Historic narrowboats

Welcome

Welcome to the Working Boats website, please browse the site to find information on both historic narrowboats and the companies which they worked for including the GUCCCo fleet, Seddons of Middlewich, Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd and many more.

This site contains a large database of photos of working boats which are from both my own collection and other various sources which I have tried to list where known. If you have any information which you believe would be valuable to the site, then please contact me via the contact page.

Little Woolwich motor Cassiopeia

Shackerstone Festival

Monday, 6th September

I attended the Shackerstone festival yesterday, by car unfortunately. Lots of working boats present and great to see so many loaded including Kangaroo and Australia, Ibex and Ilford, Kestrel and Jaguar.

FMC Emu re-launched

Wednesday, 4th August

The Fellows, Morton and Clayton motor boat Emu was re-launched into the Erewash Canal yesterday having been restored by P. J. Barber Boatbuilder Ltd for the owner Michael Pinnock. The work has included a re-bottoming, re-footing and adding a new cabin. Currently Emu is being towed across to Alvecote Marina for the 15hp Bolinder to be over-hauled and hopefully started...

FMC boat Tasmania for sale

Saturday, 31st July

Tasmania was originally built in 1908 as an FMC butty boat. The original bow section now makes up this 50ft boat with a new counter and swim. Tasmania is fully converted and has had a new steel bottom fitted within the past year. Advertised with Mercia Marina for £40,950

Big Woolwich butty Bideford

Saturday, 31st July

The GUCCCo, Big Woolwich butty boat Bideford is currently advertised for sale with Tollhouse Boat Sales. The asking price is £16,950. Bideford has a new steel back cabin and is now just requiring some TLC.

Sickle website updated

Tuesday, 27th July

Finally got round to updating the Sickle website as we have been on Sickle and Cedar for the past 2 weeks for our summer holiday. Very nice trip from Fradley - up the Trent and Mersey onto the River Weaver then across to Norbury on the Shroppie. Some photos of the trip available here

New page and photo of Bellatrix

Sunday, 4th July

Dave Apps has emailed me a recent photograph of the GUCCCo, Small Northwich motor boat Bellatrix which moors at Greensforge on the Staffs and Worcester Canal.

New page and photos of Paddington

Sunday, 4th July

Barry Adams has sent me three photos of the GUCCCo, Large Northwich motor Paddington. I have therefore created a history page on Paddington and included the photos.

Photo of GU Thaxted Added

Sunday, 4th July

I have been emailed an old photo of the Large Northwich motor Thaxted entering a lock, believed to be around London. The photo, taken by Barry Adams is taken onboard the Large Northwich motor Stamford as it prepares to depart the lock, with Thaxted entering.

Braunston Boat Show

Wednesday, 30th June

The Braunston Boat Show attracted 88 historic narrowboats this year which must be the biggest turn of working boats for many years. The weekend brought fabulous weather and plenty of chaos for the parades. A great sight and atmosphere, plenty of photos are available on the rally page.

Braunston Rally Preview

Sunday, 20th June

We moved Sickle and Cedar across to Braunston marina today ready for the rally next weekend, plenty of boats already there and more were due to arrive this evening.

Middlewich Rally

Sunday, 20th June

We attended the Middlewich Boat & Folk Festival yesterday by car. Working boats in attendance included: Sweden, Shad & Gifford, Buckden & Saturn, Shackleton, Minnow, Rudd, Lynx, Princess Anne (ex Plato), Ariel and Mountbatten & Jellicoe.

Boating trip added to Sickle site

Monday, 14th June

I have added a boating trip on the Middle Northwich Sickle website, I spent last weekend on the Seddons motor boat Sweden with Colin and boated from Great Haywood to Wheelock ready for the Middlewich festival next weekend.

FMC Otter being de-converted

Monday, 14th June

David Goode has emailed me a photo showing the Fellows, Morton and Clayton motor boat Otter being de-converted and returned to working trim. She is currently at Grendon Dock having the cabin removed.

Alcor For Sale

Wednesday, 2nd June

The 1935 Small Woolwich motor Alcor is currently for sale on Apolloduck. Advertised at £40,000 - Alcor is of composite construction and is fitted with a cabin extension. Powered by a National 2DM. Click the button below to visit the advert on Apolloduck.

LMS Delhi

Wednesday, 26th May

Liam Hewlett has recently sent me a photo of the ex LMS station boat Delhi. I have just created a new page to display her history and the recent photograph.

Themis deconverted

Saturday, 22nd May

The current owner of the GUCCCo, Little Woolwich motor Themis, Steve Harmer, has just sent me a photo of Themis having been deconverted. Themis has been converted pretty much ever since she was made into a BWB waterbus in the 1950s so it is great to see her being returned to original condition.

New photo of Empress

Thursday, 13th May

I have been sent a recent photograph of the ex FMC steamer Empress, taken in April 2010 on the River Weaver.

New photo of Victory

Thursday, 13th May

Liam Hewlett has sent me a photo of the ex FMC steamer Victory, the photo was taken at Yarwoods Basin, Northwich, in April 2010

New photo of Ferret

Thursday, 13th May

Liam Hewlett has sent me a photo of the FMC motor boat Ferret, the photo was taken at Ellesmere Port in April 2010 and shows new wooden gunnels being fitted.

New photo of Lamprey

Thursday, 13th May

The FMC motor Lamprey page has been updated again, this time with a recent photograph, taken by Liam Hewlett at the Easter Boaters Gathering, Ellesmere Port.

New photo of Stork

Thursday, 13th May

I have been sent a photo of the Cowburn and Cowpar motor Stork, taken by Liam Hewlett a month or two ago, the photo shows Stork on her home mooring at Lymm on the Bridgewater Canal.

New photo of Dane

Tuesday, 11th May

Liam Hewlett has sent me a photo of the Thomas Clayton motor boat Dane and butty Clara, the photo taken in March 2010 at Northwich on the River Weaver has now been added to the Dane page.

New photo of Stirling

Tuesday, 11th May

Liam Hewlett has sent me a photo of the GUCCCo, Large Northwich motor Stirling. The photo was taken in April 2010 at Saltersford on the River Weaver.

Big Woolwich Fenny update

Tuesday, 11th May

I have had a couple of updates posted on the GU motor Fenny, she is now painted in BW livery and was sold a couple of months ago to Mike Woodhouse. She is currently at Wyvern Marina on the Erewash Canal to have a cabin conversion fitted.

Photos of FMC Dory

Monday, 10th May

I have added a collection of photos of the Fellows, Morton and Clayton motor Dory. The majority of the photos added were taken by myself in October 2009, but one of the photos was taken in 1962 by G. Briggs when she had been converted to a butty.

FMC Fox Photos

Monday, 10th May

I have found out a few photos of the FMC motor Fox when she was converted in 1971. The photos, taken by John Pyper were taken whilst boating with Joe and Rose Skinner with Friendship.

FMC Lamprey Photos

Monday, 10th May

I have added a couple of old photos of the Fellows, Morton and Clayton motor Lamprey, shown loaded with various pottery materials ascending the Cheshire Flight and skippered by Joe Hollinshead.

14 tugs at BCLM

Monday, 10th May

Steve Bingham organised the third bi-annual tug gathering over the bank holiday at the Black Country Museum and was a huge success as ever. 14 tugs were present and the weekend demonstrated the art of towing a train of joeys around the old main line.

Added Tunnel Tug Sharpness

Monday, 10th May

I have just added a page on the 1908 built Tunnel Tug which has been much restored over the years and is believed to be the first motor powered tug. Sharpness is now owned by Colin and Rita Paillin and powered by a Gardner.