Narrowboat songs

Subject: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 21 May 99 - 05:42 PM

I've been asked to provide the music for a weekend celebrating the British canal system (British Waterways, not dentistry). Any ideas for songs. The canals here are mostly very narrow, as are the boats, but spending time on a narrowboat is like slowing your whole life down to 4 miles an hour. Thanks a lot, Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Bert
Date: 21 May 99 - 06:02 PM

A search of DT for "canal" turns up loads of hits. I don't know how many are British though.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 21 May 99 - 06:19 PM

Thanks, Bert. I've had a look, and most of them are American, I've found a couple there that might do. I'm sure that there must be lots more songs. Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Don Meixner
Date: 21 May 99 - 06:36 PM

LLANFAIR,

The only one that comes to my mind is The Good Ship Calibar. WE have some excellent Narrow Boats on the New York State Barge Canal that can be rented by the week. A floating motel filled with food spirits and fuel, just bring your clothes. Not many folks know what Narrow Boats are and you are right, your life slows to a gentle and elegant speed when on the water.

Don

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 21 May 99 - 06:58 PM

I've long tried to find the words for the songs on John Kirkpatrick and Jon Raven's 1975 album of canal songs (the title is round the next corner of my mind ...). I'm sure that's the kind of stuff Llanfair is after, too. Can anyone help. Some song titles were 'The Rosemary', Leeds A Seaport Town (I think),Tommy Notes, Let's Begin Delving. I'd also be interested in the sleevenotes, if there were any. Good luck, Llanfair! - Susanne

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: bill\sables
Date: 21 May 99 - 08:07 PM

Hi Llanfair. Have you tried Folkworks canal songs site at www.pipemedia.net/users/jeffd/index.htm Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 May 99 - 08:16 PM

This may help FOLKWISE

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 May 99 - 08:22 PM

Bill

Yours wasn't there when I posted. I tried your link, but it didn't work. Is it me?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 21 May 99 - 08:32 PM

Gordon Bok recently recorded a song called "Stormy Weather" which is a barge song from the East coast of England; I could post the words later if you want it. It's published in Roy Palmer's "Oxford Book of Sea Songs".

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Lorraine
Date: 21 May 99 - 09:08 PM

Are Keel boats narrow boats? Lorraine

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: DonMeixner
Date: 21 May 99 - 10:57 PM

Lorraine,

Keel boats are pretty much an American hull type. They were largely a river boat and not a canal craft but I imagine there was some cross over. Similar in some ways to a Durham boat but without any rocker to the keel. The keel boats were pushed along the rivers of the American west by several men with long poles and they were used to transport people and supplies. The Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled much by keel boat. Good representations of them can be seen in the movies "The Big Sky" and "Davy Crockett and The River Pirates"

Narrows are slab sided kinda pointy on both ends and usually flat bottomed with a hint of a keel. The are as the name implies very narrow because they must travel the very narrow canals of Great Britain. I imagine they are powered now but in years passed they were pushed by a small, powered pram and befor that they were pulled by a horse from the towpath on the canal. Many families lived aboard narrow boats at one time. I'm not sure if they are used for anything but recreation now.

More than you needed Huh?

Don

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Penny S.
Date: 22 May 99 - 04:15 AM

One of the most surprising things I have learned was how easy it was to move a narrow boat along a tunnel by legging. It was easier than pushing my teeny weeny British car. It made all the texts about the environmental friendliness and energy-saving nature of water transport come alive. Mind you, it was already moving.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Ferrara
Date: 22 May 99 - 10:26 AM

Re Lorraine's question about keel boats: What were the boats called that were manned by keelmen, in Newcastle-on-Tyne? There's a song called The Sandgate Lassie's Lament, sung by Norman and Flora MacDonald (or did I forget their names again?) with the refrain, "Since I married a keelman, all me good days are done."

We heard that Newcastle had a fairly shallow harbor, and when coal trains brought in a load of coal, the keelmen rowed it out to where the ships that would haul it were anchored, and heaved it on board, which means they were pretty rough-and-ready guys.

