A third unillustrated edition was published by Chapman and Hall in 1918, after which the book remained out of print for over half a century until being republished by David & Charles in 1968.

[4] At one point in the journey, Thurston abandoned the canal in order to walk along the River Avon to Evesham and Tewkesbury, where he met up again with Eynsham Harry and The Flower of Gloster.

Whatever the truth, Viner concluded that none of the doubts on the literal interpretation of the journey detract from the book's value as a 'good read', an example of Edwardian romanticism, or its influence on canal history which has now lasted over a century.

Rolt referred to The Flower of Gloster with delight, saying that it held pride of place in his own tiny collection of canal literature, the only professional account to have appeared in the previous fifty years.

[8] The 1911 edition of Flower of Gloster included six watercolour scenes and numerous line drawings, all by Scottish artist W.R. Dakin and based on the author's photographs.

When their boatyard owner father is taken ill, his eldest son Dick, accompanied by siblings 10-year-old Michael and 12-year-old Elizabeth, volunteers to deliver a narrow-boat – The Flower of Gloster - to a buyer on his behalf.

Professional actors Richard O'Callaghan and Annette Robertson, were cast alongside real-life siblings Elizabeth and Mike Doherty playing the younger children.