On 29 October, Museum narrowboat, Stour will be towed to Caggy’s Boatyard for repair works to her hull. These works will reduce the level of pumping required for Stour to stay afloat.
She will return to the Museum on Sunday 5 November, following which there will be an assessment of her long-term restoration strategy.
A bit about Stour
Stour, built in 1937 by Fellows, Morton & Clayton, was one of a large fleet of all wooden boats used by Thomas Clayton (Oldbury) Ltd for liquid cargo carrying, the main hold area being fully decked over. When new she would have carried more refined fuels such as gas oil for powering machinery and when older she was used for carrying heavier lubricating oil from the fuel distribution plants on the Manchester Ship Canal. Her last job was collecting gas water (a by-product of coke manufacture) and transporting it to Albright & Wilson at Oldbury. Stour was owned throughout her working life by the Beechey family until 1966.
Stour came to the Museum in 1991 and the front end of the boat was rebuilt. In 2003-04, she had a major overhaul including replacement of most of the wooden bottom and re-painting to her original Clayton’s livery.
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