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Thomas
Clayton (Oldbury) Ltd This well-known operator can trace its
history back to 1842, when William Clayton set up a carrying
fleet in Birmingham, and in 1862 established a wharf and
boatyard at Saltley. Thomas Clayton took over the business on
his father's death in 1882, and continued to expand it. By then,
as well as general cargoes, Clayton's had developed a specialist
trade in liquid cargoes, the many gas works being the main
customers. At first, the cargo was carried in barrels, but by
1885 the practice had developed of putting it directly in the
hold, which was decked over to form the top of the tank. The
lids of the hatches were then sealed with lead seals until
reaching their destination. In 1889, the business was
rationalised. The general carrying business was merged with a
rival concern, Fellows, Morton & Co, to become the famous
Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd. FMC also took over the
Saltley yard from Thomas Clayton; many of the FMC and Clayton
boats were built at this yard, including the well-known steamer
“President” which is based at the Black Country Museum. Thomas
Clayton remained a Director and shareholder of FMC, but
continued to operate his own fleet which concentrated on the
carriage of liquids, from a new base at Oldbury. All of the
boats in Clayton's fleet were of wooden construction, except for
three experimental iron boats purchased from FMC. However, the
boatmen preferred the wooden boats, and the iron ones were soon
sold. The boats were all named after rivers or lakes. In 1916 a
new pattern was established when the boats built in that year
were given names beginning with “A”. In 1917, “B” was used, and
so on until the letter “U” was reached in 1939. After that, no
more new boats were purchased and the pattern was abandoned. The
mainstay of the Clayton traffic was gas works by-products -
mainly tar, creosote and “gas water” (an obnoxious solution of
ammonia) - much of which was taken to Midland Tar Distillers at
the bottom of the Titford Canal, adjacent to Clayton’s base, for
reprocessing. In 1924, Clayton’s obtained a contract for
carrying fuel oil from Stanlow Oil Refinery at Ellesmere Port on
the Manchester Ship Canal to the Shell Depot at Langley Green,
for which the motor boats were primarily purchased. However, in
late 1955 the boats were made obsolete by a new pipeline, and
with it the last regular long-distance traffic on the Shropshire
Union Canal ceased. Surprisingly, Clayton’s fleet did not reach
its peak, of over 90 boats, until the early 1950s. However, the
demise, when it came, was rapid, and the fleet was down to just
8 operational boats by 1966. The final crunch came when
Clayton’s yard was compulsorily purchased for building the M5
motorway. The decision was taken therefore to close the fleet,
and the last load was carried on 31st March 1966 by the “Stour”
- which is now owned by the Black Country Museum. By this time,
Clayton’s had built up a road oil tanker business, under the
name of Thomas Clayton (Petroleum Products) Ltd — later to be
taken over by the Cory group — and the Oldbury Company was wound
up. In order to perpetuate the memory of this famous fleet, the
present owners of Dane have registered a new Company in the old
name.
For
a full history of the company see Narrowboat
magazine.
Thos. Clayton fleet since
1916.