But their boats aren't related to narrowboats, which were strictly for use on the canals, I think. Most of them were houseboats as well, weren't they, in which the captain and his family lived? What was the means of locomotion? In the US most canal boats were pulled by mules.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 10:58 AM

I can dimly remember also that there were vessels called 'Tom Puddings', that were used in the North of England for bulk coal, I think?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 22 May 99 - 01:14 PM

I think you are talking about butties. The narrowboat, in which the family lived, was horsepowered, and other, unpowered boats were tied on behind, or on the side if it was a wider canal. The boats are very manouverable when going along the canal, you can move one by leaning on a bargepole. Turning and stopping are a different matter. Most boats are 30 foot+ long, and don't do anything in a hurry!!!! Thanks for the help, I've got plenty of time, so any other ideas would be welcome. Hwyl. Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 01:21 PM

Several late eighteenth and early nineteenth century English canals used 'tub' boats, capable of carrying from 5 to 10 tons, often used with primitive boat lifts or inclines. The Aire & Calder Navigation's engineer developed this idea into the 'Tom Puddings', a compartment boat system for carrying coal. Moved in trains of up to 30 compartment boats by steam tugs, they were lifted out of the water and then tipped by hydraulic machinery to empty their cargo into sea-going ships.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 01:23 PM

I stole the above from here A Short History Of English Canals

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BRAUNSTON BELLE AND THE NUMBER ONE^^
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 02:54 PM

Here is one about narrow boat life.

THE BRAUNSTON BELLE AND THE NUMBER ONE

When I first saw my Rosie, my heart flew like a bird
Our eyes met at Braunston Junction, smiled but ne'r spoke a word
I watched, as she drifted on the lock-side, like a swan on Tixall Wide
Her hair, was plaited like a fender, head held up, so full of pride

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

I asked for her hand in marriage and to her father we did run
But he'd vowed, that when she married, it would be to a Number One
My heart fell, when he started speaking, then Rosie, she held the floor
"I'll wed this man or no other, till then I'll work the cut no more"

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

I swore, that to this place I'd not travel, not to see her work on the land
I may leave here a company man, but worthy will return to take her hand
She said, she would wait for me, there, each and every Whitsun Day
Years passed, and I would hear tell, of my Braunston Belle, from all who passed that way

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

In time a Number One, I became, 'The Rosie' and the butty 'Ben'
Turned south, upon the 'Shroppie' for to see my Rosie again
As I passed, all the boat's would cheer, bright ribbons and bunting flew
They cleared all the flights for me, for it seemed the whole country knew

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

The next time, I saw my Rosie, my heart flew like a bird
Our eyes meet a Braunston Junction, smiled but ne'r spoke a word
I watched as she drifted on the lock-side, like a swan on Tixall Wide
Dressed in white, in all her splendour, as she walked on to be my bride

Roses and castles, hearts and flowers
Counting the days, counting the hours

Roger Gall 1996 ^^

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 22 May 99 - 05:33 PM

Hey, Shambles, that is a great song, we hadn't mentioned the roses and castles (I'm planning on trying my hand at that when I start working part-time ) Has the song got an original tune, or is it one I'm likely to know already? It mentions The Shroppy, The Shropshire Union, which isn't far from here, and the weekend I'm doing is on the Montgomery canal. the navigable bits, that is!!! Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 99 - 06:18 PM

It does have an original tune, but I don't think I like it very much now. It had instrumental 'fiddly bits' that tended to drag the song out, so if you can get one to fit let me know?

Enjoy youself on the Montgomery, I don't know that one but we did have wonderful week on the Monmouth and Brecon. It is so beautiful and peaceful.

The two of have also done that flight up to Birmingham from The Severn. Never again.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Graham Pirt
Date: 22 May 99 - 06:54 PM

I live in a town at the end of the Aire and Calder canal, built as a company town. In the docks we still have the Bartholomew hoists that lifted the Tom Puddings out of the water to tip them and empty the coals into larger vessels. Tom Puddings were unique to the A&C and were formed into trains which were pushed by a barge (occasionally pulled. Goff Sherburn was the last of the skippers and is the father of Chris Sherburn a brilliant concertina player who is touring the States in July (I think)with guitarist Denny Bartley.

Also the Keels on the River Tyne were rowed to the Colliers moored at Shields. The term is supposed to come from a Scandinavian word for a type of boat - a kyel.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 May 99 - 07:13 PM

There is a silly song sung locally here (Kent) by an amateur band called "Canal Folk" but probably from somewhere else (although if the Higham train tunnel which used to be a canal tunnel didn't have a hole in the middle it would be the longest chalk-lined tunnel in Europe) which comes in two versions. It is undoubtedly a narrowboat song.

The clean version of the chorus goes : -

"Boatie, boatie, /spit in the cut/Wiping his nose on a mopstick."

The other (which I favour as probably more authenic)goes

"Boatie, boatie, /shit in the cut/Wiping his arse on a mopstick."

