Through
the years the name BARLOW has been used by several companies
involved in the carriage of coal. Samuel Barlow (born 1847)
started it all. He was the son of a boatman; he married in
1867 aged 20, and started his own business carrying coal
from the local mines. After only three years, in 1870, he
took the opportunity to move to larger premises at Glascote,
near Tamworth, situated in the centre of a rapidly
developing coalfield. Several members of his family started
to work for him carrying coal long distance from the
Tamworth area on a fleet of ten boats. The Glascote premises
were enhanced in 1890 by the addition of a new house with
offices and stabling adjoining. Samuel Barlow died suddenly
in 1894 at the age of 47, leaving a wife and two sons to
carry on the business. Trade flourished. Barlows bought a
number of previously used boats and built a number of new
day boats, the latter intended specifically for the local
trade. (Note: - A day boat was equipped with a very small
shelter, instead of a full cabin. It was therefore only
suitable for short duration daytime use). Expansion
continued apace well into First World War (1914 - 1918)
further funding for this expansion being provided by the
firm becoming a limited company in 1916. Samuel Barlow
(Tamworth) Ltd. had local backers, as well as distant
relatives of the family as directors. John Barlow, Samuel's
son was the General Manager, but, as a result of
disagreement with other directors when they gave trade away
to other companies, he sold most of his shareholding in
1919. The same year the company moved their head office to
the centre of Birmingham. By continuing to buy up small
companies and their boats, and the building of several
further day boats, the company's fleet numbered almost 70
craft by 1930. In 1931 the name was changed to "Samuel
Barlow Coal Carrying Company Ltd." and, through being one of
the largest coal carriers on the canals, continued to
develop; although by this time with railway competition
beginning to take it's toll many of Barlows competitors had
begun to fall by the wayside. The policy of buying second
hand boats continued, along with the further purchase of new
boats, many of them built by Nursers of Braunston, a yard
that Barlows eventually acquired for themselves in
1941.
DAPHNE No 48, built Nursers of Braunston 1938.
It was after the end of the Second World War (1939 - 1945)
that the decline of the company begun. Several factors
contributed to this: - coal was increasingly carried by both
road and rail, mines near the canals in the Midlands were
becoming exhausted and therefore closing, new factories were
no longer built alongside the canals, and the new pits that
opened were inevitably some distance from the canal, making
carriage by water impractical. There was also a marked
increase of the use of fuel oil by industry. Trade
diminished to such an extent that by 1957 Barlows operated
only 24 boat and butty sets and 10 day boats. By the end of
1961 only seven sets were left, and the following year,
1962, saw the final end of operations, and the sale of the
Braunston yard and the few remaining boats in the fleet to
"Blue Line Cruisers". Barlows had a reputation throughout
their history on the canals for the decoration of their
boats. The finely detailed and elaborate artwork, especially
on the butties, was a tradition that was continued right up
to the very end.
BEATTY
was the only composite steel boat built new for
Barlows Unusually, built with steel sides and an elm
wood bottom. She has an Armstrong Siddeley 21 HP 2
cylinder diesel engine. Occupied in carrying coal from
the Warwickshire coal fields to London and Oxford via
the Grand Union Canal and the Oxford Canal from 1937
to about 1961 Sold to Jack Craddock of Wolverhampton
in 1961 for conversion to an eight berth cruising
boat. Timber cabin constructed by Waltons; fitted out
by Jack Craddock at Brewood on the Shropshire Union
Canal. Bought by Martin Grundy in 1968. Used by the
Grundy family since then for extensive cruising over
most of the waterways system. Beatty won ‘Best
Converted Narrowboat’ at Guildford National Rally in
1970. The original timber boatman’s cabin was replaced
in 1986 with a new steel cabin by David Harris at
Coseley, near Wolverhampton. It has been refitted,
using some of the old cabin furniture, including the
table cupboard with original painting by George
Crowshaw. In early 2006 the boat was completely
rebottomed, using opepe to replace the worn out elm.
This also involved replacement of most of the keelson.
This work was carried out by Malcolm Webster on
Worsley Dry Dock. The original timber conversion has
now been replaced with a replica steel cabin,
retaining the lines and style of the 1960’s cabin.
This work was carried out by Simon Wain of Brinklow
Boat Services. BEATTYPicBarlows Photos
MARY
20
N
02/1938
DAV
488
15.3.38
OC
5661
18.5.38
?
DAPHNE
(M)
48
N
07/1938
DAV
491
5.7.38
OC
5663
30.8.38
unc.8/99
SUSAN
(M)
25
O
11/1938
DAV
496
6.6.39
OC
5585
24.9.36
Ex
Michael Ward (Trust to me)
VIOLET
90
O
11/1938
DAV
497
6.6.39
OC
5520
20.3.22
"
" (Perseverance)
VIPER
(M)
68
O
05/1939
DAV
494
9.5.39
OC
5455
8.6.09
Ex.
Alfred Buckler
NATHAN
69
O
05/1939
DAV
495
9.5.39
OC
5494
21.10.14
"
" as Walter Nathan
THE
ROCKET (M)
24
O
11/1939
DAV
509
24.9.40
OC
5639
25.2.35
Ex.
Joseph Grantham
FORGET-ME-NOT
26
O
11/1939
DAV
510
24.9.40
OC
5616
5.6.28
Built
1927 at Lees & Atkins Boatyard in Polesworth,
Staffordshire, a horse drawn boat which was fitted
with a Bolinder semi diesel engine in 1929. This was
replaced with a four cylinder petrol/paraffin engine
in 1959. Her original owner, Henry Grantham,
worked her from Coventry to the works of John
Dickinson in Hemel Hempstead carrying coal until 1938
when he lost the contract to the Grand Union Canal
Carrying Company. The firm of Samuel Barlow bought her
in 1941 and renamed her SARAH. In 1959 she was sold to
Dick Evans who converted her to a live aboard vessel
and she was based at Burghfield on the River Kennet
until 1971. There was a gap in her history until 1977
when she was to be found at David Jones Boatyard in
Chester. She was eventually bought in 1987 by the
Wooden Canal Craft Trust to be rebuilt to her original
design. On Friday 23 November 2006, FORGET ME NOT and
LILITH participated in the Bugsworth protest rally
against British Waterways funding cuts held over the
weekend of 24 - 25 November. Gunwales have now been
fitted to the back end of the hold, and one of the top
bends is due to be renewed. New cloths of good quality
cotton tarpaulin have been donated. The back bulkhead
of the cabin has been tidied up, sanded down and
primed, ready for painting a new mosque when the
weather improves. The cabin paintwork has also been
smartened up. FORGET ME NOT'S back cabin is no longer
in use as a brew hut and she is on public view. Forget
Me NotBarlows
Photos
Fore
cabin. '96 was at Nottingham complete rebuild taking
place and almost complete at the Pink Floyd "bridge"
at Wolfhampcote.
OXFORD
O
04/1921
COV
463
7.4.21
Ex
John Humphries
DAFFODIL
O
05/1924
BANB
64
Ex
John Wilson
DORIS
1
05/1921
BHAM
1404
20.5.21
Ex
Charles Marsden Ltd
ELIZABETH
O
10/1928
TOWC
257
7.11.11
Ex
Thos Lapworth
EUSTON
O
03/1923
BERK
456
26.3.23
Ex
William Henry King
FINANCIER
1
12/1922
STOKE
825
Ex
Samuel Allsopp Ltd
KIDSGROVE
101
F
11/1942
B'HAM
1281
31.1.13
BETTY
16
11/1922
COV
459
30.10.24
Ex
Courtaulds
CROXLEY
(M)
36
O
02/1936
DAV
474
5.5.36
Ex
James Nixon
DEFIANCE
46
O
01/1919
TOWC
284
1925
Ex
John Barlow
KATHERINE
90
A
04/1941
TAM
175
19.4.41
OC
5510
20.2.40
?
STANLEIGH
87
M
04/1941
TAM
176
19.4.41
OC
5618
9.7.28
DOE
76
Q
12/1929
TAM
82
8.2.30
DOROTHY
35
B
01/1926
TAM
8
16.1.26
STUART
88
M
04/1941
TAM
177
17.5.41
OC
5617
9.7.28
MAFEKING
86
M
04/1941
DAV
514
6.5.41
G
11953
27.6.29
Sometimes
numbered 41 converted to residential use for sale 4/91
& 1/99
PRETORIA
84
M
04/1941
DAV
517
1.7.41
G
11950
27.4.29
MAY
91
Z
04/1941
DAV
513
6.5.41
B
625
23.3.23
VULTURE
1
1/1919
BERK
399
15.1.19
Ex
L.B.Faulkner
PROSPERITY
T
2/1920
COV
422
19.1.21
SHAMROCK
1
1/1919
COV
437
09.1.19
Ex
John Biddle, Upton
KELLY
(M)
82
O
05/1941
DAV
515
3.6.41
OC
5491
5.11.12
Ex
David Hambridge "FairTrader" New cabin 1946 TAM 196
Regd
LITTLE
MARVEL
83
O
05/1941
DAV
516
3.6.41
OC
5606
4.8.27
"
"
SARAH
(M)
80
O
07/1941
DAV
519
29.7.41
G
11951
6.5.29
Ex.
