Registration number 3525
Status Registered
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Details

Function Cargo Vessel
Subfunction Narrow Boat
Location Trent & Mersey Canal
Current use Private use
Available to hire No
Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich
Built in 1937
Rig None
Propulsion Motor
Number of engines 1
Primary engine type Diesel
Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Length: Overall
71.42 feet (21.77m)
Breadth: Beam
7.00 feet (2.13m)
Depth
4.83 feet (1.47m)
Air Draft
6.42 feet (1.96m)
Tonnage: Gross
32.00

History

The Grand Union Canal Carrying Co was formed as a subsidiary of the Grand Union Canal Co in 1934 and prototype narrow beam canal craft were ordered. GAINSBOROUGH was one of a later order for 24 motor narrow boats of the Town Class placed with Harland & Wolff of North Woolwich on the Thames. She was delivered on 24th March 1937. She was allocated fleet number 143 and subsequently registered under the Canal Boats Act of 1877 and subsequent legislation at Rickmansworth Number 177 on 21st September 1937.

Under this registration the boatman’s cabin was authorised for occupation as a full time dwelling by three adults or two adults and two children under twelve. In order to ascertain the weight of cargo carried GAINSBOROUGH was ‘gauged’ on 10th March 1938 and allocated gauging number 12744 by the Grand Union Canal Co. In the present ownership the boat has been used extensively on the Bridgewater Canal before being moved to the river Soar and has covered most parts of the inland waterway system accessible to boats of these dimensions including The Leeds & Liverpool Canal to Liverpool; The Llangollen (or Shropshire Union) Canal to Llangollen, Montgomeryshire Canal to the limit of restoration at Rednal; The River Wey and River Thames to Inglesham and a little below Woolwich Barrier; The Lee and Stort Navigations; the River Witham to Boston and the Great Ouse river system amongst others.

Update, May 2021: Sold to new owner

Key dates

  • 1937

    Built by Harland & Wolff

  • 1948

    Became psrt of the British Waterways fleet

  • 1950s

    She was under the command of Sam and Gladys Horne from the late and an account of their working lives appears in Tales From The Old Inland Waterways (David & Charles, 1998) by the present owner.

  • 1961

    It was decided to withdraw Gainsborough from the active carrying fleet late in 1961 but she was not sold to Willow Wren Canal Transport Services Ltd until 1963.

  • 1965

    She was sold to the Aylesbury Boat Co with a National engine

  • 1992

    Gainsborough’s hold was rebottomed by Mike Harrison of the Langley Mill Boat Co in March 1992 and the forecabin was fitted in February 1993

Own this vessel?

If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk