Berkshire’s Canals

Before the advent of railways, Berkshire was known for its extensive canal network. These waterways played a crucial role in Britain’s transportation infrastructure, establishing Berkshire as a significant junction and contributing to the county’s economic growth. This talk will explore the reasons behind the extent of the county’s canals and their impact on the local population. Additionally, it will reveal how the railways eventually overtook the canals, possibly at a slower pace than commonly perceived.

This is the final of three talks in the Transport Talks Series. The other talks take place on 10th October and 14th November. You may book tickets for individual events or for all three talks in the series for a reduced price.  

After the talk, tea/coffee and cake will be available (included in the price). Pre-booking is preferred, but you can pay on the door, if there are spaces available.  

Image: Kennett – Bob&Anne Powell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To book, scroll down.

Date

Thu 05 Dec 2024
Expired!

Time

14:00 - 15:30

Tickets

£5.00

Location

The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ
Category

Organiser

The Centre - Berkshire FHS
Email
booking@berksfhs.org.uk
Website
https://berksfhs.org/branches/

Speaker

  • Dr Richard Marks
    Dr Richard Marks
    Industrial, Military and Railway Historian

    Richard is a published historian based in Berkshire who specialises in industrial, military, and railway history and also the history of science. His current areas of research are industrial development in the Victorian period, the development of the railway and canal systems in Britain in the mid to late 19th Century and the history of British Rail. He has a PhD in economic history. Richard’s books on British Rail Engineering and the Wantage Tramway Company were both both published by Pen and Sword in 2024.