Derek R.

The Google Earth aerial shot in Alan's post if closed in on shows a pair of boats side by side with cabins at the bottom of the picture, a clean road way to their right, and mature shrubs on the left, and what looks like the motor nearest the roadway. Whereas Virginis is not close to another boat (not that close), no roadway to the right but rising ground and scrub. So what are those two boats in Google Earth? And whereabouts on site is Virginis? The same location on Live Local is much fuzzier with long shadows, and more luxurious in arboreal growth. It is older, no access road, and no boats visible.

Ah! Nice little story that. There was no costume. Wartime working clothes; pinafore dresses often small flower print, a cardigan, headscarf or maybe a beret, or a felt hat, stockings unlikely, and reasonable leather shoes. The men in whatever working men wore in many walks of life. Army great-coats were prized, as were the khaki blouses amongst younger men. Some wore bib and brace overalls. Caps and Trilbys, perhaps a black beret. Seek a copy of 'Too Many Boats' by Robert Wilson for clothing worn, it may be from the fifties decade on, but little difference to that of the forties. The space available for clothing in a back cabin is severely restricted - something to work in, and something for best - little more (though miracles may well have been performed with what was available!). Just looking through my bookshelf, and I can highly recommend 'A Canal People, the photographs of Robert Longden' by Sonia Rolt. ISBN 0-7509-1776-8 by Sutton publishing. The photo's were taken towards the end of the Forties, are stunningly sharp (black and white of course), and depict a great variety of people - men women and children - in a typical variety of clothing worn by working boat people, and very much the same as working people in factory or field. Do get a copy, you won't regret it. Good luck. There's one photo on Matt's site: http://tinyurl.com/66eowg

Something attractive in haunting semi-dereliction. Gas Street, and the area surrounding the NIA has been sanitised by development. Couple of shots from the excellent Birmingham Canal Navigations Society book 'The BCN in Pictures' published by and copyrighted to the BCNS 1982, first published 1973, and from a copy purchased at Cambrian Stores in 1983. A lost canal. The Newhall branch in Birmingham City centre C 1920. And three ladies together at Cambrian Wharf about the same year.

Compare that with this shot from the Robert Wilson book 'Epilogue'. It's picture 22, and the similarity is convincing. Barber pole Rams Head; chimney chain and brass; the metal rope guards at the bottom edge of the cabin corners; the hasp on the cabin door; the marks on the counter, the middle section lighter than the bottom; fenders match too. These are Sidney Macdonald's boats in lock 15 Stoke flight. I'm convinced.

Ha Ha! I do rise easy - but did take it in jest. Think I wasn't alone. Did use a trilby once, but some sweet soul washed it. Big straw hat in the Sun, and currently a wet neck in the rain. Great-coats were good in the rain, they'd soak up the water rather than shed it all over the range as PVC's do. Big umbrella's are tops too. My current waxed cotton Marks & Spencer bum length I picked up in the street - all torn and sleeves hanging off - sewed it up, three doses of wax, and it's a gem - right 'gitorfmoiland' vagabond. Won't have none of them green wellies though, big black ones only - but prefer leather. (Now don't go taking that the wrong way!)

http://tinyurl.com/5aullb Nice picture credits Sarah. One of the most important legacies that can be carried on without the need for costly paint, steel and wood, is that of working practice. The little things that were done for the very qualitative reason that it was 'best practice'. Cheque books don't buy skill and knowledge handed down through generations, just a little reading, watching and talking - education. Baseball caps? I wonder if an Army blouse was once frowned on, or a trilby in place of a cap? If I'd worn my old crumbling leather backed Donkey jacket and cap found floating in the Aylesbury arm twenty five years ago, would I have looked more 'the part'. or a p**t? As on the traditional clothes thread, the key is on what was/is practical. No hair - wear something to stop sunstroke. As I like to be myself rather than play a part - the cheap baseball cap does the job. But here's a question - Did Joshers really sport a pair of buffalo horns and skulls traditionally? Do they serve a purpose? Surely not! Pride in appearance - or proud to be different? Enjoyed the weekend - especially Tony Ward's sketches in the Friday Church concert - brilliantly executed! Next year is 27 and 28 June if any one asks.

