B/W print; canal barge on the Grand Union Canal, 1920 - 1925

A little girl is standing at the tiller of a canal barge on the Grand Union Canal between Uxbridge and Denham locks. This boat belonged to Coles Shabbolt and Co, cement manufacturers. A local firm, it used the canals to carry its heavy loads of cement south to London, and limestone and coal northward to the cement works. Since it is covered in sheets, this is probably London-bound cement. The boat is a standard narrow boat, which would originally have been drawn by a horse walking along the towpath. Later the boats were drawn behind motor tugs.