The Canal Pioneers: James Brindley’s School of Engineers

Dr Boucher describes Brindley’s engineering pupils as a ‘college of engineers’, among them talented individuals such as Hugh Henshall, Thomas Dadford, Josiah Clowes, Samuel Simcock, Robert Whitworth and Samuel Weston. Together these engineers went on to complete Brindley’s life’s work and set out much of the canal system throughout the ‘Canal mania’ years. Their great works included developing canal and lock systems around the country, from the Forth & Clyde to the Bridgewater Canal, the Trent & Mersey to the Thames Navigation and into Wales. This illustrated book chronicles the lives of these engineers as well as their varied achievements and an insight into their other entrepreneurial activities. Also featuring a detailed gazetteer, it provides opportunities for the reader to visit many of these significant sites around Britain and gain a greater understanding of the interconnected world of these engineers.