Derek R.

An interesting explanation, but appears to be based upon the lack of a wider perspective in the education systems at large. It was obscure, and remains so. I learned of some Shakespeare plays at school (in England) and learned to avoid any such if possible preferring a railway embankment to cop numbers (steam engine numbers). I had heard of Zulus, but knew nothing of them not having been taught of them at school. Most of a persons education is gained from after school is left - and it never stops. Should we blame the education system - or ourselves? If CRT are at fault, we have yet to see that fault, as most of their inherited problems are from the previous custodians (some might say vandals). But like our railway and road networks, much has changed along the wayside. Only the privatised branch lines and transport museums hold keys to our historical past. It is not to the private boater one should aim a desire to consider the canals as historic artefacts - most are well aware of this already. It is to the property developer and Council alike - but your chance of any sway in that direction is close to nil. Interesting to learn that the Zulu word for the short spear came from the sound it made when pulled from the body - Ikwla. Not unlike the sound of shopping trolleys pulled from the mud. (I suppose there had to be relevance somewhere).

Can you explain the relevance of Shaka's spear and Shakespeare to canal infrastructure, its boats, and history please.

To consider that historic boats are NOT a tourist attraction comes as a surprise to me. I have always considered them to be part of the history of canals, and whenever and wherever I have cruised, people have shown an interest in the boat, and I have always responded with some potted history of not just the boat but also of the cargoes and destinations available. Quite often this has been met with surprise: - "I thought it only went a few miles" is a comment not infrequently heard. But for linear moorings, I fear we are our own worst enemy. Let alone the marinas full of mostly modern craft, are we not in an ironic situation that 'Waterways' were in over seventy years ago - Too Many Boats? In some ways we are not, as not all are likely to be on the move at any one time save Bank Holidays whereas 'Waterways' (and I mean that not in any specific, but carrying companies in general) were short of crew. cargoes, and facilities - and faced with road competition. Today it seems to be moorings, and getting ahead becomes difficult when there are lines of moored craft where once there was clear towpath, no generators, no clutter. It's 'society' that has changed. The history is there, but it's been lost in the main through development demands and the smudging of former evidence of their purpose. Perhaps that's the problem. Most of history is in the archives bar a few remnants, as history alone does not turn sufficient coin. We read the books, watch the films, and regret its passing - or do we? The camaraderie was in part created by common hardships and a desire to outshine your peers, but it was all graft, graft, graft. Those buildings and boats echo it, but those tuned in to hear are a minority, and seldom wealthy. The rest - do they care?

Really?? Oh well . . . In all its debauched glory: The vendor claimed it may have been built in the 1920's

Could be a starting point Richard: http://goo.gl/maps/Ym7Z6

That recollection is begging to be turned into a ghost story!

You will have to develop the technique of swinging the towing line under the footbridges and catching it as it comes up the other side. It comes with practice (I am reliably told), though a Monkey's fist on the end will help.

Remind me to stop pontificating. The link fails with error 404, but this might be the intended: Boat Museum Society tlc project. Click on the 'work done' links to see each craft.

Forgotten where I read it now, but during 2011 the Environmental Agency put up NO red board warning signs on it navigations. During 2012, it put up over 3,200.

Blists Hill Victorian Village seem to have managed it with the Severn Trow. The open sided shed adequately covers the Trow and the Ice Boat alongside with a raised walkway to view the deck space. Space is always an issue though, and Ellesmere may not have enough. It's true that company boats were often found to be in work worn condition, but it was the individual crew and live-aboard families that put the shine on all that they could. Likewise the Number Ones - owner boaters. Perhaps some reasons why so many wide wooden canal boats were not saved is that they made; traversing a wider network impossible; increased the maintenance costs; needed more expert handling; and few - unlike Thames sailing barges, fishing vessels and other coastal carriers - would take, or be equipped for coastal voyaging. The narrow boat could work almost all of the system, take up less of a canal in width. Maybe it all came down to costs alone, as it seems to with our museum craft.

