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Registration number
449
Status
National Historic Fleet
a12admin
Details
Function
Cargo Vessel
Subfunction
Narrow Boat
Location
Ellesmere Port
Vessel type
Horse Drawn
Current use
Museum based
Available to hire
No
Available for excursions
No
Info required
Yes
Construction
Builder
Sephtons, Sutton Stop, Coventry
Built in
1925
Hull material
Wood
Rig
None
Number of decks
1
Propulsion
Towed
Primary engine type
None
Boiler type
None
Boilermaker
None
Dimensions
Breadth: Beam
6.98 feet
(2.13m)
Depth
12.30 feet
(3.75m)
Length: Overall
71.44 feet
(21.79m)
Tonnage: Gross
22.00
History
An unconverted horse drawn boat, FRIENDSHIP was built in 1925 by Sephtons of Sutton, Coventry, for Joe and Rose Skinner who lived and worked on her until 1959. They mainly carried coal from the East Midlands to destinations on the Oxford Canal; for about twenty years to the Morris radiator works at Oxford; and then until their retirement to the Dairy at Banbury. Joe was a lover of animals and was not interested in having his boat motorised. She has been on display in the Boat Museum (not the National Waterways Museum) at Ellesmere Port since 1981, where she is under cover with one side opened for display.
We are currently seeking further information on this National Historic Fleet vessel. If you have any details about this vessel past or present, please contact us.
Key dates
-
1925
Vessel built by Sephtons of Sutton, Coventry
-
1959
Vessel retired from her working life carrying coal from East Midlands
-
1981
Displayed at the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port
Sources
Brouwer, Norman J, International Register of Historic Ships, Anthony Nelson, pp150, Edition 2, 1993
Sullivan, Dick, Old Ships, Boats and Maritime Museums, Coracle Books, 1978
The Boat Museum, The Boat Museum
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
