THE IDLE WOMEN

We like to try and balance the songs we write, between historical and current aspects of life on the canal. With 'The Idle Women' we hope to have connected those brave women from the past, who volunteered to work the boats, with the women who live on narrowboats alone today. Both of us are continuous cruisers and know how tough it can be to single hand for a day, along with all the other aspects of life on the canals.

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We've shamelessly lifted the following facts about the Idle Women from Google AI.

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The "Idle Women" were a group of approximately 45 to 48 female volunteers who operated narrowboats on Britain's canals during World War Two. Despite their nickname, they worked 18–20 hour days, transporting essential supplies like coal, steel, and munitions to support the war effort. 

 

Key Facts About the "Idle Women"
 

• Origin of Name: The name "Idle Women" was a sarcastic, undeserved nickname derived from the "IW" initials on their badges, which actually stood for Inland Waterways.

• Role: Similar to the "Land Girls" on farms, these women were recruited to replace men in the boating industry, working in teams of three on 72-foot boats, often towing another unpowered boat, to move goods between London, Birmingham, and Coventry.

• Background: The volunteers came from diverse backgrounds, including debutantes, students, and women displaced by the Blitz, most of whom had no prior boating experience.

• Conditions: They operated in harsh conditions, including navigating the blackout, and were paid £3 a week.

• Legacy: While they did not receive official recognition at the time, a plaque in their honor is located at the National Waterways Museum in Stoke Bruerne.