I think that is a little unfair. There are a great many wooden boats in private ownership in far better condition than those left to rot at Ellesmere. We all know funding is paramount to ongoing necessary maintenance, but what are Ellesmere's plans for their boats? The 'burning' of boats is not the usual activity of owners, more like vandals. Those "surviving" look more like fallen Oaks. They may harbour a myriad of critters and fungi, but essentially they are dead. They resemble those left up the Wendover arm, picked clean and open to the elements, that many have survived is down to private ownership - and of those private owners, most will happily support contributing to museums, but when such vessels are left in that condition they may well consider that charity starts at home first. Quick learners?

Be careful! I have 'One day' projects that have been lining up from thirty years ago, and I'm now 65 - and more have been added along the way!! Edited to add: I think 'Today' is probably the best option!

That the vast majority of boats as seen in Andrew Watts flickr album are of those visiting, privately owned boats. This begs the question: in whose hands are the future of ex-working boats most likely to be secure; museums - or privately owned?

Chris's 18thC Frenchie sound impressive. Mine would weigh in at the other end of the scale, in being a very VERY crude model of someone's attempt at 'The Mayflower' - so no galleon really. It's dilapidated; rigging in shreds though the halyards still have their 'ratlines', masts wonky, sails of some sort of duckdown with wired edges to give 'wind in them' effect, others reefed and all blanco'd many Moons ago which is flaking off, but it oozes atmosphere! Saw it last year marked up at £137. Last weekend at £98, and paid £70. It's glorious in all its 'Black Pearl' appearance. Even smells of 'age' and pipe tobacco. It's almost 3' long from sprit to stern and nearly as tall on its block of wood. Love it! I think 'dinner' would be hard tack and wormy biscuit - VERY different!

It did indeed Sam's Son! And it covered the patch we used to frequent the most between Maffas and Cassio. I still get a kick out of watching it. Windlasses for £170! Who'd have thought it. But then I've just paid £70 for a model home made galleon built 90yrs ago - 'that' won't float either! Regards to your Dad. We knew him as casual moorers.

Why do I think the boats will see nothing of any such fund - management diktats? A cafe - against some boats. Which is most likely to be used by visitors? Judging by the exhibited boats at Ellesmere over Easter, it is clear where the onus of heritage in boats lay. With museums and their boats, I'm reminded of 19thC mill masters living standards compared to their workers hovels.

Is this the same Onion Bargee blog (one of which) states: "Please - do not use the anonymous option - please put your name to your comment. Comments without a name are automatically treated as spam and may not be read." Probably not. Seems to be based on the SSYN.

It is indeed: Map Man. Bit of fun. Graham Wigley elucidates from the counter of COLLINGWOOD as Crane cadges a ride; uses the canoe; and Shanks's Pony when the water runs out.

I have a bronze with an arrow,Laurence reckons: Posted 01 March 2013 - 02:12 PM 'Laurence Hogg', on 28 Feb 2013 - 22:44, said:

Hi Fittie, There's a step by step guide to posting photo's here; Posting images. But if you have prints or slides they will first need to be 'scanned' into the computer to make them accessible as a 'file'. Shout if you get stuck. Derek

Ah yes! Should have spotted that. Got some fatal error warnings, and tried to post 'Mr. Smith' from the Matrix, but too much palava. Thought there was no 'preview' option, but click on 'More Reply Options' brought it up. But clicking on the 'back' button lost the post completely. Start again! Like a new settee - I prefer the old one.

As I haven't found an answer yet, what's the "HOT" button for? It appears on many but not all entries. Derek PS Who are all these faceless shadows . . . . Mr Smith?

Any new build house or renovated building is done with breeze block. They've gone up like an invasion of 'pill boxes' in 'Mum's' village, and the debris from the old lock cottage was still in evidence around the structure. There would almost certainly have been some old Limestone there, but any character had been lost in the sharp edges and magnolia paint.

A power tool, well before hydraulics and the like there were 'Lock Keepers'! - On rivers at least such as Thames and Trent, and even the Lee had theirs. But fully automated? I went on a river in France - a very quiet one - where the trip boat we traveled on negotiated a fully automated electronically controlled lock. It sensed the boat arriving, set the lock, opened the gates, closed behind us etc. It was a lock not much bigger than a GU wide lock with a drop of five feet or so, and the whole process was so slow you could have cooked and ate an entire meal in the time it took to lock through. Half of the entire trip time was spent waiting for this thing to perform. Beside the lock was the old lock keepers house. Renovated a la Francais. Nice if you like rendered breeze block.