Name Buckden

BUCKDEN is a Town Class Large Woolwich narrowboat, built by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Woolwich, for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd (GUCCC).  She carried cargo for the GUCCC until 1948 and then, after nationalisation that same year, she was transferred into the British Waterways Fleet until 1963. 

She briefly became a houseboat but was subsequently restored for carrying again in the 1980s, carrying occasionally for present owners since 1996. She often tows the historic flyboat SATURN

The vessel has undergone periodic partial re-plating and is riveted where visible.  Her cabin and engine room was re-built to the original 1936 construction and detail, but painted in current owners' 1970s livery.  She retains her original National DM2 diesel engine, with an electric start added.

BUCKDEN has been well maintained by her just two ownerships in the last fifty years, and is in cargo carrying condition.  Unusually for these vessels, she has now been restored to ‘as built’ form and detail, except for her current owners’ livery.   

Under current 28 year ownership (as of 2025) she has had comprehensive platework repairs mostly by Brinklow, Ian Kemp and Tim Leach, and comprehensive engine and gearbox works by Tim Leach and Tim Wood.  The new wooden cabin was built to an exceptionally high standard at Brinklow by Rex Wain and Adrian Polglase, with every piece of timber epoxy primed on all faces before fixing in a king’s ransom of Sikaflex, with the new riveted engine room by Steve Priest, all carefully researched for original Harland & Wolff detail.

She has a boarded and framed wooden cabin with riveted engine room, high pigeon box, removable liner funnel, electric klaxon, wooden stern deck (in teak) with closed weeps, etc.  Her cabin has full traditional fittings, including a solid fuel range. 

Update, June 2025: Vessel for sale.