Harry Grantham "FORGET ME NOT". Owned by the Wooden
Canal Boat Society
JANE
81
O
07/1941
DAV
520
26.8.41
G
11964
19.5.32
"
" "Sarah Jane"
PRINCE
(M)
46
S
09/1941
DAV
521
23.9.41
OC
5668
3.10.41
Owned
by Bert Dunkley toured the system extensively. Broken
Up
RODNEY
(M)
92
F
09/1941
DAV
522
21.10.41
G
12140
18.10.26
Ex.
HECLA. Ended up as a jetty at Harefield.
WINSTON
(M)
93
S
04/1942
DAV
523
5.5.42
OC
5669
27.4.42
Renamed.
ALEC soon after launch
ADMIRAL
(M)
45
F
05/1942
DAV
524
2.6.42
G
12157
30.11.26
BELGIUM
94
F
08/1942
TAM
188
19.9.42
G
11577
25.4.07
NORTHOLT
95
F
08/1942
TAM
189
19.9.42
B
17712
11.5.01
renamed
Sunny Valley for the film 'Painted Boats' and has
remained so ever since.
DRAKE
27
N
12/1936
DAV
482
22.12.36
DORIS
89
M
01/1941
COV
338
29.10.07
KENT
(M)
33
S
11/1942
DAV
527
15.12.42
OC
5672
25.1.43
Called
PETER PAN in the late 1960s, briefly. Engine reported
as being a Lister JP 2 in the 1980s. Conv based on
Aylesbury Arm.
CAIRO
(M)
96
G
12/1942
DAV
528
15.12.42
G
12146
18.6.35
Ex.
PHOENIX. GU12416
MONTGOMERY
97
G
12/1942
DAV
529
15.12.42
G
12511
10.6.36
Ex.
ZENITH. " "Sometimes numbered 97
KINETON
102
F
04/1943
DAV
530
6.4.43
B
22071
24.4.14
NEPTUNE
(M)
104
G
04/1943
DAV
532
6.4.43
G
12381
28.3.34
Ex.
NEPTUNE. Ricky Sometimes numbered 66
YORK
105
G
04/1943
DAV
533
6.4.43
OC
5674
5.5.43
Ex.
OCTANS. Never registered for GUCC
HALIFAX
(M)
106
G
05/1943
DAV
535
1.6.43
G
12359
12.2.35
Ex.
ALDEBARAN. Renamed ANN.7/49
MOSQUITO
107
G
05/1943
DAV
534
1.6.43
G
12372
12.3.35
x.
SPICA. On Basingstoke canal re named RIVENDELL
received section 8 notice broken up Streethay wharf
'98
MALTA
(M)
44
S
06/1943
DAV
536
28.6.43
OC
5675
25.6.43
In June 1943, her cabin was registered as a dwelling and, at
that time, her Master was E. Carter.However for most of her working life she
was steered by Sidney Gibbons. As a
coal carrier, she would have had a hard life
working round the Midlands coal fields –
Birmingham, Coventry, Daventry and Braunston, with
an occasional trip down to London. c.
1955 her 14/18 hp Petter diesel engine (which was
secondhand when installed) must have given up the
ghost and she was refitted with the more powerful
Lister JP2 diesel engine, increasing her
horsepower to 21 hp. In her working
lifetime she was often paired with ‘Grace’ but she
was also seen paired with butty Elsie (Banbury,
June 1958). In 1962 Samuel Barlow
Coal Company was sold lock, stock and barrel to
Blue Line Cruisers Ltd, also at Braunston, who
later became Blue Line Carriers Ltd.They were only to keep ‘Malta’ for a
couple of years for, around 1965, with the demise
of working boats on the canals, she was sold into
private ownership. ‘Malta’ is
recorded as being at the Charity Dock in 1981. In January 1984, ‘Malta’ was donated to
NWMIN by Mrs Rodway.She was in a poor condition and described
as useful only as scrap or to go in the Boat Hall.She
was brought to Ellesmere Port from Coventry.Sadly
little could be done for her and, within a few
years, Malta fell apart.Her bow end remains on the slipway at
Ellesmere Port.
IONA
109
S
04/1944
DAV
537
2.5.44
OC
5677
12.7.44
trip
boat. 66. Marple
GERTRUDE
31
S
03/1945
DAV
539
3.4.45
converted.
for sale . 10/88. 7/99 + 4/00 sunk at Newbury and
later broken up.
WARWICK
89
G
11/1945
DAV
540
8.1.46
G
12547
25.6.36
Ex.
ETHIOPIA. on Basingstoke canal, renamed LODORE
CYLGATE
34
O
06/1946
DAV
542
15.10.46
OC
5625
3.6.30
Ex.
