 News from the Inland Waterways! - The accredited Andrew Denny a.k.a. 'Granny Buttons' reporting |
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My own private thoughts and ignorance about the canals and waterways. (And no-one else's, except as quoted.) 1 Jun 2012 at 3:49pm "The Thames is liquid history", wrote some bloke I can't be bothered to google. When it comes to old waterways stories, we Brits tend to think we have the market cornered. Maybe, we think, just acr... Roadside shrine gives me a towpath maintenance idea 20 May 2012 at 3:31pm Several weeks ago a young man was knocked off his scooter and killed on the busy A38 dual carriageway, opposite the entrance to Streethay Wharf boatyard. Another dark day, another sad death, anothe... Great Mug of Ware 15 May 2012 at 12:34am I'm sitting at my home desk, enjoying tea from a mug branded 'IWA Ware Boat Festival 2007'. It's not mine; I stole it. Well, I 'salvaged' it. And I've always felt a little bit guilty about this. Th... Catching President and Kildare on their way to London 13 May 2012 at 2:45pm Over the last month, boats have been travelling to London for the upcoming Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. Three weeks ago I was enjoying a relaxed Sunday morning inside Granny Buttons at Streethay... Granny Ainsworth's Button Bags 5 Jan 2012 at 12:57pm American author Jim Ainsworth has written a charming piece on his blog, entitled Granny's Buttons. He records how his wife retained his mother's old spare button bags after she died: My wife Jan sp... Granny loses bid for place on the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant 31 Dec 2011 at 10:00am Dismay! I learned yesterday that Granny hasn't been accepted for a place on the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant , the 1,000-craft procession down the river on 3rd June 2012. I was quick off the mark... Newsfeed display software by Antone Roundy |
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We are very proud to announce that we have just completed a re-paint for the famous historic Narrowboat Snipe. Snipe is one of the eight Cowburn and Cowpar motors built by Yarwoods around 1934/35 and named after birds beginning with the letter S. She was built with rounded chines and all steel construction . For many years Snipe was famously employed as a hotel boat, however she is now retired and based at Brinklow Boats. Her current owner commision the new boatman's cabin from Simon Wain of Brinklow Boat Services and the the main cabin was constructed by the owner himself, Mr Richard Wood. Painting by Mark Phelps and Chris Weston, Signwriting and Scumbling by Bob McIntyre and Roses and Castles by Bridget Matthews. Congrats to all envolved! Thanks to the owner, Richard Wood, for the use of these pictures.
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 Star class motor boat number 87, "Star", built by Harland & Wolff of North Woolwich in 1935. Painted by Mark Phelps and Chris Weston in wartime 'Utility' colours. Signwriting by Bob McIntyre. Narrowboat "Star" is a Small Woolwich of composite construction (Iron and Elm), built by Harland & Wolff for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company. In 1934, a desire to expand the GUCCCo. resulted in the ordering of many boats from various builders. These builders were: Walker's of Rickmansworth, Harland and Wolff at North Woolwich and W.J. Yarwood at Northwich The initial boats ordered from the builders above were nearly all named after constellations, stars and planets including names such as 'Aquarius', 'Sirius' and 'Venus'. These boats formed the 'Star' class.
"During the Second World War the full company name that adorned the side of the cabin was abbreviated to its initials only. As you can see the design was simplified to save on labour and materials in keeping with the wartime government's 'Utility' drive." Thanks to the owner, Graham Robinson, for the use of these pictures.
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 Samuel Barlow boat 'Beatty' built in 1937, by WJ Yarwood and Sons.
New cabin painted by Mark Phelps and Chris Weston. Built in 1937, by W.J.Yarwood & Sons, of Northwich, Cheshire, for the Samuel Barlow Coal Company Limited. Beatty left Northwich in November 1937 for final fitting out by Lees & Atkins at Polesworth. Composite construction – Iron hull sides, Elm bottom. Originally fitted with a Petter single cylinder 12/14 hp semi-diesel engine. Currently powered by an Armstrong Siddeley 22 h.p. twin cylinder, air cooled diesel engine, fitted in 1955, believed to be one of the first of its type fitted in a narrow boat. Worked for Barlows for 22 years carrying coal from the Midlands coalfields down the Grand Union and Oxford Canals, her steerers included Harry Monk, John Blunn and Ray White.
Bought by Martin Grundy in 1968. Used by the Grundy family since then for extensive cruising over most of the waterways system. Beatty won ‘Best Converted Narrowboat’ at Guildford National Rally in 1970. The original timber boatman’s cabin was replaced in 1987 with a new steel cabin by David Harris at Coseley, near Wolverhampton. It has been refitted, using some of the old cabin furniture. In early 2006 the boat was completely rebottomed, using opepe to replace the worn out elm. This also involved replacement of most of the keelson. This work was carried out by Malcolm Webster on Worsley Dry Dock. The original timber conversion has now been replaced with a replica steel cabin, retaining the lines and style of the 1960’s cabin. This work was carried out by Simon Wain of Brinklow Boat Services. Many thanks to Nick Grundy for the pictures and history
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Sold to Jack Craddock of Wolverhampton in 1960 for conversion to an eight berth cruising boat. Timber cabin constructed by Waltons; fitted out by Jack Craddock at Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal.
Commisioned by the Sharpness New Docks Company and built at Brimscombe Port, Narrow Canal Tug 'Sharpness' was to be one of three wooden steam tugs based at Tardebigge. The other two tugs were the 'Worcester' and the 'Birmingham' both built by the same builder. She was one of the first internal-combustion-engined tugs originally destined for towing unpowered boats through the Sapperton tunnel which connected the Severn and Thames Canal. Several others of similar type worked on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and the upper navigable reaches of the Severn. Sharpness was mainly used as a tunnel tug and was soon transferred for duties on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, based at Tardebigge and Shortwood, where she was also an icebreaker.
"The Sharpness and her sister boats the Worcester and the Birmingham had steel hulls and were roughly 45 feet in length and had a width of just under 7 feet. Their petrol or paraffin engines were 30 horsepower, turning a four-bladed screw." • Extract from the National Historic Ships website Thanks to the owner, Colin Palin, for the use of these pictures.
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