Oxford to Llangollen 1956 NB Glendower

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A friend of mine Tony Thurlow has written up the following and emailed me copies of his photos, Quality isnt good but still I include them and hope you enjoy them.

 

About 1956-7 through the YHA I learned of a canal trip from Oxford to Llangollen which was to be horse drawn. Being an apprentice boat builder (on the Essex coast) and having ridden and driven farm horses as a teenager I thought I would give it a go.

We started just outside Oxford, meeting the owner/crew and was told this was the first trial trip. As far as I can remember there was about 12 to 14 of us. The barge  (the Glendower) was 70 feet in length having bunks each side, a cooking/dining area. The cook, come chaperon, called "Beth" looked after all of us.

One lad from a narrow boat family made up the crew. The horse named "Nigger" came from British Rail and was used for shunting in the goods yard. He was on "holiday" for a fortnight and used to moving 21 ton trucks. When he put his shoulders into the job once moving he just strolled along.

Once we had all settled down we did jobs to help like going ahead opening paddles on locks, or leading "Nigger" along the towpath.

I cannot remember the route but do recall turnover bridges and a hinged bridge just like the Dutch have, taking on water, provisions from village stores.

We stopped at Banbury to see the famous cross. Getting to the aquaduct in Wales was fun walking the horse over this, he was very staedy and done well. The canal into there was very shallow and took some navigating. When we got to Llangollen they were having an Eisteddfod, oh what a sight!

Coming back I had made friends with the owner and was invited back for working holidays which I did later take up.

Hope you enjoy my memories. 

Cheers. Tony

 

Unfortunately Tony cannot recall the boatmans name, perhaps someone mighty know and remind him !

 

Hope you enjoy it.

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Tony has been in touch again.

 

The narrowboat owner was based in Birmingham, was well educated and had a "cast in his eye".

 

Cheerrs. Mick

[Heartland]

It would be of interest to discover more about GLENDOWER. This was an early trip out by a horse drawn craft for pleasure.

 

Some of the locations could provide a useful information if each image was presented singly, for example:

 

 

 

 

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Tony tells me he thinks he has some old 8mm movie reel taken on that holiday. He is going to look for it,

 

Will keep you posted if more info comes along.

Cheers. Mick

[Philip]

47 minutes ago, Heartland said:

It would be of interest to discover more about GLENDOWER. This was an early trip out by a horse drawn craft for pleasure.

 

Some of the locations could provide a useful information if each image was presented singly, for example:

 

 

 

 

That's Autherley stop lock.

[Heartland]

That is useful.

 

Then there is the image showing the GLENDOWER passing what may be a BTW  boat and various wharfside buildings

 

 

[archie57]

38 minutes ago, Heartland said:

That is useful.

 

Then there is the image showing the GLENDOWER passing what may be a BTW  boat and various wharfside buildings

 

 

Claytons boat at Cropredy - Albert Beechey perhaps?

[Athy]

14 minutes ago, archie57 said:

Claytons boat at Cropredy - Albert Beechey perhaps?

That's fascinating - our mooring is just off the bottom right of the photo. Much is still recognisable (bridge, buildings) but the wharf appears to have an awning . It's also not clear, because of the vegetation, whether there was a winding hole immediately South of the wharf, as there is now.