Nothing to do with canal songs, but I am currently running a coal yard alongside the Leeds/Liverpol canal which has been in existence for 116 years, initially on the south side.

Whilst clearing out 116 years of dross and old papers we came across a wonderful joural/ledger from 1896 when the barges delivered the fuel via the canal and continued past my yard to Skipton, where lime was collected. A by-product of the yard I now run was the lime, which was burned in lime-kilns still visible in the canal banking, which was dropped off for treatment and then distributed to the farmers for their land. Narrow-boat and bargee family names appear in this journal, with detailed costings of the coal and lime, number of days the journeys took can then easily be worked out. And it took some time to do the round trip! Lime barges were still dropping their cargo here in 1941! Unfortuneately, from 1941 until 1962 there is a gap in the old paperwork in the office, as 1942 was when the yard moved to its present side of the canal.

At the moment it is not quite sure what will become of these old papers; the family has yet to decide. Ideas being tossed around are our local museum (which is one to be proud of!), one of the Waterways museums, or a local history group.

I wish someone had kept details of the songs and music.... Shame!