Did you know the Black Country used to be known as Birmingham-on-Sea? The boat people never stayed in one place for long, they were responsible for moving cargo - even Cadburys chocolate! People moved cargo along the canals until just after the Second World War! With the development of the road network, trucks took over and the canals fell into disrepair. The families who lived on the canals had to move into houses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.