The background:
Before you download this manual, please read this short introduction because, in the interests of documented history, I believe it is important to know how this document came about and the context in which it was produced.
I first saw a 'pirate' draft whilst on a PCFS dig during the restoration of what became known as the 'Cheshire Ring'. As usual, we had gone to the Spread Eagle in Ashton under Lyne for 'music and merriment' and this document was metaphorically torn to shreds - largely from the point of view that it would destroy the heritage of our waterways and lead to gross 'gentrification'.
Much of this gentrification has sadly come to pass but, in retrospect, I think the WEH was in fact a remarkable effort to stem the tide. It was in many ways needed to guide the then British Waterways on how to develop things relatively sensitively in a way that would encourage greater public recognition and involvement. The principle author, the sadly late Peter White, was relatively new to the waterways (which did not help him in the eyes of traditionalists) but he had a keen eye for observation and for listening to opinions which over the years earnt him a great deal of deserved respect.
Probably for the first time, someone had gone out and looked at the overall picture of our waterways heritage and tried to pick out those parts that needed attention drawing to them including, in most cases, regional variations. This was probably the very last point in time at which such a snapshot could have been taken. As I was to write elsewhere later, the last of the old boating regime had gone and, if things were not recorded, then unregulated change and piecemeal development would ensue to the undoubted detriment of the waterways. In this context, it was a very worthy effort.
There were, regrettably, a few 'traditions' that were lost as a result of the implementation of the WEH. Possibly the most visible were the loss of the grey and white colour scheme on the locks of the Shropshire Union system and the eradication of the extra white band(s) on the balance beams of the narrow locks on the Trent & Mersey Canal. Memory can be fickle but I have even heard people say that these two items did not exist - despite photographs proving the contrary! This sort of wiping of history only makes it more important to record the present for the benefit of those learning in the future.
The Handbook is divided into a number of sections. Sections 1-11 & 15 dealt with the waterways as they stood whereas the other sections were essentially a 'good development guide' containing ideas of what a new waterway environments might be. I find it quite interesting and curious that they were not separated more obviously and presented in such a way? Was this some deliberate sleight of hand to slip 'new waterside development' into a 'taking care of heritage' manual? - Or was it merely to present both as some sort of cohesive whole?
I believe there were further 1970s iterations of this document. None that I know of survive and, at the time of writing, this is the only version online. It is a great shame that the Handbook has not been successively updated and added to. All too often we continue to rewrite the past because we simply are unaware of what has been written before. Starting with a clean sheet just does not work with heritage - instead it should always be used as a foundation for future decisions.
Finally, before you download, I have setup a JustGiving Page on behalf of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance. These voluntary emergency services are always in need of donations - particularly at this time. So, as we all venture 'Off Grid' into the wilder parts of the shires, it seems fitting that we should try and raise a little for them. Maybe a fiver?
This link will be valid until 31st Dec 2022 - after which I will direct donations to an alternative charity.
Waterway Environment Handbook 1972 (50Mb)
