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Now in new owners hands, and the subject of a rescue and reconstruction project. After careful recording, she will be rebuilt plank by plank in Braunston, her birthplace. She was lifted on a custom made steel frame in May 2009. Timber for her reconstruction is now being sourced. LUCY is currently located at Tess Wharf, Braunston. Built in 1953 by Nursers of Braunston, LUCY is a narrowboat butty. The original owner was Sir John Knill who operated a fleet of working narrowboats, and LUCY was a towed vessel. She was sold to Samuel Barlows in 1955 and subsequently to Blue Line.

LUCY is the last unconverted nurser butty left, she is closely connected with Sir John Knill, one of the founders of the Inland Waterways Association. She was one of the last regular long distance carrying boats.

Update - February 2010
May to November 2009
Most of the time has been spent on clearing the mud out of the boat, bucketful by bucketful, and replacing it with a layer of sawdust, which was kept damp through the hot weather to preserve the elm bottom. Some measurements were taken, especially to create a diagram of the bilge plank chamfers, and to assess the length and sizes of the replacement timbers required. The kelson is made of two pieces, 4” by 10”, each 35ft long, overlapping with a ‘joggled’ scarf joint. A trip with JAMES LOADER and BETELGEUSE to the River Wey in September collected oak timber for shutts and gunnels, mast box and mast, but the sawmill failed to supply the larger stuff. 35ft exceeds their capability, and they did not have the logs to supply the hull planks before we had to run north again. Such large timbers require forethought and planning, and we will try again this year.
Survey - November 24th
In November six of us carried out a survey of the hull planks, finding and marking all the scarf joints and measuring the lengths of planks. Plank lengths vary from 15ft to 34ft, apart from a short 9ft length on the starboard, forward side which must be a repair piece, judging by the position of its scarfs. The final bucketfuls of mud were removed, revealing the details of the fore end. The front three pairs of frames are S shaped (see above), giving the bow its distinctive and beautiful shape. The same applies to the stern frames, which are in far worse condition.
This collection will supply oak for the rudder, stem and stern posts, fore and aft frames, and most of the shearing. The beech will provide planks, beams and furniture for the cabin. We will cut it up with a mobile sawmill later this month. The timber is from Mike and Claire Hardy’s farm in Cheshire, gathered from storm and wind damaged trees. It will be delivered to Braunston by narrow boat after Easter.
Source: current owner

Financial year April 2008 - March 2009
A Sustainability Grant of £1,150 towards restoration work made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships.
Source: National Historic Ships