The dramatic transformation of Britain's canals – photographs then and now

Rochdale canal, Manchester. Photographs: Robert Smithies/Guardian (then), Christopher Thomond/Guardian (now) Photograph: Robert Smithies/Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

In their industrial heyday, canals were bustling scenes of trade and commerce in Britain’s cities. Horse-drawn commercial boats carried goods along the waterways, and at one point the canal network carried nearly 40m tonnes of freight a year.

Today, canals are being reclaimed as recreational spaces in densely populated cities – destinations for city dwellers to run, cycle and socialise. These archive and present-day photos reveal their dramatic transformation.

Grand Union canal, London

Grand Union canal, Paddington, London, 24 February 1947 and present day

A tug pulling barges full of coal noses its way through the ice-covered canal in Paddington in February 1947. Photographs: Associated Press (then), Jill Mead/Guardian (now)

Improvement work being carried out at Paddington Station, London, 24 June 1930, next to the canal, and present day

Improvement work being carried out at Paddington Station in 1930, next to the canal, and present day. Photographs: Douglas Miller/Getty Images (then), Jill Mead/Guardian (now)

Rochdale canal, Manchester

Rochdale canal, Manchester, 1971 and present day

Boats and barges on Rochdale canal in the centre of Manchester during a weekend rally made possible by the cleaning of the canal and repairing of lock gates by enthusiasts, April 1971. Photographs: Robert Smithies/Guardian (then), Christopher Thomond/Guardian (now)

Regent’s canal, London

The Black bridge on the Regent’s canal in Camden in the mid 1970s and present day

The Black bridge in Camden in the mid-1970s and present day. Photographs: Peter Johns/Guardian (then), Jill Mead/Guardian (now)

Hampstead Road locks, Regent's canal in Camden, London, in 1972 and present day

Hampstead Road locks in 1972 and today. Photographs: Peter Johns/Guardian (then), Jill Mead/Guardian (now)

Ashton canal, Manchester

Looking along the canal from Clayton locks to Manchester and the Co-operative Insurance Society Building in 1974 and present day

Looking along the canal from Clayton locks towards Manchester in 1974, and the view as it is now. Photographs: Robert Smithies/Guardian (then), Christopher Thomond/Guardian (now)

Gas Street Basin, Birmingham

Gas Street Basin

Gas Street Basin in Birmingham in 1981 and 2014

Gas Street Basin in 1981 and in 2014. Photographs: David Bagnall/Shutterstock (then), Les Ladbury/Alamy (now)

Regency Wharf on Gas Street Basin looking toward the site for the Convention Centre in the mid-1970s and present day

Regency Wharf on Gas Street Basin looking toward the site for the Convention Centre in the mid-1970s, and present day. Photographs: Denis Thorpe/Guardian (then), Nick Maslen/Alamy (now)

Cardiff canal

A boatman climbs out of a barge as it passes through a lock in the heart of Cardiff near the castle, 1937, and present day

A boatman climbs out of a barge as it passes through a lock in the heart of Cardiff near the castle, 1937. Photographs: Hulton Deutsch/Getty Images (then), Gareth Phillips/Guardian (now)

The canal revolution series looks at what our changing waterways reveal about modern British cities. Follow Guardian Cities on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use the hashtag #canalrevolution to join the discussion, or sign up for our weekly newsletter