Education

One of the Primary Functions of the Heritage Boats Project is to form an Educational Resource to enable  people to understand the importance of the part the Canals played in the foundation of the Industrial Revolution and in particular the foundation of the Industrial base of the Black Country and Central England. Then as trade prospered the part played by the widening of transport links to the ports of Bristol, London, the Humber and Liverpool. To trace the local links and patterns of trade within the area which subsisted in spite of Railway competition until the end of Waterway trading.

 Sagitta and Carina have been specially adapted and equipped to act as floating class rooms for school educational visits and visits to waterside events to educate the general public.

The work, activities and hardships of the Boat People have not been forgotten. Most of our boats have cabins laid out and equipped as they would have been at some time in their working lives. The Education Boats have the cabins situated to make access to the cabins safe and easy for all. Our volunteer crews are aware of the ingenious design of the cabin and some have experience of living on and working a boat. We train our crews to preserve the living and working techniques of the past, some of which are not appropriate to the current recreational use of the system.

Here are some young people learning about the Canal, dressed in appropriate Canal clothing, with Atlas in the background.

Harry's Cut. The project has a group of professional actors who perform a drama about the latter days of trading on the Canals this is performed using one of the boats as a backdrop and is very successful in illustrating the effects of the end of commercial trading and the choices made by Boat People when their way of life was finally coming to an end.

Presentations. Two of our members have prepared, as a private venture, two illustrated presentations that refer to the Project and the Canals.

(1) British Waterways Working Boats Project. A fleet of working craft operated and maintained in the traditional ways of the "carrying era" by a group of volunteers. This presentation covers the formation, funding, training and skills of the group including the formation of the Project fleet.

(2) Idle Women - The story of the women working on the canals during the Second World War.  It is a little known fact that much of the canal carrying during the Second World War was undertaken by a group of young women many of whom had no previous experience. This arduous and important work was not without difficulties. The presentation covers their trials and achievements.

For booking and further information please contact

 Vince on 01905 796270, or Jon on 01785 814581.