BRING ON THE BIG GUNS
In 1966, Cliff Sherwood and myself were driving up Factory
Road in Tipton when we saw a plume of smoke rising from the rear of the Tipton
gauging station. Stopping to investigate
Cliff parked up and we entered the yard to be met by two British Waterways
blokes who were having a bonfire and burning all the paperwork from the gauging
station. When asked what they were doing
they said “clearing the building”. Cliff
enquired “what are you doing with them” pointing to a set of BCN registers
stacked next to the bonfire ready to be consumed by flame. “Burnin em” was the reply, “why dun ya want
em, cuz if yow do then tek em” We
proceeded to load the fullscap sized books into the rear of his van, in all
over 160 volumes containing 200 boats in each.
These were taken to Cliffs house and unloaded, after which Cliff
promised me when he had finished with them they would be mine.
50 Years later at Parkhead boat rally, cliff spoke to me and
said “I have something for you, you’ll have to come down to Greensforge and
collect it. A few weeks later saw Dawn
and I visiting Cliff and Barbara and loading the boxed 160 volumes into Dawns
car, along with a gauging stick I gave Cliff in 1968, for them to be transferred
to our summer house. Since then I have
set about producing a searchable electronic data base of the registers which,
when finished will be donated the Dudley Tunnel Trust’s Hub along with the
original registers. So far I have transferred about 4000 boats in 12 months, so
yes it is a big job but I feel worth while.
BCN
REG No
|
DATE GAUGED
|
OWNER/
OPERATOR
|
ADDRESS
|
TYPE BOAT
|
NAME
|
LENGTH
|
BEAM
|
TONS MAX
|
16185
|
29.04.1898
|
A E HARLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
MARY ANNE
|
76'-6"
|
7'-7"
|
50
|
16181
|
27.04.1898
|
A E HORLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
ELSIE MAY
|
77'-10"
|
7'-7 1/2"
|
50
|
19639
|
20.02.1905
|
A HORTON
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
CYRIE
|
75'-3"
|
7'-6"
|
49
|
906
|
3.09.1924
|
A J BAUGH
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
MAMY
|
79'-2"
|
7'-8"
|
49
|
343
|
28.07.1922
|
ALBION COAL CO
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
CAMBRIA
|
76'-10"
|
7'-8 1/4"
|
47
|
23250
|
13.09.1920
|
B & H SMITH
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
PEACE
|
78'-0"
|
7'-6 3/4"
|
44
|
395
|
25.08.1922
|
CHARLES INGLES
|
HORSELEY FIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
VIOLETTA
|
77'-3"
|
7'-8"
|
48T
|
17498
|
29.10.1900
|
D A WRIGHT
|
DEEPFIELDS
|
OPEN WOOD
|
76'-2"
|
7'-7 1/2"
|
53
|
|
445
|
2.10.1922
|
D BAKER & SONS
|
BRADLEY
|
CAB WOOD
|
82'-4"
|
7'-7 1/2"
|
50
|
|
1876
|
13.09.1935
|
D BAKER & SONS
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
88'-10"
|
7'-9 1/2"
|
61
|
|
678
|
22.06.1923
|
D STEVENS & SON
|
DEEPFIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
JACK
|
80'-7"
|
7'-8 1/4"
|
51
|
757
|
5.11.1923
|
D STEVENS & SON
|
DEEPFIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
MAYFLOWER
|
82'-6"
|
7'-8 1/4"
|
51
|
856
|
12.05.1924
|
D STEVENS & SON
|
DEEPFIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
82'-2"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
51
|
|
933
|
8.10.1924
|
E DYKE
|
LANESFIELD
|
CAB WOOD
|
HORACE
|
82'-4"
|
7'-8"
|
51
|
1713
|
1.02.1932
|
E J THOMAS
|
ETTINGSHALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
QUEENIE
|
87'-7"
|
7'-9"
|
57
|
1736
|
19.08.1932
|
E PROBERT & SONS LTD
|
MILLFIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
PROMPT
|
87'-8"
|
7'-10 1/2"
|
59
|
1416
|
20.08.1928
|
E PROBERT & SONS LTD
|
MILLFIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
PROSPERITY
|
85'-4"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
52
|
1663
|
24.03.1931
|
E THOMAS
|
WALSALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
