Marcellus | National Historic Ships

Registration number 3783

Status Registered

luis.vicente

Marcellus' cabin exterior at Stoke Bruerne

Marcellus from her stern at Stoke Bruerne

Details

Function Leisure Craft

Subfunction Narrow Boat

Location Tamworth

Vessel type Star Class Butty

Current use Private use

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich

Built in 1935

Hull material Steel

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Primary engine type None

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Depth

3.25 feet (0.99m)

Breadth: Beam

7.08 feet (2.16m)

Length: Overall

69.00 feet (21.03m)

History

MARCELLUS was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich, London, and delivered to the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd in 1935. Her original dimensions were 70'6" x 7'01/2" x 4'2". As a Star Class butty, she was originally paired with the Star Class motor ARCHIMEDES and was registered as number 308.

In 1948, on nationalisation, MARCELLUS passed to the British Transport Commission (Docks & Inland Waterways Executive) fleet - later known as British Waterways. She worked for British Waterways until c.1979, when she was purchased by an unknown owner.

She changed hands several times before being cut in two, c.1991. The fore half, originally about 60' long, was rebuilt as a 69' counter sterned motor with cabin conversion, with a Petter PJ3 engine fitted. She then was owned by several different people until her current owner purchased her in 2023, and she currently lies at Stoke Bruerne or Alvecote, near Tamworth, Staffordshire.

Key dates

1935
Built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich, London, for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd
1948
On nationalisation, passed on to the British Transport Commission (Docks & Inland Waterways Executive) fleet - later British Waterways
1979
Sold around this time by British Waterways
1991
Around this time, cut in two and fore half rebuilt as 69' counter sterned motor with cabin conversion