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Wotcha
Date: 23 May 99 - 12:02 AM

Although not canal boat songs per se, I would recommend a couple of songs by Bob Roberts, the last of the Spritsail Bargemen, who sang "Stormy Weather Boys," and "The Worst Old Ship." You can find recordings on the Saydisc label, "Sea Songs & Shanties" (basically recordings taken by Peter Kennedy in the 50s and 60s for the BBC).

Cheers, Brian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: alison
Date: 23 May 99 - 12:45 AM

Hi,

"Barges" by Ralph McTell... it's about watching the barges as opposed to being on them.

"Cruise of the Calabar" as done by the Clancy brothers..... it's about a horse drawn boat taking coal along the Lagan canal from Belfast to Portadown.

SLainte

alison

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CRUISE OF THE CALABAR (from Tawny)^^
From: alison
Date: 23 May 99 - 12:51 AM

There is one version of CALABAR in the database... still based in Northern Ireland.. but a different canal

Here is the Clancy Brothers' version....


THE CRUISE OF THE CALABAR
Trad. Arr. Cyril Tawny

1. Come all ye dry-land sail-y-ors and listen to my song,
For it's only forty verses and it won't detain you long.
It's all about the advent-y-ures of this here Lisburn tar
Who sailed as a man before the mast on the good ship Calabar.

2. Now the Calabar was a spanking craft, copper-fastened fore and aft,
Her helm it stuck out far behind, and her wheel had a great big shaft,
With half a gale to swell each sail, she'd make one knot per hour,
She's the fastest craft on the Lagan canal, and she's only one horse-power.

3. Now the skipper he was a strapping lad, he stood just four feet two,
His eyes were black, his nose was red, and his cheeks were a Prussian blue,
He wore a leather medal that he'd won at the Crimea war,
And the captain's wife was passenger cook on the good ship Calabar.

4. Now the skipper he says to me, "Me lad, look here me lad," says he
"Would yous like to be a sail-y-or to sail the raging sea?
Would yous like to be a sail-y-or the foreign seas to roll
For we're under orders for Portadown with half a ton of coal."

5. The next morning we set sail, the weather being sublime,
And passing under the old Queen's bridge we heard the "Albert" chime.
'Tis then we came to the Gasworks Straight, a very dangerous part,
And ran head on to a lump of coal that wasn't marked on the chart.

6. Then all became confusion while the stormy winds did blow,
Our bo'sun slipped on an orange peel and fell into the hold below,
"Put on more steam," the captain said, "for we are sorely pressed,"
But the engineer replied from the bank, "The horse is doing his best."

7. And we all fell into the water and then let out a roar
There was a farmer standing there and he threw us the end of his galluses and he pulled it all ashore.
No more I'll be a sail-y-or to sail the raging main,
And the next time I go to Portadown, I'm bloody sure I'll go by train.

^^

The "Albert" refers to the Albert clock in Belfast.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 May 99 - 06:55 AM

It is a small world.

When I mentioned the 'Tom Puddings'I had no idea of the link between them and the Sherburn's and I played with Chris and Denny in a number of sessions this past Easter. I shall be seeing Chris again in June and will ask him all about his dad's 'Tom Puddings'.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MANCHESTER CANAL (Paul Graney)^^
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 May 99 - 10:46 AM

Here's another version of the Calibar, from a broadside by Paul Graney of Manchester.

THE MANCHESTER CANAL

O the S.S.Irwell left this port the stormy seas to cross
They heaved the lead & went ahead on a voyage to Barton Moss
No fair ship e'er left the slip from this port to Natal
Than the boats that plough the waters of the Manchester Canal

The third day out or thereabout a great storm swept the main
The captain called his officer, I just forgot his name
"You see that light there on the right? Aye, aye" he did exclaim
"Well it's the Wilson Brewery lightship at the end of Ancoats Lane"

The captai's brow was darkened for he saw a storm was brewing
And the engineer reported that the horse it wanted shoeing
"Is there a chart aboard this barque?" He asked of 1 or 2
The captain he was ashy pale & so was all the crew

"By gum, we've lost our reckoning, whatever shall we do
We must be near to Bailey Bridge on the banks of Pinmill Brew"
Then all became confusion as the stormy winds did roar
And the captain wished himself & crew were safe again on shore

"Let go the anchor boy" he cried "for I am soerly puzzled
The mate is drunk & in his bunk, see that the cook is muzzled
We're short of grub in this 'ere tub & we are far from land
There's not a oat in this 'ere boat & the engine's broken down"

