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

I think that must have been another boat. Towcester was ex-Wendover Arm sales and had been in private ownership (N. Hollis) for a few years up the Lea and Stort before being acquired by the Murrells. Are you thinking of Stamford? Paul

Tamworth and Bakewell were still “on the barrels” up until the early 70s. I don’t know why it would have been seen with Berkhamsted which I remember on maintenance on the South Oxford in the 70s. Paul Monahan who had Tadworth and Argo is still around and now owns the Madeley. Paul

Braunston boats was actually started up in the late 60s by Chris Barney when a luxury purchase tax of 25% (pre VAT) made it difficult to sell his “Barney Boats.” Other early hire boat outfits were Constellation Cruisers of Higher Poynton. Maidline and Double Pennant of Wolverhampton -all early 60s. I’d recommend an early edition of Know Your Waterways or The Canals Book for their adverts! Paul

Worth looking at canalscape.net and various articles on http://waterwaysmuseumsociety.org.uk/publications/waterways-journal/previous-editions-of-waterways-journal/ also Canal Cruising of Stone is now in the hands of a 3rd generation so imagine they have some archives! Paul

I knew there was some doubt which is why I used the term “suggested.” An incorrect assertion is often taken later to be fact. A particular irritation is the often repeated “fact” that Paragon is ex-Rival which it clearly cant be unless the boat was able to be in two places at once! Paul

I can confirm that Willow Wren’s Heron, said to be the ex-station boat Caleb, is still full length with butty stern and here in Oxford. BW had a different Heron formed partly from the stern end of another station boat which they sold by auction a few years back. It has been suggested that this is the stern end of Delhi but I have no idea if it is the boat now for sale. Paul

Well I’m glad you bothered. Your post not only highlighted the opportunity to acquire an example of Ron’s painting but stimulated a useful discussion on the authenticity or otherwise of what we now refer to as dippers. Ron was the genuine article but painted far more items for the tourist market than he ever did for working boats even in his early days in the 50s. I am lucky to have several examples of his work and one of the best is wooden tea tray for goodness sake. I’m still looking for a picture of Rose Bray offering Arthur and Ernie tea and cucumber sandwiches on one! Am I right in thinking the seller of the “dipper” and waste bin was Lockside Antiques I wonder... Paul

That’s interesting. I wonder if they were used for scooping horse feed into the horse bowls? So they, or something similar, might have been a proper “thing” in the past but may have died out at the end of horseboating. There is no evidence that they were used by GUCCC crews (they don’t appear in the standard equipment list for a pair) or probably FMC pairs either. If they had been, you’d have thought there would be a photo somewhere! Also several respected authors from the 40s and 50s use the term dipper interchangeably with the term handbowl. Phil Speight on Facebook said (and I hope he doesn’t mind me quoting him:) “I've always believed (they) appeared on the canal because they are readily available, cheap and have deceptively authentic look when painted. Ron was very pragmatic about such things.” I used to call my handbowl a dipper - until about 20 years ago when things became much more pedantic. I think I will again! Ooh controversial! Paul PS Here is my painted corn scoop I wonder who painted it...

Because some of us suspect that the feed scoop “dipper” is a modern introduction (in the 60s) and hand bowls just may have been alternatively known as dippers in the 1940s and before. The literature seems to back this up. I have an open mind. Paul

The London Canal Museum’s photo is of the Lee. Note different engine casing to Anne and the name just discernible on the stern. But the boat is not converted - it was built like that, although it’s converted now! Paul Paul