RAY
|
97'-11"
|
7'-9"
|
56
|
1591
|
26.04.1930
|
E W REED
|
DUDLEY PORT
|
CAB WOOD
|
83'-0"
|
7'-9"
|
50
|
|
19481
|
14.10.1904
|
EVERALL & HILL
|
W’TON
|
OPEN WOOD
|
77'-6"
|
7'-7"
|
50
|
|
23306
|
22.11.1920
|
EVERALL & HILL
|
W’TON
|
CAB BWOOD
|
77'-4"
|
7'-6 3/4"
|
47
|
|
14531
|
23.08.1895
|
EVERALL HILL
|
W’TON
|
OPEN WOOD
|
76'-6"
|
7'-5 1/2"
|
47
|
|
14594
|
7.10.1895
|
EVERALL HILL
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
77'-3"
|
7'-7 1/4"
|
50
|
|
1537
|
2.12.1929
|
F ROBINSON
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
GEORGE HARRY
|
79'-7"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
52
|
1535
|
26.11.1929
|
F ROBINSON
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
SEGRAVE
|
83'-1"
|
7'-9"
|
50
|
159
|
30.01.1922
|
FANSHAW & PINSON
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
ANNIE
|
75'-7"
|
7'-6 1/2"
|
49
|
1446
|
29.11.1928
|
FANSHAW & PINSON
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
BONZO
|
76'-5"
|
7'-6 1/2"
|
50
|
1758
|
28.04.1933
|
FANSHAW & PINSON
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
SHEILA
|
85'-10"
|
7'-8"
|
55
|
348
|
31.07.1922
|
GEORGE & MATTHEWS
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
FLORENCE
|
79'-4"
|
7'-7 1/4"
|
47
|
16216
|
23.05.1898
|
GODDARD & CO
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
TAMOSHANTER
|
75'-6"
|
7'-6 1/2"
|
48
|
18079
|
28.02.1902
|
H ROBINSON
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
GEORGE HENRY
|
83'-0"
|
7'-8"
|
53
|
1741
|
16.09.1932
|
H TURTON
|
MONMORE GREEN
|
CAB WOOD
|
ADELINE
|
87'-4"
|
7'-9 1/2"
|
56
|
16391
|
23.09.1898
|
HADLEY & KNOWLES
|
OLDBURY
|
OPEN WOOD
|
76'-8"
|
7'-6"
|
49
|
|
1725
|
27.06.1932
|
J & E TAYLOR
|
HORSELEY FIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
85'-5"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
52
|
|
19441
|
21.09.1904
|
J BEDDOWS & SON
|
ALDRIDGE
|
OPEN WOOD
|
80'-0"
|
7'-8"
|
53
|
|
14768
|
3.01.1896
|
J BEDDOWS & SON
|
WALSALL
|
OPEN WOOD
|
77'-7"
|
7'-9"
|
48
|
|
1982
|
24.09.1937
|
J FOULKES
|
WEDNESFIELD
|
CAB WOOD
|
JOE
|
88'-0"
|
7'-9"
|
58
|
1801
|
25.04.1934
|
J FOULKES
|
WEDNESFIELD
|
CAB WOOD
|
RON
|
7'-8 1/4"
|
58
|
|
1801
|
25.04.1934
|
J FOULKS
|
WEDNESFIELD
|
CAB WOOD
|
RON
|
88'-0"
|
7'-8 1/4"
|
58
|
1772
|
21.08.1933
|
J FOULKS
|
WENDESFIELD
|
CAB WOOD
|
TONY
|
87'-6"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
57
|
882
|
16.07.1924
|
J GRIFFITHS & CO
|
WALSALL
|
OPEN WOOD
|
JACK
|
75'-1"
|
7'-5"
|
46
|
19443
|
22.09.1904
|
J H PEARSON
|
NETHERTON
|
OPEN WOOD
|
75'-2"
|
7'-6 1/2"
|
46
|
|
19456
|
27.09.1904
|
J H PEARSON
|
NETHERTON
|
OPEN WOOD
|
77'-0"
|
7'-6"
|
46
|
|
17573
|
7.01.1901
|
J HELLS & SON
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
GEORGE
|
79'-4"
|
7'-7"
|
52
|
16453
|
11.11.1898
|
J JENKS & SON
|
W’TON
|
OPEN WOOD
|
75'-6"
|
7'-4 1/2"
|
43
|
|
942
|
17.10.1924
|
J JONES Ltd
|
ETTINGSHALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
ELIZABETH
|
82'-8"
|
7'-7 3/4"
|
51
|
14487
|
7.08.1895
|
J PICKERING
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
GERTRUDE
|
77'-7"
|
7'-6 1/2"
|
51
|
777
|
19.12.1923
|
J TURTON
|
OCKER HILL
|
CAB WOOD
|
MARJORIE
|
78'-8"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
48
|
23270
|
15.10.1920
|
J TURTON
|
TIPTON
|
CAB WOOD
|
PROSPERITY
|
78'-10"
|
7'-8"
|
48
|
699
|
30.07.1923
|
J TURTON
|
TIPTON
|
CAB WOOD
|
83'-6"
|
7'-8 3/4"
|
52
|
|
19635
|
15.02.1905
|
J W SHEPHERD & SON
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
76'-8"
|
7'-6 1/2"
|
49
|
|
134
|
14.11.1921
|
J WELLINGS
|
MILLFIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
JACK
|
79'-10"
|
7'-7 1/4"
|
49
|
886
|
21.07.1924
|
J YATES
|
PELSALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
HORACE
|
81'-9"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
