Working the Canal - The Boats and Barges

Narrow boat 'Columba' at West Mill Wharf, Newbury, arriving from Middlewich, Cheshire, February 1950.

Types of craft

Narrow boats and Kennet barges were the primary craft used on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

The canal company specified that these had to be of the following dimensions:

• Approved barge (Class A) - 69 feet (21m) long x 5 feet (1.5m) deep x 12ft 4ins (3.8m) beam, with a capacity of 60 tons.

• Approved boat (Class A) - 69 feet long x 4 feet (1.2m) deep x 6 ft 11ins (2.1m)beam with a capacity of 35 tons.

• Non - approved vessels (Class B) - to the maximum dimensions of 69 feet long x 5 feet deep x 14 feet (4.3m) beam, with a capacity of 70 tons.

Cross section of narrowboat

The company also approved a boat it called the mule boat (wide boat).

This had the same dimensions as the approved barge except that the beam was 10 feet (3m) giving it a capacity of approximately 50 tons.

While the cabin of the barge was below the rear deck with access by a companionway, the mule by comparison had the appearance of an over wide narrow boat.

Larger boats

These criteria aside, larger barges were sometimes built, particularly for use on the Avon Navigation.

Part of the boat specification for Narrowboat 'Ruby' - April 1913

One such vessel was the 'Harriett' which was built in 1894 by Robbins Lane and Pinniger, for Ashmeads of Bristol.

This barge was over 70 foot long with a beam that was slightly over 14 feet.

On her delivery voyage from Honeystreet to Bristol, 'Harriett' stuck fast in a lock at Foxhangers near Devizes.

In order to continue their passage, the delivery crew chipped away portions of the wooden quoins and brickwork in the lock sides causing a great deal of damage.

Surprisingly, the canal company took no action against Robbins Lane and Pinniger for the damage caused, simply letting them off with a caution.

It is likely that this was because the firm had grounds for complaint against the canal company on another matter and, that some tit-for-tat private resolution was reached as a consequence.

Kennet barge 'Harriett' - as she is today.

Boat building

Narrow boats and barges were built in their greatest numbers at Newbury in Berkshire and Honeystreet in Wiltshire.

Robbins Lane and Pinniger of Honeystreet also built spoon dredgers for K&A use, sailing trows for the river Severn and large barges for use on the river Wey.

The last trading vessel built by the company, was the barge 'Unity', which was built in 1896 and which continued in use until 1933.

Some of the companies most well known barges were built in the early 20th century for the United Alkali Company (later ICI). These were all named after precious stones and collectively known as the stone barges.

Steam dredging

Steam dredgers for use on the canal, were built by Stothert and Pitt at Bath.

Kennet barge 'Harriett' - as she is today.

These were commissioned by the Great Western Railway (GWR) who, by that time, owned the canal.

Remains of 'Harriett'

Although a number of working narrow boats still remain, all the Kennet barges have long disappeared.

That is apart from one, because the remains of 'Harriett' can still be seen on the banks of the river Severn at Purton, where in the mid 1960's she was taken to be hulked.

Although ravaged by neglect and the elements, the shape and form of the old barge is still very evident and many of her oak timbers are as solid as the day they were fitted nearly 110 years ago.

Next: Using and Working the Canal - The Communities