Why did the canals in Britain start?

Answer 1

For the transportation of goods,especially coal,between towns

Answer 2

Initially it was the efforts of private industrialists devising means of moving larger and/or heavier loads of their goods or products faster and over longer distances from their place of manufacture or origin.

This of course was prior to the invention of the steam engine as a form of locomotion, and therefore at a time when the only means of transporting goods was by horse and cart.

Once one or two relatively short canals had been built (or existing rivers canalised), it soon became evident that using barges on water (even when only being pulled along by men on shore), enabled the movement of large and heavy loads far more efficiently in terms of the effort involved, and it was not long before other shrewd busnessmen began to see that Canals were 'the business of the future' and worthy of considerable investment, and consequently started to buy up land that would enable them to build canals running between various manufacturing works and mining areas, and the towns and cities that would offer a marketplace for their goods.

The canal systems around Britain grew very rapidly and was very successful for around 100 years or so but went into decline following the advent of rail and road transport which ultimately proved to be much faster.

Sadly, although I think there is still a place for the use of canals as a means of transport for goods, and indeed there is still considerable interest in them as a means of recreational facilities, they are not given serious consideration by government despite all the talk about green ussues and the need to conserve energy etc.

Undoubtedly the canal system powered Britain's industrial revolution, and by that token also had a substantial effect on industry around the world also.

There is a wealth of information on the canals which is easily available via the net and this can be accessed easily through google, yahoo, ask, etc., just by entering 'canals', British Waterways, or 'canal museums.

Answer 3

For the movement of raw materials and and finished goods during the industrial revolution. The roads were very poor and often impassable in winter because of the mud and steam railways had not been invented

Answer 4

Transportation of coal and agriculture products. The Industrial Revolution created huge amounts of heavy products that needed transportation and the roads couldn't handle it. See below.

Answer 5

Join britain to world

Answer 6

there was at the time they were built no direct connections(no roads,motorways) between the major industrial towns so they were devised to move goods from different parts to where they were needed,wales to the midlands then up country to manchester or over to newcastle etc

Answer 7

It was a cheap and effective way to transport anything and everything from troops to grains and livestock.