Word on the Water

Word on the Water
Founded2010
FounderPaddy Screech, Jonathan Privett, and Stephane Chaudat
Headquarters
King's Cross, London
ServicesBookshop/Venue
Websitewww.wordonthewater.co.uk

Word on the Water is a bookshop situated on a barge that normally resides on Regent's Canal in the King's Cross area at Granary Square, London, although it has historically been based at other points along the London canal network. It has appeared in numerous publication's lists of the best bookshops in the UK including The Washington Post and The Guardian.[1][2] The bookshop's home is a Dutch canal boat called Dianti dating back to the 1920s.[3] As well as working as a bookshop, it regularly acts as a venue, hosting live music and poetry events.

History

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The idea for the barge came in 2011 after two of the founders (Jon and Paddy) moored their houseboats next to each other.[4] When they tried to buy the barge off Stephane (often referred to as Noy),[5] he became their partner in the business.[6] Because of Canal & River Trust rules, in its early days the boat had to move regularly between different points along the canal. The boat once nearly sank on account of an accident with a valve.[7]

As a migratory bookshop, moving every two weeks was described as being detrimental to its survival. Jonathan Privett, one of the co-founders, noted that 'People would come see it, see things they wanted to buy, see things they wanted to show their friends, they'd come back the next day and we'd be gone.'[8] During this time, they describe having lived in a state of acute poverty, 'often choosing between coffee or cigarettes, because we couldn't have both.'[9]

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 set up, asking the Canal & Rivers Trust to provide Word on the Water with a mooring licence. Coverage looking into the dealings between a local real estate corporation and the Canal & River Trust featured in the Private Eye.[10]

A permanent mooring was eventually granted in 2015 in King's Cross, London.[11][12] This was described as an enormous relief that got rid of the need to 'literally unbuild the shop every 14 days...and rebuild it at 4'o clock in the morning'.[10] Since then the business has been far more stable and has grown year upon year. In an interview with BookBrunch, they attributed some of their recent success to a mini book-boom and an influx of TikToks which have boosted the profile of the boat amongst both Londoners and tourists.[5]

In 2022, the boat Dianti was refurbished and expanded, raising the roof and adding new metalwork. A feature length documentary was made about the process.[13][14]

Sadly Jonathan Privett died from cancer in September 2023. Paddy and Stephane - the surviving founders - are continuing to run the shop, and Megan, Jon's daughter, is now also involved with curating.

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  • Inside of the Word on the Water's canal boat. Books sprawl across dark wooden shelves.
    Inside of the Word on the Water's canal boat. Books sprawl across dark wooden shelves.
  • Bookshop entrance sign.
    Bookshop entrance sign
  • The barge on the River Lea at Hackney Wick, in 2015
    The barge on the River Lea at Hackney Wick, in 2015

References

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  1. ^ Boland, Louise (18 June 2021). "10 of Britain's best indie bookshops". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  2. ^ "In London, it's easy to find a bookstore that floats your boat. (Really. One is on a barge.)". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  3. ^ Kings Cross. "Word on the Water – the floating book barge at King's Cross". King's Cross. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b Miller, Frederica (6 December 2018). "The tiny floating bookshop moored on a London canal". MyLondon. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Indie View: Word on the Water". Bookbrunch. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Landon, Alex (17 June 2021). "All Aboard London's Fabulous Floating Bookshop". Secret London. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Far from sinking, book boom keeps London's floating bookshop afloat". ABC News. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  9. ^ Rebuilding Word On The Water - The Journey (Part 1 of 3), retrieved 15 October 2022
  10. ^ a b "Word on the Water". Towpath Talk. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2023 – via PressReader.
  11. ^ The Guardian (8 December 2014). "Save Word on the Water, the wonderful floating bookshop". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  12. ^ BBC (24 November 2014). "Campaign to save floating Word On The Water bookshop". BBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Film Trailer Drops For Jochnowicz's Documentary REBUILDING WORD ON THE WATER". Film Trailer Drops For Jochnowicz's Documentary REBUILDING WORD ON THE WATER. | Britflicks. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  14. ^ Rebuilding Word on the Water (2022) - IMDb, retrieved 29 October 2022
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51°32′07″N 0°07′25″W / 51.5354°N 0.1235°W / 51.5354; -0.1235

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