Frog Island

The industrialisation of Leicester, and the limitations of the River Soar, led to this man-made island becoming a hotspot for boats carrying goods, but time hasn't always been kind to the area.

When we think of the waterways, we probably tend to visualise rural stretches of canal set amidst the rolling countryside, maybe there’s a welcoming pub on the towpath, and we’d be surrounded by lush vegetation and maybe a kingfisher darts along the water’s edge. However, the canals weren’t created for idyllic cruising or peaceful strolls to walk off a hearty pub lunch - they were dug out to allow for the economical carrying of goods, often coal or even less glamorous loads, and usually joined up the most industrialised parts of towns and cities. Whilst we should cherish and celebrate their current use for leisure (and let’s not forget the valuable mental wellbeing benefits of being by the water, surrounded by nature) we should also take time out to appreciate their original function, and those boaters whose lives were often incredibly harsh in their endeavours to transport goods around the network.

Instead of a generalised piece about the ‘old days’, I thought it’d be more fun to pin…