"Close reef the sails" the bosun cried "we're in a great dilemma
Just row her to Pomona Bay she cannot stand the weather
She's sprung a leak now all si lost let each man do his best
For soon she'll be a total wreck on the shoals of Throstle's Nest"

But soon the storm abated it, was rather overrated
When the captain, crew & officers were quickly congreated
They searched the chart in every part, to find their situation
They were east, nor'east of Bailey Bridge, just south of Sallford Station.
^^

Barry

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Penny S.
Date: 23 May 99 - 12:51 PM

Jolly
boating
weather,
And
a
hay
harvest
breeze,
Blade
on
the
feather,
Shade
off
the
trees;
Swing,
swing
together,
With
your
bodies
between
your
knees.

Sorry, couldn't resist it.

Penny

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 May 99 - 01:37 PM

Not THAT narrow!

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 24 May 99 - 04:12 AM

On an earlier thread on Black Country songs I asked about a song I half-remembered, called "Push boys push" which I thought the Black Country Three used to do about propelling a barge thro' a tunnel in the W. Midlands by lying on the cabin and pushing with feet on the roof of the tunnel. Sadly no-one came up with words or tune. I'd be interested to hear if if emerges in your research.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 24 May 99 - 05:51 AM

I once had an album "Straight from the Cut", sadly no longer present which was of UK canal songs. Some are mentioned above, some not. Ring any bells for anyone ? One other song was "The Single Bolinder" a canal version of the Geordie song "The Deputy's Kist".

Penny, that was Eton, LLANFAIR asked for Narrow

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Ian
Date: 24 May 99 - 08:20 AM

Llanfair

The album Suzanne was referring to is "The Bold Navigators", John Kirkpatrick and John Raven, TRADITION TSR 019. I have a copy with sleeve notes and words which I'll scan for you if you e-mail me your e-mail.

Cheers!!! Ian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Ian
Date: 24 May 99 - 08:22 AM

Whoops!

My e-mail is [e-mail]

Ian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 24 May 99 - 09:06 AM

Bron, look out for otters on the Mongomery canal. We stayed near Welshpool at Easter and on the Bank Holiday Monday walked both ways up the towpath from Welshpool, saw hardly any people, very peaceful and watched an otter for several minutes.
Hwyl,
Roger

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Llanfair
Date: 24 May 99 - 06:43 PM

I was talking about otters to our neighbour, who works for the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, he says that they are making a comeback, and that he,s seen evidence of them in the Banwy, just by here. I haven't seen one yet, but hope to soon. You'll have to let me know when you're in the area again, Roger, so we can perhaps chat in person. Other UK mudcatters, everyone goes through Welshpool at some time or another, like Sam's in Casablanca!!!!! Hwyl, as time goes by, Bron.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 May 99 - 07:26 PM

"Here's looking at you kido".

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Wotcha
Date: 24 May 99 - 10:02 PM

There's a nice slice of canal that runs from Tiverton through Samford Peverell in Central Devon ... very peaceful ... but no otters and no tunnels. I believe the industrial god Brunel devised some unique methods for getting the canals going in the West Country.

A few decades back, I recall that solo, Atlantic row-boatman, Shay Blyth was advocating for the canal system for some reason. I remember that fists solved the right-of-way if two barges should encounter each other in a tunnel ...

Meanwhie in the US, I believe that there are a number of titles celebrating canals. Two weekends ago, fellow (Liam's Brother who was that?) sang a barge song at the Pier in New York's Southstreet Seaport: although dressed in black he didn't sound like J. Cash ...

Cheers, Brian

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 25 May 99 - 04:40 AM

Correction. The album was "Straight from the Tunnel's Mouth". I found a tape backup of it. Sorry, I didn't take a note of artist or label on the tape. However the track list is as follows;

Waterways Lament
Poor Old 'Orse
The 'Orrible Trip
Tommy Note
Boaty Boaty Spit in the Cut
Lass of Coventry
Single Bolinder
Girl on the Cut
Winson Green Jail
Dudley Tunnel
Hard Working Boater
Tom Beech's Last Trip
Tipton Slasher
The Humber Belle

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 25 May 99 - 09:36 AM

AndyG,
those place names have resonance to an exiled Brummie like me.
I wonder if the "Dudley Tunnel" song is the one I remembered as "Push boys push" about "legging" through a tunnel?
Do you have the words?

