Historic Boats
Each year several historic boats make the journey to be part of Crick Boat Show. These are the boats that are confiemed to be on display in August 2021 and more boats will be added as information becomes available.
Aldgate
After nationalisation in 1948, Aldgate was transferred to the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive of the British Transport Commission (later British Waterways) and leased to Willow Wren Canal Transport Services. Working in the South Eastern division until well into the sixties, Aldgate was at one time paired with the butty Brighton working up to Whitworths flour mills at Wellingborough with Ron Green as steerer. After the decline of Willow Wren she was sold to Alfred Matty & Sons of Oldbury, and used on the phosphorus waste run from Allbright & Wilson to Dudley Port. Following Alfred Matty's death, Aldgate was abandoned on a disused arm in Oldbury and allowed to sink.
She was recovered in the early 1980s by Steve Priest, and after substantial rebuilding was sold to P. Ayres who used her, trading as Colne Valley Carriers. In 2007 Aldgate and Angel were bought as a pair by Nick Wolfe, whose care, time and money (aided by a grant from the Register of National Historic Ships) has brought Aldgate to the condition she is in today. Nick now works Aldgate under the name Nick Wolfe Canal Carrying. Aldgate parted company with Angel in 2008 but the two boats can occasionally be seen together at Badseys Wharf, Hillmorton and will be at Crick this year as a pair.
Technical data: length 71ft 6in; width 7ft 0.5in; draft: 3ft (empty), 4ft plus (loaded); gauged for 41 tons; engine - air cooled Petter PD 2 (20hp @ 1500rpm); gearbox - Parsons 3:1
Renfrew
Image courtesy of www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk
Renfrew was built for the Grand Union Canal Cargo Carrying Company Ltd by W. J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd. at Northwich and launched in October 1936, with the British Waterways number 060962 and the GUCCCL number 165.
The hull is riveted and welded steel plate, with oak gunwales. The current engine is a 24bhp Lister HB2, made in 1968.
Renfrew initially worked with the butty Romsey, principally on the Birmingham to London route. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the fleet became part of the government transport system. In 1948, the fleet passed to the Docks & Inland Waterways Executive of the British Transport Commission, which subsequently became the British Waterways Board.
In 1963 to 1965, Renfrew was on hire to Willow Wren Carriers. The cabin was rebuilt in 1968 out of various woods and marine ply and the current engine insalled. She was then laid up until 1986 when she was purchased by Blue Line Canal Carriers. The present owners discovered her in October 1970 and have maintained her as a working boat. All the timber has now been replaced and she has had a new bottom and other steelwork.
Technical data: length 70ft; width 7ft; draft: 3ft (empty); engine - Lister HB2
