The Grand Junction Canal at Stoke Bruen lock, Northamptonshire, UK. Work began on the canal, which links London with the Midlands and the rest of the canal network, in 1793. Prior to the advent of rail, canals were the major means of distributing goods in Britain. The Grand Junction Canal was completed in 1805 and became an important industrial route, with towns on the canal thriving. Locks were used to enable the canal to negotiate inclines. Taken from a book published in 1819.