- This category leads to websites about canals in the British Isles, originally built as a form of Transport at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, to serve as a Water Resource for emerging Technology.
- At the time Canals would have been regarded as Technology, undertaken by Civil Engineers, to control water, from a source higher than the level of the Canal, so that canal boats could be lifted at locks, by trapping water escaping by gravity, until sufficient water was collected in the water to be level with the canal above, then progress along level water until the next lock.
- With the advent of the Railways, some canal construction was never completed, such as with the plans to join the mouth of the Severn with the English Channel, The Grand Western Canal.
- Railways were largely superseded by road transport, as the most convenient means of transporting goods, and many canals were culverted rather than constructing road bridges under which canal traffic could continue.
- In both these cases the non-navigable canal became a Water Resource for Course Fishing, and local recreation such as canoeing.
- Neglected canals, became a Water Resource for Wildlife, and because of their towpaths, canals provided recreational Water Resources, such as Walking and Cycling.
- In some cases the canal locks and technological heritage provide a tourist attraction, most notable the World Heritage Site of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, on the Langollen Canal.
- Although the industrial significance of British canals had its hay day, during the latter part of the nineteenth century the heritage canals were recognised locally as a Water Resource for Tourism, particularly recreational narrow boats, and many culverted sections were reopened by providing bridges under which narrow boats could pass, such as The Rochdale Leeds Canal over the Pennines.
- Sites listed here should contain scientific information about Canals as a Water Resource, whether the Technology behind their construction for the Industrial Revolution, providing an Ecological Niche for wildlife, or resource for future technology such as hydro electric power.
- This category may contain subcategories about a specific canal where sufficient websites justify this,whereas some categories have already been created recognising the Recreational or Tourism aspects, and have been linked from here.
Canalmaps Archive - Catalogue of historic maps and plans for inland navigation on Britain's mainland. Introduction to cartography, preceding the ordnance survey, with examples to view online.
Foxton Inclined Plane Trust - Independent charitable organisation focusing on preservation of a Victorian barge lift. Includes history, with timeline from 1776, boiler house museum, educational resources, visitor and membership information, and location in Leicestershire.
Linlithgow Union Canal Society - Edinburgh to Glasgow navigation began in 1822, with this 32 mile branch to Falkirk, depending on aqueducts rather than locks. Commercial history to 1936, closure in 1965, and subsequent revival and reopening in 2004 as a recreational resource. Museum and events in West Lothian.
Cotswold Canals Trust - Restoring both the Stroudwater Navigation to enable navigation from the Thames and to Severn, primarily for recreational boat cruising ring canal network, and supporting wildlife. Includes news blog, and feeds for videos and social media.
Gloucester Docks and the Sharpness Canal - Information on the construction and present waterway for sea-going cargos to bypass the tidal waters of the River Severn, for 16 miles south of the city. Historical articles from 1827, with images of industrial buildings, barques and steamers, modern photographs and maps.
Pennine Waterways - Primarily canal networks developed from the industrial revolution to connect Merseyside with Lancashire cotton and Yorkshire wool industries. History, ownership, decline, restoration for recreation and tourism.
Canal and River Trust - Charity managing and aiming to conserve over 2,000 miles of canals and navigable waterways in England and Wales. Information on heritage, nature and recreational activities, with links to social media.
Coombeswood Canal Trust - Established to stimulate public interest in the history, structure and improving the conditions of the Dudley Number 2 Canal, and operating heritage workboats. Profile, contacts for governing council, location at Hawne Basin, Halesowen.
Devon Counrty Council:Grand Western Canal - Country park and local nature reserve in Mid Devon, based on the nineteenth century attempt to join Bristol Channel with the English Channel. History, wildlife, educational resource, photographs, recreational activities, visitor and management information.
Inland Waterways Association - IWA is a charity campaigning for the use, maintenance and restoration of all Britain's inland waterways. Profile with history timeline, educational resources, publications, local branches, campaigns, volunteering, events calendar, blog, tips for visitors and navigation,
Narrow Boat Trust - Charity to preserve and restore canal craft, exhibit for public, and promote commercial carrying. Details of boats built for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company from the 1930s. Profile with photo galleries, volunteering and membership information social media news, and contacts.
Friends of The Canal Museum - Community celebrating the Grand Union Canal as it navigates Northampton by tunnel under Blisworth Hill. Profile with photo gallery, event diary, details for volunteering and joining, and social media links from Stoke Bruerne.
Blisworth Canal Partnership Ltd. - Non-profit community organisation restoring and preserving the local canal tunnel and the waterways environment of the Grand Union Canal. Includes history as an inland port, information on membership, volunteering and their annual festival.
The Ribble Link Trust - Canal completed in 2002 for leisure and tourism to join the Lancaster Canal to the rest of the canal system, via a tidal section of the Ribble Estuary. History, navigation advice, recreational activities, embedded videos and social media.
Thames and Medway Canal Association - Official information on restoring the navigation from Gravesend, the tunnel to Rochester, Kent.
Bridgewater Canal - The first industrial canal of England, opened in 1761, to transport coal from Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater's mines in Worsley to Manchester, now extending from Old Trafford, by aqueduct over the Manchester Ship Canal, west to via Leigh to the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
CanalPlanAC - Waterway route planning, for boat trips or holidays along the rivers and canals. Includes distances between locks, photos of places, and views of sections from maps.
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