The Village Butty

Thanks for your help! We are good friends with the previous owners and hoping to put on more similar events soon Thanks everyone for your help! We will do a bit more 'knees and feet' research based on your replies and let you know how we get on ... Anna & Richard

Hi everyone, We have recently bought a 50ft butty called 'Vanadium' and we're trying to find out some history - where it was made / its original routes. We say 'butty' but locals here (we are just outside of Rugby at the moment) say it is more likely a 'mud hopper' because it's 50ft long (rather than 70ft). The information we have: - built in 1958/9 - one of the last iron-riveted butties / mud hoppers made in the UK - it was built as one of six boats, all the same dimensions (it is pointy at both ends) - Vanadium is a chemical element, perhaps the others also had chemical element names? Vanadium has been converted into a 'floating community hall' and we plan to restore her to her former glory and start a long cruise next Spring 2022. We are looking for more information about this boat! We would love to find out where she was made, what she transported and where she worked and if any of the others are still in operation. Please let us know if you have any information or advice about how to find out more. Many thanks, Anna & Richard