Name
/ Fleet No. / Source / Date entered fleet / Registered
Details / Registered date / Further Information
ALDE |
44 |
W |
10/1916 |
BREN
355;17.10.16 |
422 |
13.9.22 |
out of
fleet.49 , had fore cabin Broken Up. |
ADDER |
53 |
W |
12/1916 |
BREN
359;20.2.17 |
430 |
18.9.22 |
o.o.f.52
, had fore cabin , Broken Up . |
BLYTH |
40 |
R |
04/1917 |
LSTR
139; 4.17 |
746 |
22.10.23 |
Had fore
cabin , Broken Up . |
BOURNE |
54 |
N |
05/1917 |
BREN
362; 19.6.17 |
440 |
25.9.22 |
Had fore
cabin , Broken Up . |
BANNON |
55 |
N |
07/1917 |
BREN
363; 18.9.17 |
477 |
1.11.22 |
Had fore
cabin , Broken Up . |
BOYLE |
56 |
W |
09/1917 |
BREN
364; 18.9.17 |
22800 |
11.1.18 |
|
BRENT |
10 |
R |
10/1917 |
LSTR
140; 3.11.17 |
460 |
10.10.22 |
Had fore
cabin , Broken Up . |
BEAVER |
15 |
N |
12/1917 |
BHM
1366;14.12.17 |
116 |
4.10.21 |
Sunk
Croxon Flash , Trent and Mersey. Broken Up |
CALDER |
11 |
N |
07/1918 |
BHM
1373; 10.1.19 |
444 |
25.9.22 |
o.o.f.49
Had fore cabin , Broken Up . |
CHERWELL |
2 |
N |
10/1918 |
BREN
387; 17.12.18 |
501 |
1.12.22 |
Had fore
cabin , Broken Up . |
DEVON |
42 |
N |
02/1919 |
BHM
1479; 1.5.25 |
401 |
30.8.22 |
Broken
Up. |
DOON |
57 |
N |
05/1919 |
BHM
1477; 2.4.25 |
464 |
11.10.22 |
Had fore
cabin , Broken Up . |
EDEN |
14 |
F |
03/1924 |
BREN
424; 18.3.24 |
958 |
7.11.24 |
Broken
Up . |
EXE |
4 |
F |
03/1924 |
BREN
425; 18.3.24 |
839 |
18.4.24 |
Had fore
cabin , Broken Up . |
ESK |
15 |
N |
03/1924 |
BREN
426; 17.6.24 |
915 |
17.9.24 |
|
ERNE |
24 |
N |
06/1924 |
BREN
428; 15.7.24 |
970 |
24.11.24 |
Had fore
cabin , Broken Up . |
EREWASH |
28 |
R |
07/1924 |
LSTR
154; 22.7.24 |
927 |
1.10.24 |
Had fore
cabin , Broken Up . |
FORTH |
22 |
N |
07/1925 |
BREN
443; 15.9.25 |
1094 |
24.9.25 |
|
FROME |
41 |
N |
10/1925 |
BREN
445;15.12.25 |
1129 |
25.1.26 |
Broken
Up . |
GLEN |
59 |
T |
10/1926 |
TRNG
104;2.11.26 |
1334 |
22.9.27 |
|
GIFFORD |
60 |
N |
12/1926 |
DAV 374;
7.12.26 |
1288 |
5.5.27 |
from
when she was built in 1926 until the early 1940s and
horse drawn, Gifford carried gas tar from the gasworks
at Oxford to the Midland Tar Distillers works at Banbury
and from Leamington gasworks to both Oldbury in the West
Midlands and Banbury. The hold is decked
over to make a watertight tank for the transport of
liquid cargoes. It
has a forecabin, which gives more living space than most
working narrow boats.
There is a bulkhead or ‘stank’ at each end of
the hold, giving an air space between it and the living
accommodation, which prevents noxious fumes from the
cargo polluting the cabins. In the 1940s
and 1950s Gifford also carried fuel oil from the Shell
refinery at Stanlow on the Manchester Ship Canal,
through Ellesmere Port to the Shell Mex depot at Langley
Green in the Midlands.
After 1940, she was often towed by a motor boat
and the 160 mile round trip would take 6 to 7 days.
Gifford has had her fair share of births and
deaths. In
1932, baby Joseph Thomas Gardner was born on her when
she was tied up at Crescent Wharf, Birmingham.
Nine years later, in 1941, tragedy struck
Gifford when young Susan Agnes Beechey, aged only 13,
was suffocated by fumes from the stove in the fore
cabin. Her sister Clara survived. Gifford worked until
1963 carrying tar from gas works in the Midlands to
Oldbury, once more horse drawn. Max
Sinclair saved Gifford from being broken up by paying a
£60 deposit to Claytons. In 1970 Edward Paget–Tomlinson,
bought Gifford. Extensive repairs were carried out by
Ken Keay at Walsall.