Alfred Hone
OXFORD
49
O
06/1946
DAV
543
15.10.46
G
11949
26.4.29
"
" DUKE OF YORK
CLARA
(M)
68
P
08/1947
DAV
544
19.8.47
G
11972
19.12.34
Bought
from Ken Keay 1976 towed by AVON back to Bailey Grove
just below Langley Mill but the owner lost heart and
broke it up and burned the timbers 1977 Barlows
Photos
PHYLLIS
71
P
08/1947
TAM
187
19.9.42
OC
5492
16.11.14
IAN
(M)
43
S
01/1948
DAV
545
6.1.48
converted
for sale. 7/88. Attended Crick 2000 on dock at
Stretton, North Oxford Canal. Restoration pretty much
complete
Went
into Blue Line fleet. derelict @ Cosgrove 2000. Now
with new owners and awaiting restoration at Braunston.
She is currently part of a proposal to restore her for
charity. See index page of this website for further
details. LUCYBarlows Photos
MATILDA
67
K
01/1955
DAV
560
25.11.58
G
12607
5.11.36
Ex
THEA GUCC. until 91 houseboat at Rickmansworth
poor counter. Rebuilt WFBCo. Now 57ft tug based at
Stockton, Grand Union
Ex
JOSEPHINE MARGUERITE built Walker Bros for Rupert
Craven sold to ACC then onto GUCC. 1940 sold to George
Wood who sub'd for Barlows, he sold it to S.E. in '42
entered Barlows fleet when the bought the S.E.
business in '57 and was sold into private ownership
1960. It may have been broken up in Coventry in the
mid 70's, I do however remember a motor of the same
name being on or around Keays Walsall dock at about
the same time.
DRAKE
70
B
02/1957
TAM
204
5.4.52
G
12562
26.8.36
Ex
PHAETHON. GUCC
HARDY
72
B
02/1957
TAM
199
25.10.47
G
12560
25.8.36
Ex
MEDUSA. GUCC. S.Barlow Anchor Works 108.Tamworth
RODNEY
75
B
02/1957
TAM
197
26.7.47
B
989
1.1.25
SUSAN
77
B
02/1957
TAM
195
25.4.46
OC
5553
16.6.24
HAZEL
82
S
07/1957
DAV
553
9.7.57
Information
supplied by present owner :-
Since
leaving service from Barlows fleet she was converted
to a 10 berth hire boat for Wyvern shipping company
of Leighton buzzard, this included the building of a
cabin over the cargo hull and the removal of the
original boatmans/back cabin, this space used for
her conversion to a motorised butty boat by becoming
the home for the engine and was like an early
version
of the cruiser sterns that are seen today on the
canals. I have been told that her bow was rebuilt 20
years or so ago and from what I
know it was rebuilt by John Whalley but I am unsure
of the builder?
When I took charge of the boat one of the jobs that
I wanted to do was to rebuild the back cabin as it
was pre-hire boat times and this is now in place and
has now become the home of her new engine, a
reconditioned Lister
SR3. I have managed to dry dock the boat 2 times in
4 years, this summer was the most recent but she
does need a lot more time spending on her. Barlows
Photos
Ex.
CETUS. GUCC Converted to motor based on Shroppie GUCC
A-H
RAYMOND
42
S
06/1958
DAV
559
2.9.58
launched
1958, was mainly used to carry coal from the Midlands
to London. Towed first by motor Roger and then by
NUTFIELD. Throughout their working life they were
operated by Arthur and Rose Bray and her son Ernie
Kendal. One of the more famous jobs was carrying coal
from Atherstone to the Kearley & Tonge jam factory
at Southall, known as the 'Jam 'Ole Run'. Trade ceased
in 1970 but the Brays continued to live aboard until,
in 1980, they sold Raymond to Jim Doris Collins who
lived aboard until 1993. In 1996, Raymond was acquired
by the 'Friends of Raymond' who carried out
restoration. Barlows
Photos
CAEN
(M)
104
TAM
193
42-46
G
1213?
S.Barlow
Boat Builders Tamworth
ALEC
(M)
93
DAV
525
Numbered
52 in some photos
DRAGONFLY
9
O
02/1919
COV
407
8.7.19
Ex
Charles Newman No. 1, Canal Carrier Glascote
MADGE
52
N
03/1926
TAM
16
10.4.26
MINNIE
T
08/1921
BERK
518
29.8.21
NAUTILUS
O
03/1923
BERK
424
26.3.23
Ex
William Henry King
NELLIE
O
05/1927
TAM
32
7.5.27
Ex
J.B.Williams
CYLGATE
34
O
DAV
412
OC5625
this
is taken from a photo according to reference sources
she was registered 542 DAVENTRY.
