麻豆社

In 2014, a very special book celebrated it's 70th birthday: the Narrow Boat, by LTC Rolt.

It might not be a name that means much to you, but when "Tom" Rolt's book hit the shelves after the second world war it introduced a whole generation to the leisure side of the canals and almost single handedly reserved the fortunes of the waterways, which were losing their commercial appeal.

The book tells the story of Tom, who along with his wife and their old boat "Cressy" headed out on a tour of the midlands - including right through Leicestershire.

麻豆社 Radio Leicester's Matt Smith has been celebrating Rolt's contribution to the Canals by recreating his journey through Leicestershire and visiting some of the stops along his journey, including Husband's Bosworth, Foxton Locks, Harborough Market, Leicester's St Mary de Castro church, and the Navigation Inn at Barrow

His final stop leads to Loughborough's famous Bell foundry, Taylors, where Matt took a tour with Mike Senken from the foundry:

Show less