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The smaller bridge to the right crosses the old boat slide, a weir bypass for rowing boats, an exciting and brief run down rollers from the upper river to the lower, and once common on the River Thames

A major boating centre to this day, Braunston was the northern end of the Grand Junction canal. At this point it met the Oxford Canal; there used to be a small lock outside the house.

Then, as now, the beach was popular with children, who here play at the water's edge whilst older boys admire the moored fishing boat.

Note the winch alongside the nearest boat. This would be used to haul the few fishing boats from the water. Lobster pots at the base of the cliff indicate the type of fishing undertaken.

Here we see a pair of loaded working boats on the Aylesbury Arm near Broughton on the edge of town. The wooden stumps (bottom left) are known as strapping posts, and were used to tie up boats.

It also had nearby coal-pits, which transported some of their coal from the beach here. Strawberry Hill, above the village, was the site of an Iron Age fort.

Here we see a passenger boat setting out for a popular 'trip round the bay'.

In 1958, owing to increases in the amount of farm produce being transported from Caldey, steps were taken to improve the landing facility for boats.

Gardens slope down to the river, and thick canopies of trees at the water's edge keep the wind from the sails of boats.

Many were used as pleasure craft, but these were working boats, used as tugs and pilot boats.

A number of the boats here were still working boats at this date; fishermen took them out to sea to mussel beds renowned for the size and quality of their shellfish.

A small selection of boats can be seen moored here. The marshes are home to large populations of birds that include wild fowl, little terns, and black-headed gulls.

The small boy in the sternsheets of the boat being rowed by the white-bearded man in the peaked cap seems singularly unimpressed by photography, unlike the youth in the stern of the rowboat

As with many seaside resorts, one of the popular attractions was a trip in a boat.

Shady walks, seats, shelters, ponds for toy boats and a boating lake were all laid out for the pleasure of townsfolk and visitors.

On the other side of the village is the famous Anderton Boat Lift, which was built in 1875 by E Leader Williams.

Following the publication of Jerome K Jerome's book 'Three Men in a Boat', the pastime of 'messing about in boats' became very popular in Victorian and Edwardian times.

Here we see a busy harbour scene, with fishing boats on the left and several sailing boats, along with a number of harbour tugs.

Though still in essence a fishing port, there are only a dozen or so boats today, engaging in salmon-netting and deep-sea fishing. The pilot boat for the estuary is also based here.

Church Cove was a pilchard fishing place, with boats hauled up the steep beach, and there was also a lifeboat station here for a while until 1899.

The earlier picture shows working boats doubled up carrying cargo from the London Basin to the Midlands.

This bridge is a railway bridge, and is now part of the west coast main line. Another railway bridge (to Blackburn) can be seen in the distance.

The passengers' sense of quiet contentment is almost tangible as this packed pleasure boat rounds the harbour wall, and heads for the disembarkation point, having cut safely inside the outward-bound

A life boat was established here in 1861, and this one was replaced in 1960 by a larger version of the same design.