50
|
795
|
16.01.1924
|
J YATES
|
PELSALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
JESSIE
|
82'-8"
|
7'-8 3/4"
|
53
|
1413
|
25.07.1928
|
J YATES
|
PELSALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
LITTLE BILL
|
84'-10"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
52
|
1503
|
11.07.1929
|
J YATES
|
PELSALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
RUBY
|
84'-7"
|
7'-9"
|
50
|
1605
|
28.05.1930
|
JONES & COWELL
|
ETTINGSHALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
SANUEL
|
85'-7"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
53
|
1420
|
27.08.1928
|
JONES & POWELL
|
ETTINGSHALL WHARF
|
CAB WOOD
|
BEATRICE LILY
|
81'-9"
|
7'-8"
|
52
|
1840
|
1.02.1935
|
JONES & POWELL
|
ETTINGSHALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
EDNA IRENE
|
86'-8"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
58
|
1720
|
20.05.1932
|
JONES & POWELL
|
MILLFIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
IRIS MOREEN
|
86'-2"
|
7'-8 1/4"
|
57
|
1745
|
31.10.1932
|
K TURTON
|
HEATH TOWN
|
CAB WOOD
|
86'-8"
|
7'-10 3/4"
|
58
|
|
16541
|
18.01.1899
|
M A HARLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
79'-1"
|
7'-7 3/4"
|
51
|
|
19417
|
9.09.1904
|
MARY A HARLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
77'-0"
|
7'-6 1/2"
|
48
|
|
657
|
9.05.1923
|
N BENNETT
|
MILLFIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
DAISY
|
78'-7"
|
7'-5 3/4"
|
47
|
16268
|
27.06.1898
|
NAKER & SONS
|
HIGHFIELDS
|
CAB WOOD
|
DOLLY
|
80'-4"
|
7'-7 3/4"
|
53
|
23309
|
29.11.1920
|
OAKLEY & Co
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
CLIFTON
|
77'-7"
|
7'-6 1/"
|
45
|
23375
|
23.02.1921
|
OAKLEY & Co
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
ERIC
|
77'-6"
|
7'-7"
|
45
|
18081
|
28.02.1902
|
OAKLEY & Co
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
PERSEVERANCE
|
77'-6"
|
7'-4 1/2"
|
49
|
16275
|
15.06.1898
|
P WARD LTD
|
PUMPHOUSE WORKS
|
OPEN WOOD
|
79'-6"
|
7'-3 3/4"
|
50
|
|
1623
|
27.07.1930
|
S EVANS & SONS
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
HANNAH. E
|
86'-0"
|
7'-8"
|
55
|
16259
|
17.06.1898
|
S JONES JNR
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
WILLIAM
|
77'-6"
|
7'-5 1/2"
|
50
|
151
|
13.01.1922
|
SOUTH COALING Co
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
MARIE ROBERTS
|
79'-2"
|
7'-7"
|
48
|
1778
|
9.10.1933
|
T HICKENBOTTOM & SONS
|
WEDNESBURY
|
CAB WOOD
|
BETTY
|
84'-5"
|
7'-10 1/4"
|
55
|
1777
|
29.09.1933
|
T HICKENBOTTOM & SONS
|
WEDNESBURY
|
CAB WOOD
|
84'-7"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
53
|
|
1952
|
16.04.1937
|
T HICKENBOTTOM & SONS LTD
|
WEDNESBURY
|
CAB WOOD
|
THOMAS SIDNEY
|
80'-9"
|
7'-8"
|
49
|
15857
|
4.10.1897
|
T HOPE & CO
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
MARY
|
75'-11"
|
7'-6 1/2"
|
46
|
19564
|
30.12.1904
|
THOS INGLES
|
W’TON
|
OPEN WOOD
|
QUEENIE
|
77'-0"
|
7'-7 1/2"
|
50
|
1746
|
25.1.1933
|
W ELWELL & SONS
|
TIPTON
|
CAB WOOD
|
IVY
|
88'-9"
|
7'-10"
|
58
|
1793
|
7.02.1934
|
W ELWELL & SONS
|
TIPTON
|
CAB WOOD
|
MR PERKINS
|
86'-4"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
57
|
1770
|
19.07.1933
|
W ELWELL & SONS
|
TIPTON
|
CAB WOOD
|
UNCLE JIM
|
84'-0"
|
7'-8 1/4"
|
54
|
15993
|
31.12.1897
|
W H HARLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
JESSE
|
79'-3"
|
7'-7 1/2"
|
51
|
749
|
22.10.1923
|
W J WEBBERLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
84'-6"
|
7'-8 3/4"
|
51
|
|
1672
|
13.05.1931
|
W J WEBBERLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
86'-2"
|
7'-9"
|
56
|
|
1804
|
16.05.1934
|
W J WEBBERLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
88'-0"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
57
|
|
19696
|
3.03.1905
|
W J WEBBERLEY
|
W’TON
|
OPEN WOOD
|
