Although part of the national network, Birmingham's canals, including the Worcester & Birmingham, the Stratford-upon-Avon and the Birmingham Canal Navigation, retain their original identity - and most are still in water and used regularly, albeit in different ways to their original industrial purpose.
The Blacketts have cast long shadows over the region's history as Newcastle merchants, miners, the builders of Wallington Hall and political figures in the 1600s and 1700s. Greg Finch's flowing account of the first three Sir William Blacketts is based on extensive new research.