Word on the Water

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Word on the Water
Founded2010
FounderPaddy Screech, Jonathan Privett, and Stephane Chaudat
Websitewww.wordonthewater.co.uk

Word on the Water is a bookshop based on a 100-year-old Dutch canal boat (from the 1920s)[1] that normally resides on Regent's Canal in the King's Cross area, London, although it can be found in other places along the London canal network.[2]

History[]

The idea for the barge came in 2011 after two of the founders (Jon and Paddy) moored their houseboats next to each other.[3] In 2014, the founders of Word on the Water applied for a permanent mooring licence from the England and Wales' Canal & River Trust for Regent's Canal in Paddington, however this was declined and instead given to British Land for the proposed creation of a coffee shop.[4] A petition was then launched on the Canal & Rivers Trust to provide Word on the Water with a mooring licence which was granted in 2015.[5][6] When they tried to buy the barge off Stephane he became their partner in the business.[7] In 2021 it was ranked by The Guardian as one of Britain's 10 best Indie bookshops.[8]

Gallery[]

  • Inside of the Word on the Water's canal boat. Books sprawl across dark wooden shelves.

    Inside of the Word on the Water's canal boat. Books sprawl across dark wooden shelves.

  • Bookshop entrance sign.

    Bookshop entrance sign

  • The barge on the River Lea at Hackney Wick, in 2015

References[]

  1. ^ Kings Cross. "Word on the Water – the floating book barge at King's Cross". King's Cross. Retrieved 4 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Solosophie (11 November 2018). "Word on the Water: A Unique Bookbarge Bookshop in London". solosophie. Retrieved 4 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Miller, Frederica (6 December 2018). "The tiny floating bookshop moored on a London canal". MyLondon. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  4. ^ Miller, Frederica (6 December 2018). "The tiny floating bookshop moored on a London canal". MyLondon. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  5. ^ The Guardian (8 December 2014). "Save Word on the Water, the wonderful floating bookshop". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ BBC (24 November 2014). "Campaign to save floating Word On The Water bookshop". BBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  7. ^ Nordland, Rod (29 November 2017). "London's Canalboat Bookstore Finds a Berth, and Success". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  8. ^ Boland, Louise (18 June 2021). "10 of Britain's best indie bookshops". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 February 2022.

External links[]

Coordinates: 51°32′07″N 0°07′25″E / 51.5354°N 0.1235°E / 51.5354; 0.1235

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