The canal revolution

Canals provided factory owners with a new way to transport raw materials and deliver finished products for export. The canals were also beneficial to agriculturalists because they allowed fresh produce to be transported around the country. The new canal system had a number of very positive effects on Britain.

• Canal companies became major employers in Britain. They provided jobs for manual workers, dockers, loaders, ship builders and navigators.
• Canal towns such as Birmingham, Runcorn and Stourport developed. These towns became very important in the communication and transport network around the country.
• Canals took over from roads and began to provide a much cheaper way to transport heavy, bulky raw materials such as coal, iron and steel around the country.
• Not only did canals provide a cheaper form of transport, they also provided a faster communication system for documents and news.

Regents canal, near Islington in 1827

• Factory owners who produced delicate goods, such as Josiah Wedgwood's pottery, found that canals offered a smoother ride with fewer breakages.
• Farmers and landowners soon found that they could transport livestock to market using the canals. This meant that because the livestock did not have to walk to the market, they did not lose as much weight so they were worth more when sold.
• Farmers also discovered that fresh vegetables and dairy produce could reach markets that were further away more quickly.