Further, major restoration work was undertaken
by Malcolm Webster in the 1990s. Gifford
was one of the first boats in the collection at the
Boat Museum when it opened in 1976.
She is owned, operated and cared for by the
Boat Museum Society, volunteers at the National
Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port. GIFFORD
Other Photos
|
GIPPING |
61 |
L |
12/1926 |
TAM 26;
11.12.26 |
1273 |
23.3.37 |
|
GANGES |
17 |
H |
12/1926 |
BHM
1496; 17.12.26 |
1279 |
31.3.27 |
|
HUDSON |
62 |
N |
02/1927 |
DAV 375;
1.3.27 |
1370 |
27.1.28 |
Converted
known as PAINTED LADY |
HAMBLE |
35 |
L |
02/1927 |
TAM 29;
12.2.27 |
1280 |
31.3.27 |
|
HOLSTON |
34 |
R |
05/1927 |
LSTR
158; 6.5.27 |
1318 |
24.8.27 |
|
HEBBLE |
30 |
R |
12/1927 |
LSTR
159; 12/27 |
1371 |
31.1.28 |
Motorised
last seen on the Leeds And Liverpool canal |
IRWELL |
65 |
H |
05/1928 |
BHM
1507; 18.5.28 |
1411 |
19.7.28 |
|
IVOR |
38 |
H |
12/1928 |
BHM
1515; 19.1.29 |
1464 |
11.1.29 |
|
JORDAN |
66 |
H |
06/1929 |
BHM
1519; 7.6.29 |
1494 |
5.6.29 |
Other
Photos |
JUBA |
67 |
H |
11/1929 |
BHM
1524; 2.11.29 |
1538 |
14.12.29 |
|
JARDINE |
68 |
R |
12/1929 |
LSTR
160; 12/29 |
1536 |
28.11.29 |
|
KENNET |
69 |
H |
01/1930 |
BHM
1525; 31.1.30 |
1553 |
22.1.30 |
|
KYM |
9 |
N |
06/1930 |
DAV 409;
17.6.30 |
1715 |
10.2.32 |
|
KUBINA |
70 |
N |
10/1930 |
DAV 414;
7.10.30 |
1646 |
14.11.30 |
Shortened
to 57ft and converted fs 81 |
KAMA |
71 |
H |
12/1930 |
BHM
1531;19.12.30 |
1650 |
19.12.30 |
|
KEN |
20 |
M |
12/1930 |
BHM
1530;19.12.30 |
1180 |
10.8.26* |
|
KENT |
23 |
M |
12/1930 |
BHM
1532;19.12.30 |
22903 |
14.6.18* |
|
KABUL |
73 |
M |
12/1930 |
BHM
1371;11.10.18 |
1592 |
28.4.30* |
|
LEAM |
72 |
R |
02/1931 |
LSTR
161; 2/31 |
1662 |
7.3.31 |
|
LEA |
74 |
N |
06/1931 |
DAV 423;
16.3.31 |
1690 |
21.8.31 |
'64.bought and
converted by J.Taylors parents.
