20 March 1755 An Act of Parliament was passed, authorising the construction of the Sankey Navigation Canal connecting St Helens with Spike Island in Widnes. The Sankey Canal was the first British canal of the Industrial Revolution.

SONGS ABOUT CANALS AND CANAL MAKING IN BRITAIN
THE UNION CANAL  -  by Robin Laing     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQvyVInTyKw
HERE COME THE NAVIES   -  Ian Campbell Folk Group with Dave Swarbrick     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha-b9Khn1Hk
Here Come the Navvies, Lyrics and recording from Songs of the Inland Waterways     https://www.waterwaysongs.info/Songs/H/here_come.htm
NAVVY BOOTS  -   The Dubliners     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T812Xlha3UU
THE ROVING NAVVY -   Spinners     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PnB1k7Z1jo&t=18s
THE JOLLY BARGEMAN -   written by Cicely Fox Smith sung by The Keelers     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVYHMfyOv40
NEATH JUNCTION CANAL Lyrics from Songs of the Inland Waterways     https://www.waterwaysongs.info/Songs/N/neath_and_swansea.htm

History of the British Canal System from Wikipedia    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_British_canal_system
Mudcat,Canal songs (UK)    /mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=56636&messages=119#reply
The English Canals (Entire Record) on YouTube     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rjjH3kqhWI
The menu page for Songs of the Inland Waterways which lists over 300 songs relating to the canals and inland waterways of Britain and Ireland.    https://www.waterwaysongs.info/songmenu.htm