Black Country Living Museum boat dock

The thousands of boats that used to work the Black Country canals all needed constant maintenance.

They were busy, cluttered places not unlike a modern scrap yard as it was common practice to break wooden boats, salvaging the ironwork.

[2] Castlefields boat dock is typical of the many on the Black Country canal system of the period and is equipped to build new working craft and to repair those of iron or composite construction.

[1] Next to the blacksmiths shop is a series of sheds, the first is made out of the bottom of a recycled boat (see picture).

[1] The boat dock also featured a toilet (earth closet) and a stable to house the working horses.