Darley's History


DATE
EVENT
12.02.1936
GUCCCo  order placed with Harland & Wolff Ltd., Woolwich for 24 all steel motors @ £900 each.
29.01.1937
Delivered to Grand Union Canal Carrying Co. Ltd. and allocated fleet number 135 (intended butty DENTON 267)  The engine: National 2DM 46687 18½hp, Bruntons gearbox E/8143/19 with 2:1 reduction gear, 3 blade left hand 24’’ x 17’’ propeller. (National 2DM 46687 was still extant in 11/1986 and being used for spares)
12.02.1937
Gauged by Grand Union Canal Co., allocated number 12661 (41 tons @ 57.42’’). (this table may no longer exist although I do have it on a version transcribed by the B.C.N. Company into their gauge registers)
26.05.1937
Inspected for health registration by Rickmansworth Inspector.
15.06.1937
Health registered at Rickmansworth, allocted number 160 (cabin approved for habitation – 3 adults or 2 adults & 1 child – G.U.C.C.Co. Ltd. address given as Port of London Building so red, white and blue ‘coronation’ livery).
14.09.1944
On fleet list paired with ANGEL, steerer G. Radford
Nov 1948
Docked.
1.01.1948
Nationalised into British Transport Commission (Docks & Inland Waterways Executive) fleet. *
8.06.1948
On fleet list paired with AYR, steerer A. Best.
24.07.1949
On fleet list paired with AYR, steerer A. Best. (promotional & in house films / stills produced at this time)
Post July 1949
On fleet list paired with NORTON, steerer A. Latchford. (this list is undated but believed to be later in 1949)
1951
Used in the opening shot in British Waterways promotional film THERE GO THE BOATS with butty Ayr steered by Alf Best.
Late 1951
In general service.
13.05.1952
On fleet list paired with NORTON, steerer W. Grantham.
23.09.1952
In general service
18.02.1953
In general service.
6.05.1954
Unmanned and lying at Bulls Bridge.
19.07.1954
In storage at Harefield
1.10.1954
Not on active fleet list
23.11.1954
In storage at Harefield.
13.12.1954
In storage at Harefield.
28.04.1955
In storage at Harefield.
28.05.1955
In storage at Harefield
2.07.1957
On fleet list paired with BORDESLEY, steerer S. Meese.
10.01.1958
On fleet list paired with BORDESLEY, steerer S. Meese
22.04.1958
In general service
20.05.1958
On fleet list paired with BORDESLEY, steerer S. Meese.
1959
Docked.
26.01.1959
On fleet list paired with BORDESLEY, steerer S. Meese.
15.02.1960
On fleet list paired with BORDESLEY, steerer S. Meese.
Nov 1960
On fleet list paired with BORDESLEY, steerer S. Meese.
1961
In general service and to be retained - now with Petter PD2, (these engines were fitted from 1957 onwards)
1963
Hired to Willow Wren Canal Transport Services Ltd. and then sub-let to boatman (making the boatman self employed)
1963/67
At some point between these years while operated by WW, was paired with Argo and operated by Ken Mullins and his wife.
Dec 1967
Repossessed by British Waterways Board for non payment of rental by Willow Wren Canal Transport Services Ltd. and put into storage on the Wendover Arm, near Tring – engine removed by 02/1968.
April 1968
Sold to Alfred Matty & Sons Ltd., Coseley for use as a canal maintenance boat. 
1970
Cut in two and stern end fitted with a flat ‘punt’ bow and converted to a dredger and renamed WIL NEWTON.  The fore end was left on the bank at Coseley.
1981
Both ends sold to Roger Hipkiss, Birmingham - re-assembled at Caggy’s yard at Tipton with new cabin and other steelwork being done by Doug Greaves.
1983
Cabin fitted out at Gas Street Basin, Birmingham by Colin Yeomans and decorated by Donald White. (Halsall & Bedworth) After renovation paired with ALPERTON (DARLEY replaced wooden motor ALDEBARAN).
May 2003
Sold to Terry Bellamy, Checkley (with ALPERTON).
24.04.2011
Sold to Malcolm and Dawn Edge, Rugeley.


*- nationalised body renamed British Transport Commission (British Transport Waterways) October1953 and then British Waterways Board 01.01.1963.


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