uncle had it until
89.Broken up98.J.Taylor has
Lindsay and Keppel
|
MONNOW |
13 |
B |
01/1932 |
BHM
1339;1.10.15 |
2030 |
13.7.38 |
paired
with UMEA based at Cowley |
MOOSE |
76 |
B |
01/1932 |
NOT
REG'D |
2038 |
22.8.38 |
|
MOY |
75 |
B |
01/1932 |
BHM
1328;15.1.15 |
22268 |
1.2.15* |
o.o.f.49 |
MOHAWK |
77 |
X |
02/1932 |
BHM
1116;13.11.03 |
528 |
18.12.22 |
o.o.f.49 |
MOLE |
78 |
N |
05/1932 |
DAV 431;
17.5.32 |
1731 |
13.7.32 |
|
OHIO |
79 |
H |
07/1934 |
BHM
1554; 17.8.34 |
1817 |
27.8.34 |
|
OKA |
80 |
N |
07/1934 |
DAV 455;
6/34 |
1821 |
10.9.34 |
|
ORWELL |
58 |
L |
07/1934 |
TAM 131;
21.7.34 |
1815 |
20.8.34 |
|
PEARL |
81 |
N |
02/1935 |
DAV 461;
4.2.35 |
1851 |
10.5.35 |
Motorised
by TCO. converted for sale. 4/90 |
PINN |
73 |
H |
02/1935 |
BHM
1559;15.2.35 |
1860 |
19.6.35 |
|
POYLE |
82 |
N |
05/1935 |
BHM
1568; 21.6.35 |
1864 |
5.7.35 |
Motorised
by TCO now converted |
PEEL |
83 |
H |
05/1935 |
BHM
1562; 17.5.35 |
1869 |
19.8.35 |
|
REA |
84 |
N |
05/1936 |
BHM
1588; 19.6.36 |
1918 |
22.7.36 |
|
RIBBLE |
85 |
F |
11/1936 |
BHM
1603;18.12.36 |
1951 |
7.4.37 |
|
SEVERN |
86 |
F |
04/1937 |
BHM
1605; 4.6.37 |
1960 |
2.6.37 |
Converted
to motor for Claytons |
SOAR (M) |
32 |
Z |
05/1937 |
BHM
1604; 28.5.37 |
1959 |
26.5.37 |
o.o.f.49 |
STOUR
(M) |
87 |
F |
09/1937 |
BHM
1611;19.11.37 |
1983 |
27.9.37 |
Unconverted
for sale. 8/90 now based at BCLM in need of TLC STOUR
Other Photos |
SPEY (M) |
88 |
F |
10/1937 |
BHM
1612;19.11.37 |
1990 |
15.11.37 |
unconverted.
waterways world.9/00 photo |
TWEED
(M) |
37 |
F |
01/1938 |
BHM
1613; 18.2.38 |
2004 |
19.1.38 |
sank 1978 Uxbridge
and slid into the channel where she was broken up by BW
Other Photos
|
TIBER |
89 |
M |
01/1938 |
BHM
1614; 18.2.38 |
1507 |
16.7.29* |
Other
Photos |
TAY (M) |
90 |
F |
03/1938 |
OLD 1;
8.5.38 |
2009 |
16.3.38 |
based
Northern Trent and Mersey TAY |
TAFF (M) |
91 |
X |
03/1938 |
OLD 2;
8.5.38 |
2012 |
30.3.38 |
o.o.f.49 |
TEES (M) |
92 |
F |
05/1938 |
OLD 3;
7.7.38 |
2022 |
1.6.38 |
|
TOWY (M) |
93 |
F |
07/1938 |
OLD 4;
5.10.38 |
2033 |
27.7.38 |
clothed
up camper.Now at Boat museum Ellesmere Port TOWY
TOWY
today
|
USK (M) |
94 |
F |
01/1939 |
OLD 6;
7.3.39 |
2054 |
13.1.39 |
converted
to trip boat 1960's sold and went to London then to
Northern canals. Bought by present owner as live aboard
but with expanding family proved impractical, was the
victim of an arson attack Oct 07 which left her a derelict
hulk. Other Photos |
UMEA (M) |
3 |
F |
11/1939 |
OLD 7;
5.12.39 |
2080 |
10.11.39 |
Converted based at
Cowley on Grand Union paired with MONNOW was originally
built for someone else, any ideas who??
