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Joseph

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Everything posted by Joseph

  1. Hi John I'm sorry to say that link to jhtaylor boats doesn't work...unless I am doing something wrong! I think that there were only 13 "Taylor" pleasure boats as such. I have researched the history of Amaryllis, which is the Waterways Museum, but the history of the others (I think all but Jenny Wren are still extant) would be very interesting. Joseph
  2. Evenin all Very many thanks for the replies. I think we've drifted a bit off-thread, but it has been interesting to discover sources I did not know about. Back to the main purpose of the thread - which is missing collections. It ends like Alan Faulkner's and Laurence Hogg's records may have only partly survived. With regard to Laurence Hogg, have his videos survived? I know some were released commercially, but there must be more material. Sueb, David Blagrove must go on the "not known" list. As, I think, must go the records of most carriers...! I think I have seen some Birmingham & Midland papers somewhere, but I wonder if those of Fellows Morton Clayton were destroyed after 1948 - their book collections went to the IWA, I think. Willow Wren? Barlow companies? And apropos the IWA - John Gagg? David Owen (NMWIN, not the politician) - archive was named after him but i'm not sure about his own records. Or Peter Froud? Any other candidates - or information? All the best Joseph
  3. Evenin' all The comments on possibly lost collections were so interesting that I have started another thread on this subject. I hope noone minds. Ian Mac's comments about keeping your own collections safe are spot on. Such a shame when a life's work gets kicked out or, with digital material, simply deleted. It's a thought to leave some instructions (and maybe a modest legacy) with executors, as to what you hold that might be of interest to an archive. The easier it is to understand that collection, and the better shape it is in, I submit, the more likely it is to be accepted in an archive. I've been a little surprised at some reactions to Chris' request for contributions to the Waterways Journal. It was founded by volunteers (notably, the late Tony Burnip) at Ellesmere Port, to produce longer articles about waterways history, especially using archive material. I have been surprised to find that it is not better known. It is all about enthusiasm, supported, but not run, by C&RT. Happy Christmas everyone. Joseph B
  4. Evenin' all On another thread, about the Waterways Journal, there were speculations about the collections of (very sadly) deceased waterways enthusiasts. I hope that noone minds if I isolate this question rather than try to follow it up on a thread that has suffered from mighty thread drift! Mention was made of Harry Arnold and Laurence Hogg's collections, and it looks like most of thee have survived. Can I ask whether anyone knows whether the following collections have survived, and if so, whereabouts? 1. Laurence Hogg's videos - those produced for salke and any rushes? 2. David Bolton's tapes (on cassette, I think), which backed many interesting interviews in Waterways World and elsewhere? 3. Mike Taylor's tapes, which were used in many of his published work. And any still photographs. 4. Records kept by Alan Elyard Brown. 5. Records, if any were kept, by David Hutchings. 6. Any other records that I haven't listed here for lack of inspiration! I imagine that the response will be "no idea" to most of these, but if anyone has a clue, even as to whether a collection has definitely been destroyed, it would be interesting to know. My motives are, simply, that as one who does examine records in archives, I am aware of how helpful these can be to historical research, and I do speculate about records that I haven't seen but which might turn up. There are so many anecdotes about skips, bonfires and paper recycling, and I wonder if relatives or friends of the above might have collections and not realise their great (non-financial) worth. I would be very interested if anyone has any information. All the best Joseph
  5. Evenin' all Coming rather late to this one. I was puzzled by IanMac's reference to "Over the years to reduce maintenance this has slowly been pulled in to the current figure of 6ft 10" brought about by Mr North and his grand plan to save the Llangollen canal from closure." Sorry, who was Mr North? All the best Joseph B
  6. Hear hear Mike (Pluto)!! One could start a separate thread about people who were, it seems, great experts on waterways history, kept it all to themselves, then went to their eternal rest with their work unpublished and documentation booted into the recycling bin. You are absolutely right - with historical research, the focus should be getting it into the public domain, so that others can (hopefully with credit due to the original researcher) follow on. End of secular sermon...😀 All the best, everyone Joseph B
  7. Evenin all I agree with Tony, fascinating contributions. Many thanks Joseph
  8. Evening Bob My Dad had an Allbutt boat, Peel Castle, in 1965-6. It was moored at Nantwich, as was another Allbutt, Kimrick (not sure of date). While we were moored at Nantwich yet another Allbutt owner came past and stopped to talk....no idea who that was. So, that's three Allbutt boats, but I would be surprised if any were still afloat. I do hope that you find Swallow! Allbutt was from Derby, made wooden furniture and branched out into boats, I gather. Best wishes Joseph
  9. I think that I was the author of the piece about the Ailsa Craig trip - what I was told was that it provoked controversy over water shortages and thus de-navigation was ordered. One feature is that the Railway Executive was responsible at the time of the trip, but then the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive took over, and it was the DIWE which ordered de-navigation, so that further pleasure boat trips (whether campaigning or not) could not take place. There was certainly some maintenance of lock gates in order that maintenance craft could move from pound to pound, but this finished after Ailsa Craig. Joseph
