Victoria Owens explores the work of James Brindley and Francis Egerton, Third Duke of Bridgewater.

It can be said of few men that without them the course of their nation's history would have been very different, yet through the force of his ideas and sheer bloody-mindedness, James Brindley, the first great canal builder, provided the spark that ignited the Industrial Revolution, united the nation and set Britain on course to become the world's first superpower. Born into poverty and barely literate, Brindley had a vision for the country that defied both established society and natural order, dividing mid-eighteenth-century scientific and political options. Crowds flocked to marvel at his new canals and the engineering feats that accompanied them, with Brindley's inventiveness earning him the nickname 'The Schemer'. Nick Corble's book retells Brindley's story, the legacy he left behind and why it is relevant today.

It can be said of few men that without them the course of their nation's history would have been very different, yet through the force of his ideas and sheer bloody-mindedness, James Brindley, the first great canal builder, provided the spark that ignited the Industrial Revolution, united the nation and set Britain on course to become the world's first superpower. Born into poverty and barely literate, Brindley had a vision for the country that defied both established society and the natural order, dividing mid-eighteenth-century scientific and political opinion. Crowds flocked to marvel at this new canals and the engineering feats that accompanied them, with Brindley's inventiveness earning him the nickname 'The Schemer'.

The Bridgewater Canal is distinguished as England's first canal and its development marked the beginning of a transport revolution that provided a crucial foundation for industrial and commercial development in England. Since its completion in 1765, the canal has been regularly used by commercial and passenger traffic; it was one if the major routes of the North West that helped Manchester to develop as a centre of trade and industry in the 19th century. In The Duke's Cut: The Bridgewater Canal, Cyril J. Wood recounts the fascinating history of the Bridgewater canal from its conception and construction to its subsequent successes including its use as a leisure waterway today. His detailed commentary is complemented by his descriptive guide to cruising the canal and valuable navigational information. Illustrated with more than 150 images, this comprehensive history and guide will appeal to local historians and canal enthusiasts alike.