Cabin side of the Samuel Barlow Coal Co Ltd

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BOLD lettering indicates the original boat name; new names in plain text.

Formed in 1870 by Samuel Barlow, setting up a canal trading business with two narrowboats,carrying coal from the Warwickshire coalfields to London and the River Thames. The company expanded to a fleet of over 100 boats, but finally ceased trading in 1961. The majority of the narrowboats were wooden, being highly regarded for a smart turnout, and superb paintwork.

Motor boat Daphne at Braunston.

 

Based at Glascote, on the Coventry Canal, the company concentrated on the delivery of coal to canalside factories, and worked both short haul, and long distance traffic.By the year 1914 the fleet was nearly at 50 boats, both new and second hand craft. Following financial problems in 1931, the company name was changed from Samuel Barlow (Tamworth) Ltd, to the Samuel Barlow Coal Company Ltd, with offices in Birmingham.

By the early 1930's the fleet was at 70, with the first 3 motor boats being purchased from British Portland Cement. Many craft were second hand from larger carrying companies, such as FMC and the GUCCC......DAPHNE No 48, built Nurser's of Braunston 1938.

Butty boat Grace at Birmingham in 1975.

Such purchases included ADMIRAL and HECLA; ex steamers from FMC bought in the 1940's.PHOENIX, ZENITH, NEPTUNE, OCTANS, ALDEBARON and SPICA all came from the GUCCC, many being later renamed after events and aircraft in WW2. New boats were mainly built at Nurser's of Braunston; such as motors TIGER, WASP, GORT, HARDY, and butties DRAKE, MARY, and IRONSIDE.

The only iron composite boat new to Barlows, was BEATTY built in 1937. She was fitted out by Lees and Atkins of Polesworth .NORTHOLT (ex FMC) butty was used in the film"Painted Boats", and renamed SUNNY VALLEY.

.......GRACE No 88 at Worcester Bar in 1975.

By the mid 1940's, the Barlow fleet was at it's peak, with over 30 long distance pairs, and 40 day boats. After the war, road transport took trade away, as did the closure of local canalside collieries. However, boats were still being sought, and in 1955 URANUS, COLUMBA, KENELM, LUCY, and MATILDA, came from John Knill. In the same year, ROGER & DAPHNE, and JIMMY & IRENE arrived from Harvey Taylor's of Aylesbury. In 1957, the company of S.E.Barlow was purchased, which included carrying contracts to Dickinson's paper mill, Kings Langley.

Following a "sales promotion", two new boats were built in 1957 and 1958; HAZEL and RAYMOND, by Barlow's. It was all too late however, and the fleet was being systematically sold off two years later.Iin early 1962 the company was sold to Michael Streat, of Blue Line Canal Carriers. The boats were; HARDY, HOOD, IAN, KENT, MALTA, ROGER, with butties GRACE, HAZEL, IONA, IRENE, LUCY, and RAYMOND. Three boats;Hazel, Irene and Hardy were sold off soon after the takeover.

 Neptune and Lucy in 1961.

.........................................................................................Barlow boats NEPTUNE and LUCY in 1961.

The following boats of the Barlow fleet are still with us, although many have been altered to different lengths, motorised, or converted with full length cabins. Some of the wooden boats are at risk, and in very poor shape. A few more may exist, such as NEPTUNE, and others.Please E-Mail me to comment, or amend the current listing; thanks!

Barlow boats existing today.

Letters indicate construction detail; Iron, Steel, Composite, Wooden. Bold lettering = original boat name.

ADMIRAL; No 51, motorboat, shortened/converted I/C (Ex FMC ADMIRAL).

BEATTY, No 15, motorboat, at Worcester Bar,Brm.I/C

BENBOW; No 49, motorboat, restored. S (Ex GUCC BATH)

COLUMBA; No 36, motorboat, converted.S/C (Ex GUCC COLUMBA)

DAPHNE; No 48, motorboat, restored S.B.C.Co. livery.W

FORGET ME NOT; No 23, butty boat now called SARAH , owned by the Wooden Canal Boat Society. Based Ashton.

GORT; No 34, motorboat at Brinklow. W

GERTRUDE; No 66, butty boat, currently converted at Newbury.W and at risk.

HARDY; No 31, motorboat, 1996 at Nottingham.W

HAZEL; No 82, butty boat, currently at Runcorn.W

HOOD; No 58, motorboat, Ivinghoe on the GU.Wooden. For sale 1981 Ashwood Marina.

HYPERION; No 59, motorboat, recently at Crick. I/C (Ex GUCC HYPERION)

IAN; No 43, motorboat, at Iver last year. Currently at Crick Marina.W

IRONSIDES; No 65, bow only remaining at Runcorn.W

KENELM; No 37, motorboat.S (Ex GUCC EPSOM)

KENT; No 33, motorboat, converted, Aylesbury arm. In use. W

LUCY; No 63, butty boat, Ex John Knill, and built by Nursers of Braunston. Regd Daventry 548. In the Milton Keynes area Summer 2000, in poor external appearance.

MAFEKING; No 41, butty boat.W

MALTA; No 44, motorboat, at Boat Museum.W

NORTHOLT; No 53, butty boat, renamed SUNNY VALLEY.I/C Ex FMC NORTHOLT.

PRINCE; No 46, motorboat; where now? W

PRINCESS; No 68, butty boat, motorised I/C Ex GUCC CETUS. Privately owned, SU canal.

RAYMOND; No 42, butty boat, under restoration, Tardebigge.Wooden. Attended Braunston in July 2000.

MATILDA; No 67, butty boat.S Ex GUCC THEA.

URANUS; No 69, motorised butty boat, Wombourne. I/C Ex GUCC URANUS.

WARWICK; No 89, ex GUCC butty ETHIOPIA, currently on the Basingstoke Canal named LODORE.

BOATS BROKEN UP.

CLARA; No 68, Purchased from Ken Keay's in 1976, with no engine, and was towed to Langley Mill behind AVON. It was craned onto the bank at Bailey Grove, and broken up a year later.

MOSQUITO; No85, ex GUCC butty SPICA, was on the Basingstoke called RIVENDELL. Moved North before being Section 8'ed, and broken up at Streethay Wharf in 1998.

GRACE; No 88, wooden butty craned out at Gayton, and broken up Oct 1982.

TEDDY; No 1; wooden butty. BCN gauging No 112, 21/9/1921.

RAYMOND; No 21, cabined wooden horseboat. BCN gauging No 178, 22/2/1922.

STANLEY; No 2. Cabined wooden horseboat. BCN gauging No 206, 21/3/1922.

JOSEPH ALBERT; No 10, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 718, 25/8/1923.

DAFFODIL; cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 867, 31/5/1924.

DRAKE; No 17, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 907, 4/9/1924.

TOBY; No 16, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 929, 2/10/1924.

VICTORY; cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 1090, 10/9/1925.

THE PRESIDENT; No 17, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 1093, 22/9/1925.

GEORGE; No 45, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 1109, 28/10/1925.

DAISY; No 57, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 1179, 28/7/1926.

MADGE; No 52, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 1192, 28/8/1926.

CARONIA; No 34, cabined wooden horseboat BCN gauging No 1193, 30/8/1926.

FIREFLY; No 17, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 1197, 3/9/1926.

NIL DESPERANDUM; cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 1200, 15/9/1926.

GERTRUDE; No 14, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 1293, 18/5/1927.

ALICE; No 68, cabined wooden horseboat with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 1458, 27/12/1928.

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