On the Boats – Les Mason’s heart warming recollections of early 1930s horse-drawn canal journeys.

FCC is delighted to have been given permission to publish the recollections of Les Mason about the journeys he made on the horse-drawn narrow boats carrying coal from Hartshay to Cromford in the early 1930s, the last decade of their operation. The boats operated a regular twice weekly service with two loaded boats being pulled by a single horse. Most boats went to Cromford Wharf but some went down the Nightingale, or Lea, arm to unload at the wharf at the end.

In On the Boats Les also recalls the locomotives that shunted the wagons at Hartshay Colliery and much about the local village when pubs, collieries and canal were all still working.

The story is fully illustrated with maps and images of the boats and of the canal as it was over 80 years ago.

Published in time to help fill the Christmas stocking, the book costs just £5 (£6 inc p&p) from FCC Sales, Weighbridge Office, Gothic Warehouse, Mill Road, Cromford DE4 3RQ. You can also order it online through the associated Birdwood shop website at www.birdswood.org/shop.