A tale of two sterns.. here we have a converted BCN day boat stern next to our Ironsides, an unconverted one. Made in their thousands these utilitarian hulls were towed by tug around the coalfields of Birmingham but now only a few remain untouched like this example.
Archaeology! Unearthing some of the trackway on the wharf to determine the layout from over 200 years ago.
A tramway, wharf thank you to our key workers.
My work done for the day, thanks to Ben the tree surgeon for donating this woodchip, we now have a nice soft path!
Happy to be Working on historic narrowboat Badger today, replacing a section of rubbing band
The tramway recognised here, one day it would be nice to have one on the wharf itself.
An unusual shot, coal boat Alton seen from below, on the tramway at our wharf.
Towing in the winter sun.
We have been working on a modern (ish) boat, Clover, in portland basin dry dock this last few weeks. Great to meet Guy and Sandra who run the yard there.
It’s hard to see here but in the background is my butty, Yeo. Layed up on the early 60s at Hawkesbury junction near Coventry. Many boating families lived in their boats while trying to find work and housing on the land at the end of canal traffic.
Thanks to everyone at bollington wharf for inviting me to the staff outing, to port meirion!
Thanks to Brian and Ann-Marie at bollington wharf for running their great fender making course we made two side fenders and a button fender over the two days and I think I’ll even remember how to do it!
And the other old and the new.. Alton (1936) and Yeo (1958) this could really be a scene from the 1960s as the River class buttys were designed to be pulled by the town class motors on traffic from London to Birmingham.
The old and the ‘new’ ironsides (c1910) and Alton (1935)..
Wood chopping at the wharf today
We are really lucky to have coal boat Alton at the wharf due to the stoppages at Marple. This is how we would like to see the wharf in the future.
A bit of work on prince’s gearbox today, we are swapping out the whole gear cluster and will rebuild the original.
Thanks to Andrew for taking the crew on a field trip to the Anson engine museum today!!
Thanks to Ian for rejuvenating the little herb garden at the wharf yesterday and for adding new plants to our bridge garden!!
Almost there, we have been pulling the Ash saplings out and planting daffodils over the last few days, tough work but the bridge garden will look great as it progresses.
And here’s what I/we made in cologne!
Just on my way back from an amazing little residency at Kolbhalle, Cologne. Thanks to everyone there for their kindness, such an inspiring community.
On route to cologne to do a group exhibition in the ‘kolbhalle’ very excited!
We now have a community notice board up at the wharf! Please feel free to put up your flyers, info etc!
Ruffiana the cat hanging out today
Prince and Bargus moored up in bugsworth basin for the steam rally this weekend. I’m happy to be helping Brian crew coal boat Bargus again.
Really happy to have Ian horrocks, a local woodsman and horticultural expert, at the wharf for a residency. He will be practising traditional woodworking skills and helping map the biodiversity of the land and advising on habitat management.
On the coal run with Jason from Bollington wharf today!
We are privelaged to have German artist, Nico, at the wharf installing a new work.
This square of grass has come all the way from calais and its transplant with our own grass has given us all much food for thought.
Helping Jason do an engine swap in one day at Hesford marine in Lymm
The works van.. Its been a day of collecting today..
Thanks to Andrew for giving me this picture of Anne, the River class prototype boat, complete with its outlandish engine system ‘the harbour master’
Most interesting book on the swap shelf today!
Many thanks to Bob and Steve from Ashton packet boat company for towing lronsides to Marple and struggling up the flight with me in the rain! We are hoping to restore her next year and plan to have her available as a community resource for education and exhibitions.
My favourite from the book swap this month.. A classic and very useful volume.
A little bit of ainting the other day.
Learning the mystical art of fender making with Brian on Alton yesterday.
The end of a long day working with coal boat Alton today. Great fun.
Sign writing practice thanks to Jason at bollington wharf
Saw these two on the way back from Wales the other day. The workmanship on these historic beasts astounds me.
Here’s a proper boat.. Alton moored up at bollington wharf, where I am working for a week or so.
Ironsides is coming along nicely. Hopefully we will have her up at tramway wharf soon!
