Derek R.

Hi Jon, Take a wander through this thread Families, where to start, several tips in there - you are not alone.

Often claimed as being 7' and one half inch for 'GU' boats. Quite how it could be narrowed at the engine room bulkheads is the question.

Are you going to let us in on this information to satisfy curious minds - with the Ashton/Peak Forest and Huddersfield canals in mind?

Can a canal be tidal? If it is man made - yes. Natural river courses improved for navigation are just that, and could no more be canals as could be the Thames estuary when dredged and bouyed. Canals are dug. But as with so many things, grey areas exist.

As the histories of war are most often written by the victors, then perhaps the histories of the canals are written for the simplicity of the telling for the benefit of the teller. Are not the original Acts of Parliament a clear starting point, and from there, the engineers reports? Names: I live on a road that is a clear example of lack of knowledge by those involved in accumulating data for satellite navigation databases. From the nearby small town of Wenlock (it became 'Much' to define it from 'Little' Wenlock to the best of my knowledge!) there is Barrow Street. There is a name plate for Barrow Street at each end of it, but none for Barrow Road anywhere. As there is none, it would appear the data collectors decided Barrow Street extended to and beyond our house. Many deliverers have been confounded by the non-existence of Barrow Road. History is ripe for corruption for several reasons.

More information, maps and images HERE. And Dukinfield Wharf HERE. Edited to add: Amongst the text in the Dukinfield Wharf link is this: "The demolished building on the right, where the canal narrows to cross the Tame Aqueduct, was Aqueduct Mill (or Dukinfield Mill) and Garforth's Private Branch runs alongside it. Ashton Junction is at this end of the aqueduct and it is where the Peak Forest Canal starts. Portland Basin is on the other side of the humped-towpath bridge." [My emphasis] This, beneath the image of the aqueduct taken from the Peak Forest, and with Ashton Warehouse and Portland Basin in the background. This suggests Ashton Junction is at the Zero milestone at the Southern end of the aqueduct, itself being the short arm of the Ashton, which leaves the possibility of Dukinfield Junction being that of Garforth's private branch. Do I hear the sound of scratching heads. So, travelling from the Peak Forest, one passes Garforth's arm at Dukinfield Junction, crosses Ashton Junction upon entering the aqueduct and onto the short arm of the Ashton, then enters the 'T' junction which is not Ashton Junction at a point opposite Portland Basin. Turn right on the Ashton and head for Whitelands where the Huddersfield Canal begins.

I am not sure what point it is that you think I am missing. I recognise that the junction North of the aqueduct is Ashton junction as stated on the map, and that the basin facing it is called Portland Basin probably after the Street name used to access it. But I also see Dukinfield Mill along the short arm that branches off from the South side of the aqueduct and suggest when I say "Looks like" as it is not written on the map, that this might be Dukinfield Junction. I have not intimated any boundary of any canal at all, I leave that to others. My curiosity as to the name of the basin where the HNC begins has not yet been answered.

So that's where you did your smoking!! Nice round hole for a Pusser's cork:

As far as I could tell the sides and back were sheet steel folded round and riveted or bolted in place. This image does not show the sides or back to any degree, but there was considerable warping of the sides and back necessitating some filling with fire cement or exhaust paste to make a good seal. Some of this can be seen along the left hand bottom edge.

Welcome SallyLou. That may well have been CAPELLA. I do remember my first visits to Aylesbury basin in '78 or '79 and seeing CAPELLA with Bob Bush's name written on the side advertising signwriting. He wasn't living aboard then, and may have been ill or even passed on. PEARL (ex-BARON) was also moored there, and we viewed when looking for a boat but passed her over. (Think I got the names right). She was tied up in the corner, full length conversion with cabins off an offset coridor. Three pot Bolinder somewhere in the back. All the Aylesbury moorings are now in in the Circus Field marina just outside Stocklake. An era ended.

'Turkish' - that's what I forgot - but I seem to recall it went from two minutes to five!! Love 'Bullet tooth' and the 'Russian'!

Take some large flat washers and nuts and bolts, if it's water line they may prove useful. Bit of linseed oil putty or a mastic of some sort too.

"Five minutes Guv." So you haven't found that hole in PYTHON?

But then many of the old ranges had steel sides and backs - you can see some in that list. Our Larbert had steel sides and back, only the front, top and base were cast - and the bottom thin at that.

Looks like Dukinfield Junction is that South of the Aqueduct and located close by Dukinfield Mill, while the junction North of the aqueduct appears as Ashton Junction following the name of the warehouse, but that due to the proximity to Portland Street South, may have become known as Portland Basin. However, the 'marina' - albeit a more recent development I'm sure - at the end of the arm from Dukinfield Junction has called itself 'Portland Basin Marina'. That might be merely a modern contrivance, but what then is the name of the basin just West of Whitelands bridge and which is accessed from Lower Wharf St.?

