Chertsey

Chertsey  is a 1937 Town Class Large Woolwich motor boat.

Darley

 A 1937 Grand Union Large Woolwich motorboat

Heritage Working Boats Project

We love these boats and the history of this way of life, and that's why we want to preserve them both.
If you have any sort of interest at all.. come on down to one of our events or send us an email - we'd be delighted to see you, or tell you more!

History Of The Narrowboat Steamer

The Place:- Standing on the banks of the River Severn during the IWA National Festival at Worcester in 1999, chatting about the history of President, the restored FMC steamer.

The Question:- Why don’t you research the history of all the FMC steamers?

The Result:- Here it is – somewhat larger than just the FMC fleet. Enter the world of the narrow boat steamer and review what I have found out so far about her and her forebears and contemporaries…..

Horseboating Society

The Horseboating Society exists to promote horseboating and to preserve the heritage and skills of this once common form of transport.

Longford Canal Services

I deliver diesel, coal and smokeless fuels and other chandlery items on my historic narrowboat Ariel around the Inland Waterways in the Manchester and North Cheshire areas.

Minnow

Ex Fellows Morton and Clayton motorboat 'Minnow'.

Narrowboat Roach

“Roach” was built in 1935 at W.J.Yarwood & Sons ship-building yard on the River Weaver in Northwich, Cheshire.
She was originally built for the well known firm of “Fellows, Morton & Clayton”, and carried cargo for them until the fleet was nationalised in 1949. “Roach” continued carrying for British Waterways until they finished cargo carrying in the early 60s. She was subsequently used as a maintenance vessel by British Waterways until 1985.

Narrowboat Trust

The Trust owns the 'Large Northwich' motor boat, Nuneaton and the 'Large Woolwich' butty, Brighton, built as part of the massive expansion programme of the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company(G.U.C.C.Co.) in the mid-1930s.
They are still used for carrying traditionally as a pair whenever possible, crewed by members. We give people the opportunity to see a pair of narrow boats in full working trim, and members to crew, display the boats at Canal Festivals, the Waterways System generally, and to look after & maintain the boats.

Norfolk Wherry Trust

The Wherry Albion, a 113yr old traditional Norfolk Wherry, and known as a ‘black sailed trader’ she is one of only two remaining trading barges built specifically for the Broads. At their peak there were over 300 of these craft, but now Albion is the only one available for hire. In the summer months during the Edwardian era, skippers scrubbed out the holds and took holiday makers for trips to make extra money. If you want to follow in Edwardian footsteps and explore the unique Broads wetlands beneath Albion’s vast black sail, then go to our Charter Page to find out all you need to know – otherwise we would love to see you at one of our Free Public Open Days that you will find listed under Events.

President & Kildare

President was bought by the Black Country Living Museum in January 1983, and Kildare was bought in September 1991.
The museum is assisted in maintaining and operating the boat by the "Friends of President", whose  objectives are: "To preserve and promote the use of the steam narrow boat 'President' and butty 'Kildare' in conjunction with its owners; and to use 'President' and 'Kildare' for the promotion of the Inland Waterways and in particular the Black Country Living Museum and to raise monies for the said organisation".
The boats tour the waterways in the summer promoting the museum & the waterways in general.

Renaissance Canal Carrying

I am a self employed boatman and fendermaker curently trading as 'Renaissance'. I carry coal, diesel, fenders and other boat consumables by narrowboat, on the inland waterways of England for retail sale to other boats and canalside properties. I own a working narrowboat built in 1936 called 'ALTON', which I use for this trade.

Wooden Canal Boat Society

The Wooden Canal Boat Society is a charity dedicated to saving, restoring and using on community projects some of the really old wooden working boats of Britain's canal network.
We are based on the Ashton canal in Manchester. These craft are a vital but hitherto  largely neglected part of the canal heritage.
Less than 200 wooden working boats now survive on over 2000 miles of inland waterways. The W.C.B.S. is saving as many as it can. When restored they function not as dead museum pieces but as living working boats serving today's community.