Introduction

Built at Braunston by Nursers in 1953 and originally owned by John Knill & Sons, Lucy was acquired by the Samuel Barlow Coal Co which in turn was taken over by Blue Line in 1962. Lucy was one of the two butties which took part in the last "Jam 'Ole Run" in 1970 which marked the end of regular commercial carrying on the canals. Bill and Rose Whitlock, along with Laura Carter, towed Lucy with nb Ian during the latter years of her working life and then lived aboard for a few years moored outside (what is now) Braunston Marina.

Their story is told by the plaque on the wall of the bridge at the entrance to Braunston Marina:

The plaque was unveiled by David Suchet on 3rd February 2001 who is seen here with Laura Carter immediately afterwards.

The only other butty on the last Jam 'Ole Run was the Raymond which (after falling into decay) has been rebuilt.

Lucy was built in a covered shed at The Wharf, Braunston in 1955 and side-launched into the Wharf Arm. The picture shows Raymond being launched in a similar way three years later. The picture on the right . . .

. . . shows that same shed (in centre of the picture) in 1972 now with white walls - no longer needed to build boats. Today that shed has gone (although the other old buildings have been preserved) and where it stood is part of the Marina car park.

The sad end of Lucy - perhaps not!

In February 2001 new owners brought her to Braunston where they lived aboard on the "Puddlebanks" at Wolfhampcote and where they planned to restore her. A first dry-docking was planned for the winter of 2002/3. Circumstances beyond their control delayed this and the boat steadily deteriorated and the bilge-pump was frequently seen to be operating until the solar panel providing power for the pump was stolen and Lucy quickly sank.

View of the marina car park where the
shed in which Lucy was built used to stand.

 
NB LUCY Project
This is the name of the project, headed by Pete Boyce, based at Tess Wharf, Braunston. Tess Wharf is situated between Tony Redshaw and Midland Chandlers and this is where the restoration will take place. Lucy has now been moved toTess Wharf. The picture, right, shows the bows (in September 2008) and she needed very careful handling. A steel rig was constructed to enable her to be lifted out of the water.

For the whole restoration story see their website

 


Lucy looking rather sorry for herself in September 2008 but by December she was burnt out.
 
 
 

The steel rig which will be placed beneath Lucy to enable her to be lifted and moved to Tess Wharf.

Rose, on Lucy, and Bill

 Bill

 Rose

More about the Whitlocks

The story of Rose and Bill Whitlock, along with Laura Carter, is inextricably entwined with that of nb Lucy - she was their butty. Bill and Rose met before WW2 when boats were hauled by horses - often for 16 hours a day. Although born ashore, Rose spent all her life afloat and guesses that she had no more than twelve days schooling in her life. Like many other working boaters, she could neither read nor write but "no one could better her when it came to handling money". Rose and Bill married and brought up their own family as they carried goods up and down the canals. Horses were replaced by a motor-boat which Roase steered, Laura was at the helm of the butty while Bill did the lock-wheeling.

They worked for Samuel Barlow Coal Company and took over the Lucy soon after she was acquired from John Knill's small carrying business. In 1957 Barlow's started a modest expansion in which they planned to build a new fleet of wooden boats to replace the old - only two boats were built, Hazel and Raymond. Trade started to decline and early in 1962 Barlow's sold out to Michael Streat's Blue Line Fleet who kept on the existing boats and crews, but by now only six working pairs were left - including the Whitlocks with Ian and Lucy.

Work continued to decline and by the late sixties only one contract remained - carrying coal from the coalfield at Atherstone (north of Coventry) to the Kearley & Tonges jam factory at Southall, known as the "Jam 'Ole Run". The Whitlocks operated one of the three remaining pairs. While routinely unloading their cargo in Octoter 1970 they were told it was to be the last load!