|
RIBBLE
(M) |
85 |
E |
12/1941 |
OLD 11;
16.1.42 |
1951 |
19.8.42 |
Other
Photos |
SEVERN
(M) |
86 |
E |
08/1944 |
OLD 14;
1.8.44 |
1960 |
1.10.47 |
Totally
rebuilt by Jem Bates and based Puttenham Aylesbury Arm,
she is restored as an unconverted motor rather than a
planked over tanker. Site
Other Photos |
PEARL
(M) |
81 |
E |
10/1945 |
OLD 16;
2.10.45 |
1851 |
21.1.48 |
on
Northern Trent and Mersey. |
CAPTAIN
(M) |
---- |
Z |
05/1947 |
BHM
1446; 4.7.24 |
1000 |
23.1.25* |
for
sale. 4/91. converted and 59ft see FMC list |
EMPEROR
(M) |
---- |
Z |
04/1948 |
BHM
1006; 3.6.98 |
1079 |
27.8.25* |
see FMC |
DOVE (M) |
8 |
G |
09/1948 |
OLD 21;
3.11.48 |
1531 |
12.11.29 |
built by
the Severn & Canal Carrying Company Ltd. at Stourport
in 1913. Her British Waterways number is 77328 and she was
registered at Gloucester as number 518 in 1929. In 1912,
she was re-registered as number 483, which was changed
again to number 22 (maybe 21??) at Oldbury in 1948. She
was originally named ALDERSLEY, but became known as MOTOR
NUMBER 8 in 1929 and remained as such until 1948. She has
oak sides, an elm bottom and a pine superstructure and is
doubled planked, fastened with iron nails. She has a
pointed bow and a counter stern. Her current engine was
made by National Oil & Gas in 1934 and is model 20M,
with two cylinders, rated at 18 horsepower. Sold to Thos
Clayton in 1948 to become their DOVE.
*conv.fs.4/92.
extant 2000
DOVE
Other Photos
|
DON (M) |
1 |
G |
06/1949 |
OLD 22;
2.6.49 |
1771 |
18.8.33* |
converted
was also Severn & Canal .MV6 |
HARKEN |
39 |
X |
49 |
|
|
|
Experimental tug for
use on BCN instead of horses but was unsuccessful and
was quickly sold
|
CLYDE |
11 |
I |
49 |
UXB 511;
10/18 |
1372 |
1.2.28* |
|
CHESS |
12 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1161;10.11.05 |
19900 |
27.11.05 |
* |
MOY |
13 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1196; 7.2.08 |
20562 |
3.4.08* |
|
CONWAY |
19 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1468;17.10.24 |
985 |
29.12.24 |
*shortened |
CALDER |
27 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1478; 2.4.25 |
1060 |
22.6.25* |
|
CROMFORD |
32 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1467; 4.7.24 |
926 |
1.10.24* |
|
WEAR |
44 |
I |
49 |
TAM 7;
16.1.26 |
1142 |
26.2.26* |
|
MOOSE |
45 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1352;29.9.26 |
22637 |
26.3.17* |
|
SHANNON |
46 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1500; 3.2.28 |
1395 |
10.5.28* |
|
FOYLE |
48 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1499;16.12.27 |
1375 |
10.2.28* |
|
LIFFEY |
75 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1484; 22.1.26 |
1167 |
19.5.26* |
|
MEDINA |
76 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1358; 16.3.17 |
22664 |
11.5.17* |
|
MONNOW |
77 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1104;19.12.02 |
1693 |
11.9.31* |
|
KENT |
91 |
I |
49 |
BHM
1351;29.9.16 |
22734 |
7.7.17* |
|
THAMES |
95 |
I |
49 |
NEVER
REG'D |
1893 |
20.3.36* |
|
DART (M) |
16 |
G |
05/1950 |
OLD 23;
13.7.50 |
1387 |
20.4.28* |
58ft
wooden hulled former working boat now shortened and with a
full length conversion. * Built in 1928 by Anderton Boat
Co in Stoke for the Severn & Canal Carrying Co as
Motor Boat No 2 * Subsequently part of the Thomas Clayton
fleet of tar boats (Dart, fleet no 16), * Ceased as a
working boat in 1959 and shortened (by Malcolm Braine) in
about 1968 to its current length. * In hands of current
owners since 1983 Dart has been regularly docked and
maintained, the most recent docking for hull maintenance
and new stern tube was this year. The engine is a very
ample Gardner 4LK,
DART
|
DANE (M) |
18 |
G |
05/1950 |
OLD 24;
13.7.50 |
1516 |
7.8.29* |
Dane was
built in 1907 as a horse boat by Severn & Canal
Carrying Company at Stourport-on-Severn. At this time is
was named Bath, Fleet Number 11. In 1929 it was rebuilt as
a motor boat, and the present 15hp Bolinder “semi-diesel”
engine was installed. It is understood this was the first
such conversion carried out by Severn & Canal.
