Name Beech

BEECH was built by Fellow's, Morton & Clayton ltd, at their Uxbridge yard in 1935. While working for FMC she was paired with the butty ELSIE. She was in regular service with the company until the 1st of January 1949 when FMC were taken over the British transport commission. In 1962 she was bought by the Kennet Carrying Company where she was used to carry furniture between Shepperton and Shiplake on the River Thames. She later fell in to a state of disrepair and was then acquire by Ken Ward who tragically died before restoration was completed. She was restored at Charity Dock in 1986. Her original semi-diesel Bolinder engine is now in the boat museum at Stoke Bruerne.

BEECH was dismantled in 2020 at Langley Mill Boatyard in Derbyshire, on behalf of her then owners, the hull having been found to be totally rotten.  In the end only two of the planks were salvageable.  The boatyard recorded all details and with the exception of the shearing on the inside of the hull, have recycled or plan to recycle everything off her hull.  Although she won’t be floating, the spirit of the boat still lives on in various guises.  A fully photographic record of the dismantling was taken.