Cowboy hats with the compulsory "Kiss me quick" band, and added Brylcreme. Come back Chrissie - we'd like to help, but need more detail. What period - for what purpose? As has been alluded to, the late 19C ankle length skirts, billowing sleeves and bonnets were throw backs to former fashions, and for practical reasons would be a liability boating today. From the twenties on it was what could be got for a reasonable price - jumble sales, Army surplus. Simple, ordinary, hard wearing clothes.

Yes! 'Canal Recollections' (A pictorial record) by Julian Holland ISBN 1-85585-396-5 Parkgate books, 1998. Black and white, superb quality, vast range. The sticker on the back of mine says £2.99. 96 pages, not quite A4 size. Boats, people, loading, maintenance, Foxton and Anderton lifts. A gem - as is 'A Canal People'. Half way through 'Anderton For Orders' - thanks Neil.

Sorry, this has drifted away from Braunston! Costins - that was the name. There's a timber baulk almost ninety feet long and about twelve by four that is purported to have been a rafter from the barge shed still there. It's at ground level and separates the mooring staging from the gravel in front of the flats. In the 'beard' shot, the then joinery business is behind the corrugated, and a 'no mooring' sign is just visible, this was adjacent to the bits of railway line that comprised a vehicle barrier on the towpath. Alsfords sheds across on the left. Crystal Palace in white. About 1990: The Braithwaite 'Yarmouth'. (Well, a bit of it).

O.K. Not a lot to go on - Berko twenty years ago. Behind us the leaning house with the alley between it and what was formerly a coal yard but in this shot the premises of a joinery (now houses), and opposite the site of a barge building yard whose name is on the tip of my tongue but escapes me, and used at the time by Bridgewater Boats since closed. Flats now occupy the barge site, and also Alsfords timber yard which faced the 'Crystal Palace' - which is still there. Just seen Alan's pictures of the horse drawn barge outfit with the Barge yard in the background - and the name still won't come!!!

Oh no! Not a beard contest! Apologies for off topic, but anyone spot the location? (Bet Alan knows)

Wow! Been there often enough - but not walking!! London's full of surprises.

Hi Tom, couple of shots from about twenty years ago: Norton Junction Braunston, late eighties also. Derek

Couple of teasers, and most probably by owner boater painters. The roses are knobstick style, not sure about the castle - anyone know? Different again (same boat), poor condition. And a really poor pic. of a Fred Winnet castle by Chris Lloyd - 'Yarmouth' '86

Erm . . . not a tray, but a framed wall hanging picture. The glass is painted onto directly from behind, and so the foremost items need be painted on first, and the background last. Not easy. Lovely paintings on the side glasses to the door - what Country? Derek

You will find a good piece on the Fieldings, they're work, and the Norton J. cottage here: http://tinyurl.com/6jw9z8 Scroll down to 'Barge Ministry' Derek

We would have been on 'Yarmouth' then, and with the old railway carriage styled cabin which got the chop in '86, so that narrows it down to '83, 84' or '85 - and I fancy one of the latter two. Clearly a different set of roses on the cratch. Derek Yes - with Barnham.

Just been rooting through the box and found another of Angel: Derek

It looks so small now. Compare those shots with these, taken in May 1990 and shortly after Major Fielding passed away: A secluded hideaway. The slip for the missing narrow boat remains. The extension now removed. Slipway bottom right. Supplementary accommodation. I remember passing by in the early eighties and being 'welcomed' by his Airedale. The Major was on the lawn and said not to worry, "You'll be safe as long as you're on the boat!" Pleasant exchanges were made. Derek

Tony Lewery's 'Flowers Afloat' is very informative. He mentions Victorian glass paintings being popular in the nineteenth century. We picked one up in Scotland a few years ago in a junk 'cave', so I thought it might be of some interest to post: It measures approximately 24inches by 15. Crude, bold, with many of the features we see in canal decoration. Derek

Ta, might raid the 'piggy'. D.

'Voyage into England'? I have 'Sailing Through England' by the same author, travels in a Dutch Botter. I think 'Narrow Boat' is best read and perhaps appreciated more by folk new to the cut, but even then, there will be some who can't get into it. I enjoyed it, but struggle with it many years later. In complete contrast, I can pick up Rolt's 'Landscape With Canals' any time and be totally absorbed. Perhaps because it's more matter of fact than a deliberate romantic portrayal. 'Bread Upon the Waters' is good, but what of 'Anderton For Orders' by Tom Foxon? That's one I haven't read. Shiela Stewart's 'Ramblin Rose' breaks a few tinted glasses and rightly so, but read her other title 'Lifting the Latch' - nothing to do with canals, but a poignant story of life in an agricultural community. Global warming/cooling's been around since the Earth began, only the hype is modern. Derek

Just scanning through my copy, snippets; March 1934 Associated Canal Carriers launch an ambitious expansion program. Company name changed to GUCCCo Ltd. At the end of 1936 an internal disagreement about the expansion program brought about several management changes. In November a new managing director was appointed, and 100 pairs to be worked, while the remainder were to be laid up at Stockley dock until required. As a result of the disagreement the manager resigned, and the chairman did likewise in April 1937. By March 1937, almost 70 pairs were laid up in Stockley and Cumberland basin. November 1938, all laid up boats moved to Harefield, where many remained for several years. In 1937 [not specific] a patriotic red white and blue was adopted. During the War years - maroon and blue. January 1 1948 - Nationalisation Taken from Alan H Faulkner's 'The George and The Mary' published by Robert Wilson, 1973. PS There's no mention of dates for address changes, and I wonder if there was a change. The headed company paper states Seething Lane EC3 with a Royal 5630 telephone number, while on the side of Merope we have 20 Bucklersbury phone City 4755, but the three wheeled service van in attendance states 5 Lloyds Avenue EC3. Wouldn't mind a little Ford Thames van liveried up so!

Hmm, I see Amazon are out. Tried Uxbridge? Library request might turn a copy up, at least for reading. Ooh! - Stoke Bruerne museum shop? Braunston yes. Ian and Tina are steering, I'm tagging along. Tried for it last year but beaten by Sunstroke (small hat/big head), hire boaters, and lack of on-board 'stuff'. Cheers - Derek

Never took to 'Troubled Waters', Too much personality clash for me. 'Kit' Gayford's 'Amateur Boatwoman' is good. 'The Bargee' - despite the crass technical errors - I love it! Likewise with 'Painted Boats', we'd be poorer without them. It's probable that "The Two" written of, though strictly speaking part of the Maffas flight, were being called such as they were - and still are by many - 'Peter's Two', after which follow the seven (Southbound). Similarly, Soulbury Three is a comparatively modern term, they were always 'Stoke Hammond Three', and what is nowadays called Stoke Hammond lock was known as 'Talbot's'. The village of Stoke Hammond is also a little larger than Soulbury and a bit nearer the cut, which may have had something to do with it. If the village was nearer, it seems possible that the 'Three' would be associated with fetching a few supplies from the 'nearest' place. Bit of a calculated guess though. Don't know why Fenny went to 'Fenney'. It was pronounced 'Finny', and if asking how is that spelt, there may have been some who would take a shot at it without knowing the correct way. Someone may have known there was an 'e' in it, but sounding like 'Finny', put one in after the 'n'. Though she only had to look at a map. But then if the map was old enough . . . To a boatman, did it matter how it got spelt? There's lots now that don't carry their once 'common' names; Talbot's, Walker's, Chain, Five paddle, Corkett's two, Pool's, Neal's, Nags Head Three - that's Seabrook. Only just found this forum, interesting crack. Bit slow on the NBOC Yahoo group. Don't take me too seriously in word, though in appearance I may look a threatening old misery - can't help the way I look, quite happy for a leg-pull, but not too hard on the left one - NHS shrapnel. Might meet some of you next weekend. Only been around the cut since '80, so I'm no boatman.