Following conversion, it carried no name, just a number —
Motor No 7. In 1948, along with 3 other boats, it was sold
to Thomas Clayton (Oldbury) Ltd, and converted to an “oil
boat” for carrying bulk liquids, e.g. oil, tar, creosote
& other gas works by-products. The conversion work was
carried out at Lees & Atkins dock, Polesworth, at a
cost of £480. It was then given the name Dane, which it
has retained ever since, and Fleet Number 18. However, it
was discovered that Dane was too long to fit into the
second lock up the flight of six (known as “The Crow”) on
the Titford Canal. This lock was known to be the shortest
on the BCN, and presented a problem as this meant Dane
would be unable to reach Langley Green — the destination
of the main oil traffic from Stanlow Oil Refinery!
Therefore it was shortened by rebuilding the bow to its
present form, and is consequently totally different from
all other “Severners”. Dane did not, therefore, enter
traffic with Clayton’s until 1950 — the last boat to enter
the fleet apart from an experimental iron boat Adder
(ex-FMC France) which was not successful and soon sold. By
1960 the Clayton traffic was diminishing rapidly, largely
due to closure of the gasworks following the introduction
of North Sea gas, and the loss of the Stanlow oil traffic
following the laying of a pipeline. Dane was sold in 1960
and converted to a pleasure boat. It was purchased by the
present owner in March 1977. In 1981, the decision was
taken to restore Dane to working condition, and the
conversion was removed. The following year, it was
repainted in authentic Oldbury-style Clayton livery. Owing
to a growing family and the limited accommodation in the
traditional back cabin (although the boatmen and their
families managed to cope), the forecabin was added in
1989. The design of this followed closely those fitted to
some Clayton horse boats - of which Gifford is the best
known example. Finally, the decking was replaced to
original appearance.
DANE
Other Photos
|
ADDER
(M) |
53 |
X |
04/1952 |
OLD 25;
4.7.52 |
1963 |
11.6.37* |
|
Key to T.C.(O)
List
KEY
TO FLEET LIST |
B :-
Purchased from British Cyanide Co. Ltd Oldbury |
|
E :-
Converted from Butty |
|
F :-
Built by FMC Uxbridge |
|
G :-
Purchased from Severn Carrying Co. Ltd Gloucester |
|
H :-
Built by G Hale & Son Oldbury |
|
I :-
From Imperial Chemical Industries (General Chemicals)
Ltd |
|
L :-
Built by Lees & Atkins Polesworth |
|
M :-
Purchased from Midland Tar Distillers Ltd Oldbury |
|
N :-
Built by Wm. Nurser & Sons/Nurser Bros Braunston |
|
R :-
Built by Rudkins Leicester |
|
T :-
Built by Bushell Bros. New Mills Tring. |
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W :-
Built by Wm. Henry Walker Rickmansworth |
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Z :-
Purchased from FMC Ltd Birmingham |
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X :-
ADDER - Ex D&IWE "FRANCE Ex FMC |
HARKEN
- Ex Ernie Thomas Walsall |
MOHAWK
- Ex Chance & Hunt Ltd Oldbury " LUCY |
TAFF -
Ex G. Hale & Son Oldbury "WESTERN |
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* -
Reg & Gauging dates refer to previous owner |
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Sources:-
Claytons of Oldbury. A.Faulkner, Roger Fullers
website
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