Artwork of the Narrowboat: Roses and Castles
5th February 2025
If you’ve ever strolled next to a canal, you might have noticed each boat has unique paintwork. Bold colours, funky patterns and intricate designs envelop each one.
As more people choose to live on narrowboats, the artwork expressing their lifestyle choices has also evolved. Some people go for dark and mysterious designs, others camouflage into the countryside with greens, pinks and browns. However, one trend weaves through history to the shapes adorned on canal boats today.
Roses and castles.
This hand-painted art style is a window into a world where tradition meets creativity on the water. Read more about the history, below.
The Influence of roses and castles
The history of roses and castles
The exact origins of the roses and castles style are a bit of a mystery, but its roots seem to stretch back to the 19th century. This hand-painted folk art combines elements of romanticism and realism, and along with the obvious, roses and castles, also features obscure and amazing designs like mountains, cottages and dogs.
It’s more than just decoration – it’s a romanticised reflection of life on the water on the water.
Some say the castles were painted as a form of escape. The closest that boatmen and their families would get to living in a home as grand as the ones they’d pass on the water. And, while they couldn’t access a personal garden, they were surrounded by beauty and nature and used these symbols to create still-life designs.
Others believe the artwork was a way to defy the Victorian elite, showing sophistication through creative flair.
Canal versus railway
As railway travel out-competed canals as a form of transport during the Industrial Revolution, boatmen’s families moved onboard for a simpler, more affordable life. To counter the harsh realities of this new lifestyle, the wives and women onboard transformed the boats into homes.
Vibrant colours and intricate patterns were expressions of both comfort and resistance.
As canals were still a useful method of transport, companies wanted to differentiate themselves on the water from the traditional narrowboats and promote their services – commercial narrowboats were often used as floating advertisements. Regions across the UK developed recognisable styles and characteristics, such as larger lettering or geometric patterns.
Heritage on holiday
Today, these boats aren’t just a means of travel – they’re moving time capsules. Most have been restored to preserve the nostalgia of previous eras. Vintage artwork dances across the liveries throughout the UK.
As you float down the canals, you’re not just escaping the modern world, you’re stepping into a dreamlike landscape where every brush stroke tells a story.
If you’re fascinated by history, art and design, don’t just book a holiday with ABC Boat Hire, immerse yourself in an experience.
Is the roses and castles canal artwork still around today?
The charm of roses and castles art continues to captivate more than 200 years after it first appeared. As traditional artwork and sign-writing experience a revival, we may see a new generation of canal boats embracing this timeless art.