  10. Evenin all Great thread - all sorts of observations! Someone, perhaps, should make a definitive list, if one is possible. Way back, someone mentioned the Davenport Arms at Calveley on the Shropshire Union. Alas, this closed finally a few years ago, and the site of pub and car park are now housing. Going south from there, the Jolly Tar has had the same fate, and The Star at Acton is now a (well-restored) house again, with new housing in the car park. And, going north, the pub at Beeston was demolished some years ago and the site is...housing again! Not sure about others, but not many pubs left on that length, sadly, with or without character. I do recall the old Kings Arms at Barbridge - its posh successor is still open. Good job I don't drink - except tea, coffee or lemonade! Joseph
  11. Evenin' all I heartily agree with the comments about the preservation of early pleasure boats - wooden boats can be a nightmare, but it is worth encouragement. I wrote a history of Amaryllis (formerly Teal) for the Waterways Journal. This was never a hire boat, but had four owners before the last one sold it to the Museum. One of the Taylor boats (the first of its kind I think), most of which are still extant. Joseph
  12. Evenin' all Just a quick query. Does anyone know when the Canal Tavern at Shardlow closed? I have seen reference to it being open in 1989, but none later than that. Any thoughts or memories, anyone? All help gratefully received. Happy Easter Joseph
  13. Evenin all Just to say that I alerted the editor of Waterways World to the bad news about Mike T, and an obituary has now appeared. He was a major figure in the recording of oral history of the (mainly) Yorkshire waterways; I wonder where his recordings are now..... It would be as hame if these were destroyed. Just wondering. Joseph
  14. Evenin all I recall seeing towpath tractors for the one and only time on the lower Grand Union is the summer of 1968. We (Dad and family) turned at Bulls Bridge, as i recall, but there was at least operating on the length above Hanwell. Hope this is of interest. Happy New Year! Joseph
  15. Many thanks everyone. Mike seems to have kept himself to himself in many ways, which makes an obituary difficult, but I think it is important that one is provided. Interesting comment relayed by Mike (Pluto), and a modest one. Mike T seems to have had a wealth of recordings of boatpeople - i wonder ion he made arrangements for any of this to be preserved?? His collections would make a fitting memorial. Definitely a major loss to us. Joseph
  16. Hello everyone Many will know the excellent works by Mike Taylor, many about the waterways of Yorkshire. He was a leading proponent of oral history, and interviewed all sorts of boat people who are no longer with us. I had wondered what he was doing now, and some online searching drew clear evidence that, very sadly, he passed away in September. I've not seen any sort of obituary in waterways publications, although there has been mention in the jazz music scene - he played trombone. One of the jazz obituaries refers to him both playing trombone and having a deep interest in waterways, so this must be him. I only met Mike once, briefly, and I wonder if people recall him. I think he must have been in his early 80s - there is reference to him playing music at university in 1957. What do people remember of him? Regards Joseph
  17. Hello again Well, a good deal of head scratching has drawn up two more answers to my own query; Ulverston Canal, nationalised with LMS but sold to Ulverston UDC. Cromford Canal (upper part) sold to Derbyshire County Council. I think these were lock stock and barrel, but I may be wrong. I think many other transfers conform to Patrick's point - which were more a disposal of the site of the canal, rather than the canal as a possibly-viable entity. And I do take your point, Patrick, about CRT and isolated waterways - perhaps it should control the main network and possible additions. Quite a problem if the EA waterways v=ver come in - and what about the Tees? I shall refer all this to the Department of Very Odd Waterways Queries!! Regards Joseph
  18. Thanks Peter I did wonder about the Ashby - I'm not sure if handing over a filled-in canal quite qualifies, but the Grand Western was partly dry when Devon took it over. Regards Joseph
  19. Thanks for this The Councils took over the Basingstoke from the New Basingstoke Canal Company - the one formed to buy the Canal in 1948 when the IWA sought to a acquire it at auction. I can see a long thread developing from this! Joseph
  20. Many Thanks Ray Definitely one for the list of odd exceptions - I doubt if many records were handed over with the transfer! Joseph
  21. Afternoon everyone It's now just 50 years since the isolated section of the Grand Western Canal was handed over, following a campaign of sorts, by BWB to Devon County Council. With this, as I have been discovering, went quite a few records of the Canal, transferred to Devon Archives. It seems to have been "lock stock and barrel" (LSB!!), unlike other transfers of odd lengths. Now, here is the question - was the Grand Western the only such transfer - a potentially viable waterway handed over to a local authority for possible preservation? Are there other candidates? I would leave out from this the handing over of part of the Shropshire Union Newport branch to Newport council (now Gtelford & Wrekin) as a non-navigable amenity, parts of the St Helens for local mooring (Widnes and Fiddlers Ferry), a bit of the Dudley Canal No 2 to Halesowen, and a lot of waterways sold or given piecemeal for destruction or what-you-will (like the Monmouthshire, to Cwmbran NT and Caerphilly and other local authorities). And, of course the Southern Stratford, for which the freehold was transferred (but not, seemingly, records) in 1965 before being transferred back with a large endowment. Any thoughts, anyone - or was, as I suspect, the Grand Western a unique case? I would be very interested in any speculations! Joseph
  22. Evenin all Can't shed much light on Jasmine, but yes, John Humphries (that spelling, also known as A C Humphries) was IWA Chair in early 1970s and owned Clevanda. Joseph
  23. Morning all Great to see this Ray (and Duncan). It's a good resource, and the more people can look through and add information, the more useful it will become. Take care everyone. Joseph
  24. Thanks Jubbly Actually, in IWA Midlands Branch newsletters he is described as Phillip Hutchings with a G! Good to see this corrected. What are your memories of him? Best wishes Joseph
  25. Hi Jubbly Many thanks. Keith Christie was with the Knights on their trip through the Ashton with Bruce. I've seen reference to Phillip Hutchings - was he related to David H? Many thanks Joseph
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