Word on the Water

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]

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

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]

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

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