NB Hardy

[Cloudinspector]

From a Facebook post. Wooden narrowboat Hardy, apparently built in 1940, refloated. I know nothing about this boat, just thought I’d share the pic.

 

[Ray T]

Hardy was a  Barlow Ltd boat having entered the fleet in Sept 1940, being built by Nurser's.

My "historic narrowboat Captain" Mike Humphris steered her for a while. The first boat he captained was Gort with the butty Drake. He was 15yrs when he took charge of these.

To confuse matters S E Barlow, had a butty also named Hardy.

I'm sure Pete Harrison will be along with the minutiae soon.

 

 

Pictures from the IWM and CRT Archive.

 

 

Edited May 16, 2018 by Ray T

[pete harrison]

7 hours ago, Cloudinspector said:

From a Facebook post. Wooden narrowboat Hardy, apparently built in 1940, refloated. I know nothing about this boat, just thought I’d share the pic.

 

2 hours ago, Ray T said:

Hardy was a  Barlow Ltd boat having entered the fleet in Sept 1940, being built by Nurser's.

My "historic narrowboat Captain" Mike Humphris steered her for a while. The first boat he captained was Gort with the butty Drake. He was 15yrs when he took charge of these.

To confuse matters S E Barlow, had a butty also named Hardy.

I'm sure Pete Harrison will be along with the minutiae soon.

When passing through Banbury on 07 May (Bank Holiday Monday) we stopped briefly for a bit of shopping. A short conversation across the cut with a chap at Tooley's Dock lead to a more formal tour with the temptation of 'we might have a few things for sale', even though they were closed. What became clear is that the operators of Tooley's Dock, in collusion with a local wooden narrow boat 'enthusiast', wish to make this location a specialist in the restoration of wooden narrow boats - but at reasonable costs. I believe they have a charitable status. They told me that HARDY would be their first project, and that it was currently sunk near Braunston (confirmed the next morning when we passed by). They also asked if I had any details on HARDY and I sent the following on my return home:

 

"HARDY is a much easier boat to deal with as I have a transcripts of both Nurser and Samuel Barlow Coal Company Ltd. documents. HARDY was completed as a motor by Nurser Bros., Braunston for Samuel Barlow Coal Company Ltd. in September 1940 at a cost of £380.0.0., and was the last boat to be completed by them before their business was sold to Samuel Barlow Coal Company Ltd.. When built HARDY was powered by an Ailsa Craig engine, but this was replaced by a 20hp Gardner (2L2 ?) in 1944 and again in the late 1950's by a Lister JP2. HARDY was inspected for health registration on 21 September 1940, with its certificate (No. 512) being issued at Daventry three days later - with Alfred Buckler named as master. HARDY was Oxford Canal Company gauged on 15 October 1940, and issued with the gauge number OC5667 - dimensions being listed as 71'4'' x 7'0½'' x 45'8'' stowage x 12.35'' draught light x 50.55'' draught laden with 36 tons = 0.27'' dry side. HARDY carried the fleet number 16 from new, although this was later altered to 31. HARDY carried with Samuel Barlow Coal Company Ltd. until being taken over by Blue Line Cruisers Ltd. in February 1962, and was sold on to the Measham and District Angling Society two months later for £650 who renamed the boat ALF (HARDY again by 1968). HARDY was subsequently converted for pleasure use and has been enjoyed by several owners.

 

Please be aware when researching both JUBILEE and HARDY that these names were quite popular and were used on several boats, with both Samuel Barlow Coal Company Ltd. and S.E. Barlow having other boats named HARDY at the same time ! "

 

As Ray says, S.E. Barlow had a HARDY, and this boat was bought into the Samuel Barlow Coal Company Ltd. fleet in early 1957 

[Ivan C]

Hi

Im currently doing some research for a descendant of the Buckler family. She is an elderly lady called Veronica. Her mother was born on a wooden boat called Japan at Braunston which i have found a picture of. She lives down the road from us here in Australia. She emigrated here about 40 years ago and is looking to trace some family members. I notice you mentioned Alfred Buckler in your article regarding wooden boat Hardy. She has given me her family tree and would be grateful if anyone knows of any surviving family members that i may put her in touch with.

 

Ivan Case

[Ray T]

Try here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanalsoftheMidlandsPast/

 

or here:

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/379770275469928/

 

 

Edited May 18, 2018 by Ray T

[Ivan C]

Thanks Ray T. Will check them out. ?