80'-0"
|
7'-8"
|
51
|
|
567
|
31.01.1923
|
W T WEBBERLEY
|
W’TON
|
OPEN WOOD
|
80'-6"
|
7'-9 1/2"
|
51
|
|
1804
|
16.05.1934
|
W T WEBBERLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
88'-0"
|
7'-8 1/2"
|
57
|
|
17586
|
23.01.1901
|
W WEBBERLEY
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
81'-2"
|
7'-7 3/4"
|
53
|
|
986
|
29.12.1924
|
WULFRUNA COAL CO
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
AMY
|
82'-11"
|
7'-8"
|
50
|
782
|
28.12.1923
|
WULFRUNA COAL CO
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
ARGO
|
76'-4"
|
7'-6 1/4"
|
44
|
1751
|
24.02.1933
|
WULFRUNA COAL CO
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
IRIS MOREEN
|
88'-0"
|
7'-9 1/2"
|
58
|
781
|
28.12.1923
|
WULFRUNA COAL CO
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
77'-1"
|
7'-6 1/2"
|
44
|
|
1696
|
18.09.1931
|
E THOMAS
|
WALSALL
|
CAB WOOD
|
MARGE
|
88'-0"
|
7'-10"
|
59
|
16249
|
13.06.1898
|
ALBION COAL CO
|
W’TON
|
CAB WOOD
|
COLUMBIA
|
77'-8"
|
7'-7 1/2"
|
50
|
In all, from about 1898 to 1956, there were probably about 32,000
boats registered and gauged at one of the two weigh stations either at
Smethwick or Tipton, these were all plying their trade around or through the
BCN. Apart from long distance boats
owned by such companies as Fellows Morton & Clayton limited, Severn &
canal carrying company, Chester & Liverpool Lighterage Company Limited,
Shropshire Union etc, the rest were a combination of cabined and
open iron day boats, open and cabined ‘Joey’ boats and a collection of ‘other’
craft. I know sometimes I am accused of
banging on and being a little anal but I like things right. Too many people these days call all BCN day
boats ‘Joey’s’ which is wrong. Joeys are
wooden and are named after a well known BCN boat builder who had several yards
around the BCN, Joe Worsey. Any other open boats on the BCN are ‘day boats’.
An un named Day boat
These were mainly
averaging about 71’-0” long and an average of 7’1 ½” wide with a gauged
capacity of 40tons with less than an inch free board, in fact very, very few
were actually 70’ by 7’, the accepted ‘standard for narrow boats, however
things were different for the coal loading facilities and factories that were
situated on the 473’ W’TON level of close on 50 miles of lock free canal. As a result of this a special breed of boat
was developed to work this canal. As the
only restrictions were the width of bridge ‘oles and stops and the width/length
of the junctions that had to be negotiated then a much longer and wider boat
was built by the boat builders on this canal known as ‘Ampton Wharf Boats. These averaged about 85 ‘-0” by 7’-9”and
could carry 50+tons. Due to their size,
these boats could only be gauged at Tipton gauging station. Here I have
included some of the details of these craft which I have recorded so far..
One particular Ampton boat owned by E W Reed of Dudley Port,
was sold to some enthusiasts who did not understand the boats design. It was duly pumped up and towed to take it to
its new home. Unfortunately when they
got it to the top of the 21 at Wolverhampton, they discovered it did not fit
and so I believe it was then scrapped and cut up and burned, which in itself
was a great pity as at the time it was in quite good condition and in more
understanding hands would probably still been with us as the only remaining
example of this unique craft as there are no viable survivors.
The only survivors I
am aware of are the sunken remains in the arm alongside Wulfruna coal company’s
wharf in Wolverhampton
and at the Black
country museum alongside the lime kilns, all well past their preservation
dates. (Sunken on the left in this photo)
So there you have it, Ampton wharf boats.
So till next time,
‘don’t bang ‘em about’
Blossom
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