Tony Hales at Ellesmere Port again

Tony Hales, chairman of British Waterways, came to Ellesmere Port again on Wed. 30th June to see the progress being made at the Heritage Boatyard.

The meeting was held in the classroom of the Boatyard’s
welfare facilities built as the result of Tony’s previous
generosity.  Discussion centred on the recently produced
3-year business plan, and the establishment at the
museum of a Youth Activity Centre.

While on site, Tony presented certificates to three youth trainees approaching the end of their six-month appointments.

Left to right:
Andrew Holme, Anthony Sale, Tony Hales
and Connor Parker

£110k to help waterways museum pass on heritage skills

The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port (formerly the Boat Museum), in partnership with National Historic Ships, has received £110k from Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Skills for the Future’ programme to help expand its successful Heritage Boatyard operation. The funding means the museum will be able to employ more trainees, vastly increasing its ability to conserve its collection of historic canal boats. More here.

Current work in the Heritage Boatyard Work already completed

Mendip refurbishment is well underway. Several large areas of corrosion on the metal sides have been cut out and new metal tacked in. The work is mostly being carried out by Andy and Dave - the picture shows them at a tea break!

Shad is being fettled before the Middlewich trip.
Minor repairs have already taken place to remove
some rotten pieces of the gunnels. In the picture,
Connor is using best quality oak to replace the
battens that keep the side cloths attached.

Dave examines the superb progress on Marlyn. One of our volunteers has been removing the rotten wood and replacing the damaged sections. Work is progressing well and Marlyn
is expected back in the water before the end of the summer.

Major progress on cabin refurbishment of Ilkeston. Anthony and John are working together to replace the cabin sides and roof. The work is detailed, requiring precise measurements and the perfect fitting of each piece. Before fitting the wood it is specially treated to prevent water ingress and extend its life. The work is being funded by the London Canal Museum in partnership with the Heritage Boatyard.

    Work parties are in action every day except Saturday from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
A variety of tasks are being undertaken - so PLEASE
come along and get involved. 

To volunteer your help please

A round up of work done on boats in the collection since
January 2008:

Aleida I - iron motor tug used by the Great Ouse Catchment Board - built to tow sugar beet barges on the Lincolnshire fens. Latterly it worked for the Anglian Water Authority, on Great Ouse Catchment Area, based at Southrey in Lincolnshire.
Work done - painted outside. It is fitted with a 2 cylinder air start Widdop engine, which is being restored. The engine renovation is being sponsored by BW deputy Chairman, John Bridgeman.

Bigmere -
Work done - painted inside, minor repairs to leak on hull, external paintwork tidied up.

Bantam II - Bridgewater Canal tug - built by E.C.Jones of Brentford and bought by the Manchester Ship Canal Company. It towed boats like Bigmere, loaded with grain, to the Kellogs factory at Stretford on the Bridgewater Canal.
Work done - repainted and fitted with new windows and portholes. The engine was refurbished to full working order (work done during TLC project).

Box boat 337-
Work done - cleaned off and wood ordered for repair, photographed and existing condition recorded for archives. One of the boxes has been reconditioned.

Chalk barge -
Work done - re-caulked to halt leaking but unfortunately it is leaking again.

Ferret -
Work done - quick repaint of cabin, new gunnels and counter painted.

GD101 -
Work done - full external repaint; work inside engine room complete; front cabin painted inside.

Ilkeston -
Work done - cabin refurbishment, work on priming metal.

Marbury- a wooden horsedrawn ice-breaker.
Work done - fully repainted.

Marlyn - Mersey harbour launch or ‘gig boat’ - operated in Birkenhead and Liverpool docks.
Work done - replacement of rotten wood.

Mendip -
Work done - old kelson removed – new wood arrived – welding hull and removing old bottom boards in progress.

Shad -
Work done - minor repairs to remove some rotten pieces of the gunnels.Oak used to replace the battens that keep the side cloths attached.

Worcester - built in 1912 for use as a tunnel tug on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. She is currently fitted with a 30 hp semi diesel Bolinder engine.
Work done - survey, minor welding repairs to hull, bottom blacked, exterior paintwork refurbished, engine serviced and new compressor fitted. Back in the water.
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