Beatrice in 1950

[Heartland]

This image from the Waterways Archive shows what seems to be an early working narrow boat conversion for leisure use. What happened to her?

 

 

[alan_fincher]

4 minutes ago, Heartland said:

This image from the Waterways Archive shows what seems to be an early working narrow boat conversion for leisure use. What happened to her?

 

It looks like its wooden, so I think we can make a very reasonable guess!

[David Mack]

Wasn't Beatrice owned by Peter Scott - the chap who founded the Wildlife Trust at Slimbridge, and son of the polar explorer (and not related to the forum member of the same name)?

"Then (1950), staff were accommodated in a couple of caravans loaned by supporters, plus a narrow boat named Beatrice that was moored on the Gloucester to Sharpness canal at Patch Bridge. Scott himself lived on the narrowboat the Beatrice when he undertook a lecture tour of the Midlands to raise awareness of the work underway in Gloucestershire."

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/remembering-founder-gloucestershires-slimbridge-wetlands-8136768

 

 

And Google just found this:

 

 

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/beatrice-a-former-canal-boat-and-now-the-new-floating-news-photo/809401326

 

I think that's Peter Scott sitting in the hatches and maybe Robert Aickman on the left.

Edited March 2, 2025 by David Mack

[Paul H]

I believe the remains of Beatrice are sunk in the Troy Cut at Rickmansworth where it has been in the queue for an unlikely restoration for a couple of decades.  With the sad death of Chris Collins restorer of Albert, Roger, Mimas and Progress it will now never happen.

 

Paul

[Nick G]

I found the same photograph (without the Getty Images logo) with the following caption: 

 

The Narrowboat BEATRICE and now the new floating headquarters of the Severn Wildfowl Trust (formed in 1946) at Diglis Basin, Worcester after travelling down from Birmingham in 1947 on her way to the lower reaches of the Severn, 
Photo From the left Mr Aickman, of the Inland Waterways Association: Peter Scott MBE., DSC., naturalist, author and broadcaster and Director of S. W. T.: Mrs Aickman and Miss Talbot Ponsonby, Assistant Secretary of the Trust 
(Peter Scott was the only son of the famous Antarctic explorer Captain Scott who died during the ill-fated exploration to the South Pole)

[koukouvagia]

See 

https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/18172-where-are-they-now/#comment-291811

Pic shows Beatrice in, probably, 1992  in the Stinkhole.

 

Edited March 3, 2025 by koukouvagia

[Tacet]

I thought Beatrice had a motor around this time - and understood at least one extensive cruise. 

[David Mack]

You can see the 'anti cav' plate fitted at water level at the stern.

[Derek R.]

I thought it was up the Troy cut. Isn't this a young Mr. Fincher alongside?

 

[J R ALSOP]

I'm sorry to say I helped to break it up when I worked for Wood, Hall & Heward.

The good news however all the metalwork was saved.

[Richard Carter]

On 03/03/2025 at 10:37, Tacet said:

I thought Beatrice had a motor around this time - and understood at least one extensive cruise. 

 

L T C Rolt writes about Beatrice in his autobiography - the conversion was much influenced by Cressy, even down to having a Model T Ford engine. He describes joining Peter Scott and other early IWA members on Beatrice for a (Lifford Bridge) campaigning cruise on the Northern Stratford. I think the boat was on its way to Slimbridge.

[Heartland]

Fascinating replies

 

[Isabella Hargrave]

I heard that the Rolt radio 4 programme is going to be on again tomorrow and that led me to a search and this thread. I lived on Beatrice in the 1960s in Little Venice London. My father Edwin Hargrave smartened her up after her role on the Broards with Sir Peter Scott- see picture with my mother Delia Hargrave hanging out the washing. I suppose we lived on her for 8 years after which she was sold to a maker of instruments and went to Campden and converted to Electric after that she was lost but I think I did see her half submerged towards Rickmansworth. She came with a bath as remembered by Sonia Rolt. And my parents got stuck in the same tunnel as Rolt eventually getting out with help from the fire brigade and then getting through by doing it backwards and chucking out some ballast. 
Beatrice was a very happy home and the Little Venice community although poor was happy and shared lots of amusing tales and touched many lives.

Isabella Hargrave

[plato]

Thank you Isabella 

thats most interesting. Do you have any more photos or tales from your time on the water? 

[Isabella Hargrave]

Yes lots - it was quite a community in those days. The canal would freeze right over and one year they sent the ice breaker down and my parents were terrified that the ice would pierce Beatrice’s rather compromised wooden hull and we would be sunk. In those days the area was quite poor and the ‘boat children’ received toys at Christmas from the local church and we all went to the baths at the weekend where we could do the washing and bathe at the same time. We did have a bath in the back room where my sister and I slept on bunk beds next to the engine room. Beatrice was a converted butty. Sometimes we would travel maybe just to Cassiobury meadows or Stoke Bruene where my aunt lived. We would set off early and I remember the luxury of being tucked up in bed listening to the pup pup of the engine whilst inhaling engine fumes and watching the world go by - almost as magical as rising from the depth of a lock, walls all green and slimy into the light. 
I’ve added some pictures, one showing the mooring and canal which was hidden away behind a wall on Blomfield road with the BW office where we collected post by the bridge. But I think the image might be reversed. My father leaning on the lock gate. And the fore of Beatrice somewhere in London. And another of our mooring. We were I believe, the first non working narrow boat to go over the pontsilt acquaduct on the Llangollen canal about 1964 and were featured in the local press. We had the pictures but they seem to have been lost after my mother’s death. And now to listen about Rolt! 
Isabella

[plato]

Thank you , it looks like you had a great if not unconventional childhood. You  obviously have fond memories of that time