A history of the water crossings of Gloucestershire from the Aust-Beachley ferry to the smaller river ferries such as at Tewkesbury. It tells the story of the county's ferries through the past 1,000 years, from a time before bridges onwards. Joan Tucker takes us on a fascinating exploration of the history of the county's ferries, identifying isolated backwaters and popular tourist spots that once provided an essential transport link in this beautiful part of the world.

The Stroud Navigation opened in 1779 from the Severn at Framilode to Stroud, Gloucestershire, a distance of eight miles. It brought increased prosperity to the Stroud Valleys, a centre for early industrialisation. Ten years later the Thames & Severn Canal, linked with it. The Stroudwater is unique for being in the hands of the original company for over 200 years, and most of the primary source material for this book derives from the company archive. Personal reminisces, legal documents, census returns and illustrations, including paintings, photographs, maps, plans and poetry, are also used to record the role played by the canal in the social history of the region.