The man who saved our industrial heritage
8 February 2010
On Thursday thousands of people interested in Britain’s industrial heritage will be raising a glass to toast the centenary of L.T.C. (Tom) Rolt’s birth on 11 February 1910. Rolt is responsible for saving one of the world’s greatest collections of industrial heritage in the form of Britain’s canal and railway network.
200 years after they were built, Britain’s canals are today enjoying a vibrant renaissance. However it wasn’t until 1944 when Rolt published his hugely influential book, Narrow Boat, that society’s attention was drawn to the pleasures of life afloat. Tom’s book, which followed his 1939 journey along the waterways of the Midlands, inspired a generation to get onboard and fight for the future of Britain’s canals and rivers which at that point were in a state of dereliction and terminal decline.
Rolt became a co-founder of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), the voluntary organisation that has fought to ensure the survival of Britain’s waterway network. He also co-founded the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, the world's first preserved railway, chronicled in his book Railway Adventure (1953). Rolt, a vice president of the Newcomen Society, wrote a series of biographies on leading figures of the industrial revolution, such as Brunel, Thomas Telford and George and Robert Stephenson.
Tony Hales, chairman of British Waterways, said: “Society owes a huge debt to Tom Rolt. The vibrant renaissance of our canal network would not have been possible without the passion for the waterways of Britain he inspired in people. Britain would be a very different place without our industrial heritage which today provides important wildlife habitats, linear parks in our towns and cities as well as important flood relief and water supply benefits.
“Having been the saviour of the waterways in the last century, the volunteer movement that Rolt inspired is set to be a key element for the running and operation of the canals in the years ahead as we progress plans to establish a ‘national trust’ for the waterways.”
Clive Henderson, national chairman of the IWA, said: “Rolt’s words and actions, in co-founding the IWA, ensured the network was fought for during the middle of the last century, when there was a very real chance that the canals would be filled in and this important part of our heritage lost. He is the saviour of the inland waterway network as we know it today.”
Ends
For media enquiries please contact:
Fran Read, British Waterways
T. 020 7985 7276 M 07796610427
fran.read@britishwaterways.co.uk
Notes to editors:
British Waterways cares for 2,200 miles of the nation's canals and rivers. Rich in heritage, abundant in wildlife and teeming with activity, inland waterways are as popular today as they've ever been. Half the population lives within five miles of one of our waterways and an incredible 11 million people use them every year as part of their everyday life – as a short-cut to work, for walking the dog or simply for taking time-out and watching the boats. British Waterways' job is to ensure the waterways attract enough investment to be well maintained and remain appealing to society and the local communities through which they pass.
www.britishwaterways.co.uk
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity, founded in 1946, which advocates the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways for public benefit. IWA’s members interests include restoration, towing path walking, industrial archaeology, boating, nature conservation and many other activities associated with the inland waterways. IWA works closely with navigation authorities, other waterway bodies, a wide range of national and local authorities, voluntary, private and public sector organisations to raise funds, lobby for support and encourage public participation in the inland waterways. The Association also supplies voluntary labour through its Waterway Recovery Group. www.waterways.org.uk and www.wrg.org.uk