Halifax and Ladybank

[monkeyhanger]

Reading these H&H pages caused my mind to wander, and I remember the two boats in the title from almost 40 years ago. Does anyone know where they are now, or if they still exist?  Just wondering.

[dave moore]

Ladybank was owned until recently by Sparky Williams and moored at Norton Canes. I understand that the boat is now in new hands.

[monkeyhanger]

2 minutes ago, dave moore said:

Ladybank was owned until recently by Sparky Williams and moored at Norton Canes. I understand that the boat is now in new hands.

Thanks, Dave. I shared a lock going out onto the Thames with Ladybank (and about 40 other boats) in 1983 when they were just about to close the old Limehouse ship lock before rebuilding it to a much smaller scale, as it is now. I thought then what a good looking boat it was and was fascinated by the engine (RN or National as I recall), but have never seen it again on my travels. Mind you, I've yet to visit the Cannock extension. That was on the agenda for summer 2020.  Thanks,  Jack

[roland elsdon]

I think Halifax was at Bulls Bridge from 1980 until 1987 ( haven’t been back since)

full length top with a gap between the engine room and conversion.

Used to tie up on length that was associated with Tam and Di’s cottage, at the junction.

Course memory plays tricks.

[magnetman]

The house there (Bulls bridge ex T&D Murrells) has been fully rebuilt now which is nice. 

 

There is usually an unconverted GU butty moored near there not sure which boat it is. 

 

Probably visible on Google towpath view 

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2020 by magnetman

[magnetman]

They don't seem to have done the towpath there but the house itself is visible from the Tesco truck supply road which is by the moorings and goes over the top of the old dry dock

 

 

Having seen that house in ruins I am quite happy to see it's condition now  it has probably been enlarged but at least it's still extant and seems to be fairly in keeping with the original ie not a block of flats. 

Edited November 8, 2020 by magnetman

[David Mack]

Big Northwich Shirley was named Halifax for a while, but reverted to its original name around 25 years ago. I last saw it on the bank at Bollington Wharf on the Macclesfield last year. It does indeed have a gap between the conversion and the engine room.

 

https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/shirley

https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/ladybank

 

 

Edited November 8, 2020 by David Mack

[monkeyhanger]

19 hours ago, roland elsdon said:

I think Halifax was at Bulls Bridge from 1980 until 1987 ( haven’t been back since)

full length top with a gap between the engine room and conversion.

Used to tie up on length that was associated with Tam and Di’s cottage, at the junction.

Course memory plays tricks.

I remember Halifax from when it was at Bull's Bridge, but I would have said it was around 1990. I met the owner through a mutual friend a few times. Nice guy, who's name I cant remember. The one thing that does stick in my mind was that the cabin sides of Halifax seemed (to my eye) very low, and out of proportion to the high hull sides.

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, monkeyhanger said:

I remember Halifax from when it was at Bull's Bridge, but I would have said it was around 1990. I met the owner through a mutual friend a few times. Nice guy, who's name I cant remember. The one thing that does stick in my mind was that the cabin sides of Halifax seemed (to my eye) very low, and out of proportion to the high hull sides.

 

You might be right. I seem to recall that the (female) owner who changed the name back to Shirley acquired the boat in the mid 90s. Relatively low cabins are a feature of some converted large GU boats due to the depth of the hull sides.

(from https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/shirley)

[Tim Lewis]

Shirley from when it was around London and as Halifax at Fools Nook as part of the McGuigan fleet!

 

 

 

Edited November 9, 2020 by Tim Lewis

[roland elsdon]

On 08/11/2020 at 16:52, David Mack said:

Big Northwich Shirley was named Halifax for a while, but reverted to its original name around 25 years ago. I last saw it on the bank at Bollington Wharf on the Macclesfield last year. It does indeed have a gap between the conversion and the engine room.

 

https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/shirley

https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/ladybank

 

 

Yep that’s as I remember Halifax..

[Split Pin]

Ladybank is now a nearly new boat having been completey renewed between the engine room bulkhead and the bow by Ian Kemp during 2018/19

[David Mack]

3 hours ago, Split Pin said:

Ladybank is now a nearly new boat having been completey renewed between the engine room bulkhead and the bow by Ian Kemp during 2018/19

Was the original plating that bad?

 

I boated on Ladybank in 1988, when it was still converted, returning from the IWA Castlefield National to Birmingham.

[monkeyhanger]

21 hours ago, David Mack said:

 

You might be right. I seem to recall that the (female) owner who changed the name back to Shirley acquired the boat in the mid 90s. Relatively low cabins are a feature of some converted large GU boats due to the depth of the hull sides.

(from https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/shirley)

I seem to recall that the cabin went all the way forward when I knew it, with no imitation "clothed" section.

21 hours ago, Tim Lewis said:

Shirley from when it was around London and as Halifax at Fools Nook as part of the McGuigan fleet!

 

 

 

Thanks, Tim.  The photo at Marsworth looks about the same as I remember.