Aberystwyth - where is she now

[Hobbler]

The butty Aberystwyth used to be on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal but I understand had a serious fire , I was told the remains of the hull were allegedly seen being towed up the Staffs &

Worcs Canal. Anyone know what became of her ?

[carlt]

The butty Aberystwyth used to be on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal but I understand had a serious fire , I was told the remains of the hull were allegedly seen being towed up the Staffs &

Worcs Canal. Anyone know what became of her ?

She came past me a couple of years ago at Braunston. The lad steering her said he was off to London to restore her. That's the last I heard.

[AMModels]

her stern was all but detroyed in the fire was she in that state when she passed you carl?

[carlt]

her stern was all but detroyed in the fire was she in that state when she passed you carl?

Yes she had no work done at all. Floating nice and high, mind. No sign of any ballast.

[Chris-B]

Yes she had no work done at all. Floating nice and high, mind. No sign of any ballast.

 

 

The last I know was she was "rescued" by Paul and Wayne at Cowley Lock Cottage ( Lock 89) Aberystwyth was then moored on the land directly North of the" Lord Hill Bridge" this however was year or so ago

I did hear a "rumour" that she had gone up to Jem Bates yard at Marsworth but this I cannot confirm

Chris

Edited November 15, 2007 by Baldock

[bristol & argo]

The last I know was she was "rescued" by Paul and Wayne at Cowley Lock Cottage ( Lock 89) Aberystwyth was then moored on the land directly North of the" Lord Hill Bridge" this however was year or so ago

I did hear a "rumour" that she had gone up to Jem Bates yard at Marsworth but this I cannot confirm

Chris

 

LAst seen on the bank at Jem's, If Ben continues his spurt of work on Venus, Aber is gonna be in the way of a launching.

 

 

Simon.

[magnetman]

To avoid confusion I assume when you say 'Aber will be in the way of a launching' you are talking about nb 'Aberystwyth' and not nb 'Aber' which is a rivetted steel GUCCCo boat.

[Yoda]

Go to bed magnetman

[Timleech]

LAst seen on the bank at Jem's, If Ben continues his spurt of work on Venus, Aber is gonna be in the way of a launching.

Simon.

 

Is that the small Woolwich Venus?

I've been chucking out some old paperwork today, found an invoice for some work I did on her in 1983, often wondered what happened to her subsequently.

 

Tim

[carlt]

Is that the small Woolwich Venus?

I've been chucking out some old paperwork today, found an invoice for some work I did on her in 1983, often wondered what happened to her subsequently.

 

Tim

Nope, 1934 Star class prototype Ricky motor.

Edited to say, Scratch that. Arcturus and Sirius were Walkers star class prototypes. Venus was, indeed a woolwich, though quite what Jem's doing with it, I'm not too sure.

 

I think I'll go and lie down after that brainstorm.

Edited November 18, 2007 by carlt

[Timleech]

Nope, 1934 Star class prototype Ricky motor.

 

Some confusion here, there won't have been two star class Venus.

AIUI *the* star class Venus was built by Harland and Wolff, in timber, as a prototype for the composite Star class series.

 

Am I wrong?

 

Tim

[carlt]

Some confusion here, there won't have been two star class Venus.

AIUI *the* star class Venus was built by Harland and Wolff, in timber, as a prototype for the composite Star class series.

 

Am I wrong?

 

Tim

No, I am, see my edited post.

 

I was under the impression that Jem (or Ben) had sold it, though there were a lot of bottoms to go in before she could be launched.

 

I'm not having a good day

Edited November 18, 2007 by carlt

[bristol & argo]

No, I am, see my edited post.

 

I was under the impression that Jem (or Ben) had sold it, though there were a lot of bottoms to go in before she could be launched.

 

I'm not having a good day

 

Yes, well Ben bought it from Jem, and was thinking of selling it.

 

Ben and his grandad got nearly 30' of bottoms with some chine plank done in the summer, and the engine is currently out receiving attention...

 

 

Tim, what work did you do on her?

 

 

 

Simon.

[Timleech]

Yes, well Ben bought it from Jem, and was thinking of selling it.

 

Ben and his grandad got nearly 30' of bottoms with some chine plank done in the summer, and the engine is currently out receiving attention...

Tim, what work did you do on her?

Simon.

 

AFAIR quite a lot of fore-end replanking.

I'll try to find some pics in the 'archive'

 

Tim

[AMModels]

Sooooooo Tim, any more boats you can fill in some history on then? anything at all....start at A and carry on til Z thatd be great as Im updating my site right now and the combined brain power of this site will make it the best online resource out there.

 

[Hairy-Neil]

. Venus was, indeed a woolwich, though quite what Jem's doing with it, I'm not too sure.

 

Is not unheard of for Jem Bates to have an iron/steel boat in the yard. One time I visited a few years back the Little Northwich butty 'Serpens' was there being relengthened* and rebottomed....

 

* Serpens saw service as a trip boat at Little Venice with Jason's Trip. Was sold on for further tripping use and moved to the Monmouth and Brecon canal where it was shortened by about 10 feet. Sold on again, perhaps twice, the new owner located the original ironwork, (apparently in a museum, reluctant to part with them) and restored it to 70ft with the original hull plates welded back in.

[Timleech]

Yes, well Ben bought it from Jem, and was thinking of selling it.

 

Ben and his grandad got nearly 30' of bottoms with some chine plank done in the summer, and the engine is currently out receiving attention...

Tim, what work did you do on her?

Simon.

 

More than I remembered

Pretty much a complete new fore end:-

 

 

 

Tim

[AMModels]

Thats some nice work Tim, reminds me of the times I spent at Keays dock in walsall.

[Chris Pink]

More than I remembered

Pretty much a complete new fore end:-

 

Gosh, how wonderful, looking good. Really authentic look to the finished stem and bends.

 

Well done Tim

 

 

Chris

[Hairy-Neil]

Pretty much a complete new fore end:-

 

 

Tim

 

Nice to see restoration and conservation rather than replication.

[bristol & argo]

More than I remembered

Pretty much a complete new fore end:-

 

 

 

Tim

 

Wow,

Thanks Tim, i will pass them onto Ben so he can document more of her maintenance history.

 

 

Simon.

[AMModels]

Theres a picture of Aberystwyth on one of the many threads entitled wooden boats that are on the board.

 

[Timleech]

Just found these murky pics, I knew I had them somewhere, whilst digging out some pics of the June:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's circa 1965, Sale, with Jack & Leah Tolley's Admiral class pair (can't remember which names for certain, can probably find out if it's really important to anyone) along with Fred and Rose Gibbs' Shad & Aberystwyth. Notable partly for Fred's rain box (it was a miserable wet day) but mainly for the 'long lining' with the two motors ahead, & the two butties behind.

 

I did have an email a long time ago from the then (current?) owner of the Aberystwyth, asking if I had any pics. I've lost his details, so if anyone is in contact please pass these on to him. They're the only ones I know that I have.

 

Tim

[bristol & argo]

Glad to say Ben and Grandad got some more bottoms done and has ordered some more wood to finish off.

 

Not glad to report Aberystwyth is no longer in the way, it appears the quantity that was charcole somewhat exceeded everyones hopes and i think she is now just knees and the post from each end.

 

 

 

Simon.

[NB Esk]

More than I remembered

Pretty much a complete new fore end:-

 

 

 

Tim

 

Apologies, as this is off topic, but can anyone say if the gentle rise, where the gunnel meets the forward bulkhead (seen clearly in the bottom pic) has a name? I assume it must have, anyone know it? Thanks...