Stowe Hill Wharf

[matty40s]

This year is the 40th anniversary of the new Stowe Hill Wharf, when the Waterways Holidays fleet was moved there in April of that year as Cropredy wharf was no longer big enough.

Prior to that, it had been a busy transhipment wharf to the A5 before the war.

 

Following the war, the A5 was widened and new bridges built across the Grand Union in several locations Long Buckby being another locally.

 

This meant the old wharf buildings were demolished and the site was little used until 1976.

 

 

planning permission was sought for a new basin and works were planned for 1977, unfortunately, water shortages in the drought meant that the fleet had to be moved to Coventry Basin for the Summer, the South Oxford was shut already.

 

Work started on the basin in 1977 and the dry dock and workshop later in the year

 

 

 

 

 

[matty40s]

Late 1970's with the wharf works going on apace...

 

 

 

 

 

 

First boats in the basin after the BW dredger broke the banks as a favour were skippered by Duncan Edwards and Chris Coburn, later of nb Progress journeys.

 

Mardyke marine and Cosgrove Cruising Co boats became added to the fleet by 1979 and Stowe Hill Marine starts to build new boats.

 

 

Winter 1979 was bitter, boats iced in for 3 months. (look at the state of the towpaths, now piled)

 

In 1980, Blisworth Tunnel collapsed, effectively making this portion of the Grand Union a dead end (The Rothersthorpe flight not really used by hirers or anyone else for that matter)

Several rallies were held at Stowe Hill to maintain interest, but the hire fleet struggled.

In 1983, Pete Hill took over the Stowe Hill Marine business and went on to produce over 165 boats.

Phil Gardner (Now at High House Wharf) took on the hire businesses and in 1984, Blisworth re-opened , allowing passage to London again.

 

Early 1990s

 

 

The boat building stopped in 2009, however, Rugby Boat Sales moved into the chandlery building and Robert Gudgeon took on the workshops meaning the site continues its valuable presence in the Northamptonshire canal life.

 

photos courtesy of The Edwards Family and Pete Hill

Edited November 11, 2016 by matty40s

[paddy r]

Brilliant, thanks for that

[valrene9600]

Very interesting to see the timeline.

[Athy]

Absolutely excellent historical piece, great atmospheric photos, thanks very much for posting all this.

I have learned something new this morning. Although I have moored 150 yards from Cropredy Wharf for two years, I had no idea that a hire fleet once operated from there. Has anyone any photos or info, please?

[matty40s]

I shall try to find out more for you.

[pophops]

As the proud owner of a Stowe Hill boat, I found this all very interesting. Thanks for your post.

[Laurence Hogg]

I remember stopping there in 1972 on one of our first hotel boat runs, we all went to the pub, the passengers were welcomed but the crew were turned away "we don't want bargees in here"!!

How times have changed!

[matty40s]

I remember stopping there in 1972 on one of our first hotel boat runs, we all went to the pub, the passengers were welcomed but the crew were turned away "we don't want bargees in here"!!

How times have changed!

It hasn't, they still don't like boaters or drinkers in there. ....

[Arphamoe]

My wife worked for John White when he ran the gift shop there, and helped Duncan when he was running the trip boat in the 70's. The stoppage eventually cost John his business!

[Richard T]

Norman Millar began his chandlery business at Stowe Hill before he moved it to Shardlow. Sadly it is no more - we miss it and the advice given freely by Norman and his wife.

[alan_fincher]

It hasn't, they still don't like boaters or drinkers in there. ....

 

They must have failed to identify us as either, then!

[John Brightley]

Thanks for all this Matty, very interesting.

It appears from the Boat Enquiries booking agency brochures that Waterways Holidays took on the Mardyke Marine boats sometime in 1980, and Cosgrove Cruising sometime after that as they are still listed seperately in 1981. Here's the details:

1980 brochure:

1981 brochure:

 

[John Brightley]

Just looked at the 1973 Inland Waterways Guide to see if there were details of Waterways Holidays at Cropredy. They aren't listed at all, anywhere, but Water Gipsy Cruisers are at Stowe Hill - as this advert: