Paul H

The William (ex-Beauchanp Lodge) was worked on at this location but much later, probably mid 1980s. I know it wasn’t earlier because I owned it from 1977-79. Unfortunately the couple rebuilding it split up and restoration ground to a halt. I believe Jem Bates of Puttenham took away the ironwork but when I asked a few years ago couldn’t put his hand on it. But maybe another Ovaltine boat was here earlier. Paul

I think the first two boats, Milton Maid and Milton Queen were built in- house by Johnson Bros. The third boat, Milton Princess was supplied by Malcolm Braine of Norton Canes and lives on as Milton as a passenger boat for London Waterbus Co. The boats carried China between the two works at Hanley and Milton but in 1986 the Milton operation was closed and Princess became disused and was sold off. The other boats were then only used in a limited way around the Hanley site. Paul

I would suggest the first is Severn Dolphin - probably ex-Taygeta, a middle-Northwich GUCCC boat and now being restored at Brinklow. The second I’d Hercules, a GUCCC small woolwich still in use by CRT in the north west. Paul

Ivy along with ex-GUCCC Antares (but lettered Antries) were taken to the Festival of Britain in 1951 as a publicity stunt and moored on the Thames. Antares had a panel saying Members of the Inland Waterways Association. Robert Aikman was amongst the crew and there are pictures of the boats looking fairly shambolic. Paul

I agree drawer pulls on the back doors were far from standard fittings but I find them useful and decorative. There is a story that Jim Collins found a wardrobe floating in the cut and took off the drawer pulls! There were a lot of embellishments which were seen on the odd boat - these draw pulls, brass klaxons, lambs tail rope work on the chimneys, swingers on the pigeon box etc all individual “bling” applied by the boatman but they were never seen all together on the same boat. Nowadays many people want to have the lot. I know Roger Hatchard was criticised by born and bred boaters when he over-blinged Hawkesbury! Paul

It’s the Bosworth. Not a historic boat and I presume ex-Ashby Canal. The Cycle Boat is the Carina which is of course historic! Paul

I’m still convinced it’s Norbury. There are glimpses of the Shropshire Union telegraph wires and the maintenance depot on the mainline. No idea about the boats, although there are clearly two iceboats amongst them, but I doubt they were associated with trade to Newport (the arm was closed in 1944) - it was simply somewhere for BWB to shove redundant boats so they didn’t clutter up the wharf at the yard. Paul

It’s 50ft. A very attractive boat at a good price but the Lister SR3 and the non-authentic counter would put some people off. I don’t know if he is leaving all the cabin brasses but I was once told they take 3 hours to polish! Paul

Not much to go on here but how about junction bridge on the Newport Arm at Norbury? Paul

No website but The Historic Narrow Boat Club has published a collection of BCN ones: https://hnbc.org.uk/shop/birmingham-canal-navigations-1950-1977 with detailed captions. There are plans for a sequel of non-BCN pictures but I’m not sure when. The Weaver Collection appears to be dispersed between HNBC, R&CHS and CRT Gloucester Museum - some are duplicated though. Paul

Yes Epsom/Kenelm. Just beat me but I was identifying it by elimination rather than anything else although the panelled engine room doors are probably a legacy of working with Barlows. The counter has obviously been rebuilt since then but it still has its towing hook. Fulbourne’s conversion is helpfully pictured on their website and has a much more haphazard window arrangement. Paul

I think the question mark was because many/most people believe this boat to be really Ayr. Bulls Bridge having switched the identities. Paul

Tom Foxton’s Anderton for Orders covers his time with John Knill and is much more accurate - I remember there being several howlers in JK’s book. I owned Columba’s old 3BM (in William) at the end of the 70s. A cracking engine or it may be just because it was set up so well but the boat could stop in its own length! Paul

I think there was only the one edition (500 copies) iirc. They were signed by Jenkyn Knill, John’s son, who was selling them at the Braunston Boat Show shortly after John’s death. Paul