. Along the way we learn about our industrial heritage, how cities grew and thrived, as well as passing through spectacular landscapes and idyllic countryside. Beginning in leafy Surrey and ending at Bristol Docks via north Yorkshire, this 780-mile journey passes through the industrial landscape of the West Midlands and the stunning Pennine hills, as well as famous cities such as Oxford and Bath, taking you via the first canal in Britain, Hampton Court Palace, Cadbury World, idyllic Shropshire villages and iconic pieces of Victorian engineering.The route is split up into different sections, so readers can either take on the whole circumnavigation or one part of it. Celebrating the restoration of the canals that make this journey possible, the book features (and uses, if you''re travelling by boat) iconic pieces of waterways history such as the Anderton Lift, the Barton Swing Aqueduct, and the 29 locks at Devizes. Each section of the route is illustrated by a map, and features practical information on locks, tunnels and aqueducts, nearby places of interest, good pubs, useful transport links etc. Giving readers a unique way to discover the beauty and variety of England''s waterways, and laying down a new challenge to inland waterways enthusiasts, this is a practical and fascinating guide.

A bestseller in hardback, this beautiful celebration of Britain''s rich waterways heritage is now available in paperback and ebook.Through the superb photography of Derek Pratt, this lovely and quirky book looks at 50 transitional years when Britain''s inland waterways changed from being a thriving commercial transport system to the much-loved pleasure cruising network it is today. Each double page spread juxtaposes superb atmospheric black and white photos of the locations as they were 50 years ago with vibrant colour photos showing how they look today, with many new photographs and updated captions for this edition.From quintessentially English rivers to London''s busy canal network, this wonderful book highlights the architectural legacy and natural beauty that attracts thousands of visitors to go boating or walking along the towpaths.

A bestseller in hardback, this beautiful celebration of Britain''s rich waterways heritage is now available in paperback and ebook.Through the superb photography of Derek Pratt, this lovely and quirky book looks at 50 transitional years when Britain''s inland waterways changed from being a thriving commercial transport system to the much-loved pleasure cruising network it is today. Each double page spread juxtaposes superb atmospheric black and white photos of the locations as they were 50 years ago with vibrant colour photos showing how they look today, with many new photographs and updated captions for this edition.From quintessentially English rivers to London''s busy canal network, this wonderful book highlights the architectural legacy and natural beauty that attracts thousands of visitors to go boating or walking along the towpaths.

The Thames is unique, emerging as a small stream in idyllic countryside and growing into the country''s largest river, passing through some of the world''s most iconic urban environments. Linking London to the countryside and the sea, the Thames is the heart of the capital and its waters the lifeblood of England. This beautiful book celebrates the entire river from source to sea, and with wonderful photography and quirky text follows it on a voyage through Britain''s history. London has so often been the beginning and the end of the Thames story, and whilst it forms a major part, this book gives an altogether more complete and unexpected view of one of the most remarkable and well-loved rivers in the world. We see the famous views and also learn lesser-known facts, such as Dick Turpin''s secret hideaway (complete with an underground stable for Black Bess), the home of the notorious Chancellor Sir Francis Dashwood (the only Chancellor to have delivered his budget speech drunk) and the scene of the Monty Python fish-slapping dance. First published in 2007, this gorgeous coffee table book has been updated for its second edition with new text and photography (including the Jubilee pageant), and continues to be the perfect gift for anyone living near, visiting or enjoying this magnificent river, with its visual variety, hidden secrets and fascinating history.

Britain''s Canals is a charming and insightful exploration into the amazing architecture and engineering wonders that surround Britain''s inland waterways – from the awe-inspiring 30-lock flight on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, to the delightful chocolate-box lock-keepers'' cottages that line the cut of every canal, to masterpieces such as the 18-arch Pontcysyllte aqueduct, the highest aqueduct in the world, to beautiful bridges, grand company buildings, the social hubs that were, and still are, canal-side pubs, plus so much more. In contrast to many inland waterways books which are organised geographically by canal, Britain''s Canals is structured thematically, with chapters covering the line (the shape of the canal), locks and lock cottages, bridges, aqueducts, lifts and planes, company buildings, wharves, basins and quays and finally the canal-side pub. Each chapter explores how these features were created and have changed through history, right through to the present, with plenty of ideas for places to visit – plus full information on how to get to them. An abundance of full-colour photography throughout, both historical and modern-day, will delight readers and inspire them to explore Britain''s wondrous inland waterways, whether on boat, by foot or by bike. In Britain''s Canals, two inland waterways experts and admired authors come together to produce the definitive word on the man-made wonders that make Britain''s canals so special, so loved and enjoyed by so many.

Britain''s Canals is a charming and insightful exploration into the amazing architecture and engineering wonders that surround Britain''s inland waterways – from the awe-inspiring 30-lock flight on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, to the delightful chocolate-box lock-keepers'' cottages that line the cut of every canal, to masterpieces such as the 18-arch Pontcysyllte aqueduct, the highest aqueduct in the world, to beautiful bridges, grand company buildings, the social hubs that were, and still are, canal-side pubs, plus so much more. In contrast to many inland waterways books which are organised geographically by canal, Britain''s Canals is structured thematically, with chapters covering the line (the shape of the canal), locks and lock cottages, bridges, aqueducts, lifts and planes, company buildings, wharves, basins and quays and finally the canal-side pub. Each chapter explores how these features were created and have changed through history, right through to the present, with plenty of ideas for places to visit – plus full information on how to get to them. An abundance of full-colour photography throughout, both historical and modern-day, will delight readers and inspire them to explore Britain''s wondrous inland waterways, whether on boat, by foot or by bike. In Britain''s Canals, two inland waterways experts and admired authors come together to produce the definitive word on the man-made wonders that make Britain''s canals so special, so loved and enjoyed by so many.