With the death of Pope Francis, the world loses not only a church leader but also a moral compass
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From industrial revolution's lifelines to spaces of leisure
JOHN GREEN looks at the Britain’s canal network, its historical arteries
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ENGLAND has one of the largest canal networks in the world. Wales and Scotland also have canals but only a few. Today, our 2,000 miles of canals and rivers flow through cities, past homes, alongside offices and into the countryside, bringing leisure opportunities to millions.
From boating, fishing, walking and cycling, they offer a range of activities. Their history, however, reveals a very different function.
Most of our canals were built 200 years ago, but their history dates back to the Romans who built our oldest canal, the Fossdyke Navigation.
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