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 25 May 99 - 09:43 AM

Roger,
I plan to give the tape an airing over the next few days, so I might have the words at some point.
The only song I remember from the album is Tom Beech's Last Trip, which, as I recall, is about a barge that got iced in trying to make a winter trip. The boatman froze to death. Good song though.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 26 May 99 - 06:16 AM

First pass through the tape last night, I'll try to do some transcriptions during the week. (no promises)

Waterways Lament
Song about the physical state of the canals, probably a '60's song though it could be anytime 1945 - 1965

Poor Old 'Orse
Well known song, though many think it's a blue water shanty

The 'Orrible Trip
A recitation about a trip to and through Brum. Mentions Spaghetti Junction so reasonably modern

Tommy Note
A complaint about payment by Tommy Note and thus the Tommy Store. (cf Company Store).

Boaty Boaty Spit in the Cut
As Mentioned above. A "rude" song. Not very PC I'm afraid.

Lass of Coventry
Romantic song IIRC

Single Bolinder
As I said earlier a comic song.

Girl on the Cut
Hard times song.

Winson Green Jail
Can't remember, I was distracted by a computer failure whilst I was listening, hohum.

Dudley Tunnel
does indeed have the chorus "Push, boys, push." However it's about the closing of the Dudley Tunnel.

Hard Working Boater
Song in praise of the boatmen and their community.

Tom Beech's Last Trip
As I said above, but also about the community of the working boatmen.

Tipton Slasher
Song in praise of a recently deceased fighter. Broadside ballad type like the other songs of its ilk.

The Humber Belle

Didn't get to hear this one as I had to go to the Folk Club.

Any requests ?

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 26 May 99 - 06:21 AM

AndyG.
Sounds great. If you could e-mail me your address to : [e-mail] and if I sent you a blank cassette tape do you think you could.....?
Roger (who spent 10 year of his childhood/adolescence very near what became Spaghetti Junction and many happy misspent hours in the Opposite Lock jazz club in Gas Street Basin)

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: AndyG
Date: 26 May 99 - 07:56 AM

Hi Roger,

(Our SMTP server is currently broken so I can only respond here.)

There's a bit of a problem for me as I only have a single tape deck that I trust.
(Techie thing; all my sound equipment runs through my PC at the moment due to a long-term web project I'm working on.)
Can you cope with files in RealAudio format ?
If so it's probably easier for me to send the data on disk.
The tape itself is poor quality and so, sadly, is the performance :(
Come to think of it, I might be able to borrow the CD writer for the weekend.
NB I can't do any of the above before the weekend.
I'll Email you when I've checked out what's actually feasible with my current home setup.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 26 May 99 - 07:57 AM

The canal in "The Callibar" really did exist. It became disused between the wars (I think). There's an excellent book about it, the naem of which completely escapes me. There's also a Black Country version of the song; "Next time I go to the Patent Shaft [steelworks] I'll take the bloody tram".

Steve

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 26 May 99 - 08:09 AM

Andy G, don't go to too much trouble: as I log on from work at lunch & break times I can't receive audio etc. The lyrics of the Dudley Tunnel eventually would be fine. My own tape to tape deck is out of order at the moment so I know what a pain it is. Roger.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 26 May 99 - 07:28 PM

Ian - I'm thrilled to hear you've got 'The Bold Navigators'. Why not put the notes and lyrics in this thread? I'd be interested in seeing them as well as Llanfair. Or perhaps, if you don't want that, would you please mail them to me at [e-mail]? Thanks a lot, Susanne

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 May 99 - 03:18 PM

Has everyone missed the old "I'm sorry I'll read that again" gag?

.....An arrow whistled past my ear.

(whistled tune of the Eton boating song)

Voiceover: No, you fool, Arrow, not Eton....

(English public school joke)

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 May 99 - 04:51 PM

Ouch! What puzzles me is that I am sure someone else mentioned Slough Comprehensive before I did.

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Don Meixner
Date: 27 May 99 - 09:37 PM

LLANFAIR

For a beautifully written description of English canal boating in the days of its prime, early 1800's, read C.S. Forester's Honrnblower and The Atropos. At least the first chapter altho' I'll reccomend the entire book. The boat described may not strictly be a narrow boat but at 70' with a 5' beam you must admit that its a very narrow craft.

Don

Subject: RE: Narrowboat songs
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 May 99 - 03:51 AM

Not quite that narrow, Don! 6'10" was usually the limit: gets you through the 7'00" bridge 'oles and locks - just!

Have a look at this blue clicky thing - the "Venice of the Midlands", but without the strong pong!

Steve