Full length converted butty in a Cambridge in 1973

[Black Ibis]

 

From the C&RT archive(Herbert Dunkley's images)

 

This shows what is I believe a full length converted butty/horse boat below Jesus Lock in Cambridge in 1973.

 

Now, the link route across the Middle Level was only lengthened in the mid 90s so it must have been either craned in or taken across the Wash. I wonder which boat it is?

Edited November 13, 2014 by Black Ibis

[pete harrison]

 

From the C&RT archive(Herbert Dunkley's images)

 

This shows what is I believe a full length converted butty/horse boat below Jesus Lock in Cambridge in 1973.

 

Now, the link route across the Middle Level was only lengthened in the mid 90s so it must have been either craned in or taken across the Wash. I wonder which boat it is?

small Ricky butty PHOSPHORUS, and it crossed The Wash from Wisbech to enter the Great Ouse at Kings Lynn in 1955

[FadeToScarlet]

small Ricky butty PHOSPHORUS, and it crossed The Wash from Wisbech to enter the Great Ouse at Kings Lynn in 1955

That rings a.bell, I've definitely heard the name before in connection to an historic boat in Cambridge

[MoominPapa]

We possibly almost bought this boat in 1988. http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=41503 I wish I could remember the name for certain....

 

MP.

[Hugh]

It was owned by Cecile Dorward, whose wonderful book "Anything But Ordinary: The Nine Lives of Cecile Dorward" recounts how she bought if off Aickman and of her travels around the country from 1948 to 1955. Her voyage across the Wash was reported in the Manchester Guardian of August 1955. Soon after her husband died in December 1956 she sold it "to some American physicists". The story of her early voyages was published in the Waterways Journal (Boat Museum Society) Vol 9, 2007. I'm currently working on a follow-up, hence the details - but I am grateful to know where that photo was taken as there is a very similar black & white one in her photo collection.

 

Hugh

[Black Ibis]

Thanks all, how interesting. Must find a copy of that book!

Edited November 13, 2014 by Black Ibis

[David Mack]

 

From the C&RT archive(Herbert Dunkley's images)

 

This shows what is I believe a full length converted butty/horse boat below Jesus Lock in Cambridge in 1973.

 

Now, the link route across the Middle Level was only lengthened in the mid 90s so it must have been either craned in or taken across the Wash. I wonder which boat it is?

 

It was still there in the late 70s. A friend of a friend lived on it for a couple of weeks during one summer when the owner was on holiday. Apparently the hull leaked so much that they had to find someone to stay on board and pump the bilges daily to prevent it sinking.

 

Does anyone know what happened to it?

 

Around this time there was another full length butty (steel/iron/composite) on an end-of-garden mooring just upstream of the Green Dragon footbridge at Chesterton. The cabin was covered in a green canvas tarpaulin and there was no name obvious. I never found out which boat it was.

[Paul H]

Phosphorus was broken up and my late friend Steve King ended up with IIIRC the stem iron and tee stud. He donated the ironwork to Keith Ball so I imagine the bits are still kicking round his yard somwhere.

Paul

[Pluto]

Thanks all, how interesting. Must find a copy of that book!

It should be available at the museum at Ellesmere Port.

[Hugh]

Phosphorus was broken up and my late friend Steve King ended up with IIIRC the stem iron and tee stud. He donated the ironwork to Keith Ball so I imagine the bits are still kicking round his yard somwhere.

Paul

Paul

 

You wouldn't happen to know when this was, would you?

 

Hugh

[Bones]

I am SO pleased you have found pictures of this boat. How wonderful. I have heard so many wonderful stories about it.

It was owned by Cecile Dorward, whose wonderful book "Anything But Ordinary: The Nine Lives of Cecile Dorward" recounts how she bought if off Aickman and of her travels around the country from 1948 to 1955. Her voyage across the Wash was reported in the Manchester Guardian of August 1955. Soon after her husband died in December 1956 she sold it "to some American physicists". The story of her early voyages was published in the Waterways Journal (Boat Museum Society) Vol 9, 2007. I'm currently working on a follow-up, hence the details - but I am grateful to know where that photo was taken as there is a very similar black & white one in her photo collection.

 

Hugh

I was under the impression it was sold to Americans but one was a writer (who wrote about their tales in a column the guardian) and the other a scientist. They lived on it while he was working in Cambridge and I believe their D.Phil students have some interesting tales from it!

Edited November 19, 2014 by Bones

[Black Ibis]

Ooh please share your stories about it! It's a wonderful boat