PRE-REVOLUTIONARY WATER TRANSPORT IN BRITAIN
Prior to the industrial revolution, water was still a significant method of transport in Britain. It was used heavily for freight, and there were three main aspects of water borne trade: rivers, the coast, and the ocean.
Trade on the oceans required large ships, and overseas trade was important for bringing imports, goods and raw materials. Shipping ports for trade had been growing even before the industrial boom.
Transporting heavy goods along the coast was much cheaper than along roads -- the coastal trade was a key aspect of Britain's economy. Iron, tin and grain depended on this method.
Britain made use of it's rivers, using them to transport goods. But rivers rarely went where the goods needed to go, plus drought and erosion were factors that stopped them being used. Numerous important industrial areas in Britain such as Birmingham didn't have any water links and were held back. The solution was canals.
Trade on the oceans required large ships, and overseas trade was important for bringing imports, goods and raw materials. Shipping ports for trade had been growing even before the industrial boom.
Transporting heavy goods along the coast was much cheaper than along roads -- the coastal trade was a key aspect of Britain's economy. Iron, tin and grain depended on this method.
Britain made use of it's rivers, using them to transport goods. But rivers rarely went where the goods needed to go, plus drought and erosion were factors that stopped them being used. Numerous important industrial areas in Britain such as Birmingham didn't have any water links and were held back. The solution was canals.