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Tunnels & Leggers
Tunnel construction was very difficult, and when a major section of a tunnel caved in and collapsed many men were crushed to death. The tunnels usually have no towpath, and in olden days the horses pulling the boats had to be led up and over the hills above the tunnel, while men had to lie on their backs on boards strapped to the boats and they then had to literally "leg it" through the tunnel. This was the origin of the expression "legging it", and was backbreaking and often dangerous work for the men involved. (photo above). You can still see the remains of the Leggers' Hut at the end of some canal tunnels.
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