Paddle wheels? circa 1950 ish

Image taken from "The Canals of England" by Eric deMare, pub 1950 by The Architectural Press.

What kind of boat is this? It looks as though it's paddle powered.

The book was published in 1950 and the author took most of the pics himself, the caption on this one was all about the aquaduct (Chirk) nothing about the boat.

Look at the tiller handle - metal?, twist formed? and the old lamp, oil?

How about the rope training behind, I guess with no propellor it doesn't matter too much!