Surely their own website does that - or not as the case may be: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/ Note the sequence of images that change at the top of the page. The girl with back pack seemingly standing in front of some pole, is actually packing a camera - the Google Trekker - the smiling face of surveillance Britain. What a shame Francis Frith did not concentrate on the canals during his time spent photographing the UK. What stories such images would tell. Today it's licences and overstaying. Apologies for the digression. Our Larbert was 27" wide, but its depth of 17" (or was it 15"?) and flue box arrangement did prove challenging in a motor. A butty would have proved no problem though. Cost us £125 in 1980 - and that from a dealer in Camden!

That looks a useful piece of kit Carl. Externally riddled too. Spirit burner you say - Meths then. Interesting site. It's a reference Lumbago - I don't have them to sell. But some folk like to know what is available - like rope and tarps. http://www.marinestove.com/orderinfo.htm Pricey though.

Have to agree with Onionbargee about the Windysmithy stove, only one step up from an oil drum. It's a shame about the cost of the Shipmate as it looks full on solid. A bit garish as American tastes are, but interesting to look at. Some of their restored and repro '30's and 40's household stoves are quite something, but a world away from boats. Bet the ovens miniscule, but with some brass in place of the fiddle rail would look the part at least. If the forum is appearing 'stale' - as many do from time to time, there's no need for a shot of abuse. It doesn't 'liven' things up at all.

It's scumble, or scumbling. Welcome, hope you don't find certain comments off-putting, many would. Boats evoke more opinions than Bees to honey. I remember IAN being moored in Aylesbury in the early eighties when Bob Beer (IIRC?) owned it. Always remember him coming down and turning on little more than tickover, just nudging the coping with the stem which produced a wriggle to the length of the hull. Soggy timbers? Or just wooden narrow boats? IAN had engine room and back cabin back then, with a long extension toward the fore end which was mostly glazed and an open fore end. He/she/it was always a comfortable looking boat, and was well loved by many. It would indeed be tragic if IAN was left to further deteriorate, but I do hope that does not happen. A wooden boat has something tangible that is not produced in any metal counterpart. You are going to need a deep purse. But that can be said of any boat.

I have not done this myself, but the local records office should have some results on names as will the census records which will go back to 1851. Another member of the forum has boating family and has done quite a bit of research, it might be useful to contact her via a Private Message, look for Jeannette Harrison in the members list. The very least is that she may be able to point you to some fruitful links. Derek

I can't see any twist, but a photo cannot tell the whole story. Looks fine in post No.8 by Tim Lewis - the shot taken in 2003.

A little bit of 'chicken and egg'. Any numerical allocation must surely be the following of an engineers logic. From where they start may be down to which came first, or from the source of a companies offices - or a directors whim. As to names, many places have names that do not appear on maps but are local knowledge from past times. Many fields have names, but only those who farm them might know them, yet they may have been named many generations ago - and no map or sign will inform the stranger. Try and find Ebbs Pit on any map! - And it's not a coal mine. Or Blackberry Bridge on the Southern G.U. How about 'Gypsy Corner' on the A40 in West London? No sign - just knowledge through word of mouth. Numbering is necessary to define a bridge or lock for maintenance. Names are additional, and rightfully drawn from an older time and local - often pre canal. I remember a canal worker telling me of an error made on the L & L when men were despatched to a lock for emergency gate repairs. The team were sent off to Apperley Lock, only to find they should have been at Appley Lock. May be a story just for the telling as there is a yard at Apperley, but names can be misleading - especially when some locals are unsure even.

Posted on a Facebook page, this comment from John Dodwell which appeared on the 1st August: The following appeared on the CRT Facebook page this afternoon after many of us had commented when it first appeared yesterday: ---- I am John Dodwell, volunteer Trustee of the Canal & River Trust. I can tell you that the Trust is not engaged in a sale of valuable heritage assets. I hope that, when you read what’s below, you will understand the thinking behind our Heritage Hunt. My involvement with inland waterways goes back 50 years. I personally value the various aspects of the heritage of the waterways. I welcomed the idea that staff should start a search for documents and other items that might be lying in a building. Far better they are properly looked after in one of our museums. And if we have duplicate copies or if they have no heritage value then why not sell them to waterway-lovers and raise money for the Trust? The vetting process means all items found are assessed by a combination of our expert heritage team, our archive and collections team and by someone from the local waterway. Our Heritage Advisory Committee approved the concept and my fellow Trustee Simon Thurley (chief executive of English Heritage) commended the idea. I quite understand why people have got concerned because our posting on Facebook did not fully explain this. We have listened to your comments and you may have spotted that 4 of the 10 items have been withdrawn. These items are being rechecked individually and we are also strengthening our vetting processes. Going back to the purpose of what this is all about, we have already found some interesting examples of hidden heritage which are now being added to our collections and archive. Examples include a BW shield presented to the best pile driving team each year covering 1959-79 and commemorative plaques from the Braunston Boat Show in the 1990s – all found at the Braunston Stop House. ------------- Copied from HNBC forum.

Correctly spelt: governor. Ray, watch how it was done in the 1950's - 14minutes in. http://www.trash80.org.uk/2013/02/inland-waterways-1950-video.html

How memory plays tricks! 'Tis clearer now. Nor me. Not even in Matty's colours though the holes for the bolts are there. Probably re-cycled at Bulls Bridge in '42.