Stourport open Dry Dock in 1964.
Spitfire a BCN icebreaker/tug built in 1940 with Hurricane and
Gladiator.Vesta a long distance Grand Union Star Class narrow boat,
converted in 1948 into a BCN tug. Max
Vesta at Hardy and Padmores awaiting reconstruction.
1961 £200 for boat with two spare reconditioned engines which I sold for £60 each. £150 for timber , paint etc. Four years work. Max
1964 Vesta and Spitfire on Stourport Dry Dock. Restoration completed at a cost of £150. Max
Vesta and Spitfire at rest on Birmingham to Worcester Canal.
Vesta in Diglis dry dock, Worcester. 1960.
The first task in restoration was fitting new 3 inch thick by 2ft. wide elm planks to the bottom and painting the iron plates with bitumastic coating, then work could start on the cabins.
An interesting job was graining with scumble the inside of cabin to make it look like oak. Working boatmen advised us to look for ornate brass knobs in the countryside on old bedsteads put in the hedgerow by farmers to block up holes.Decorative lace plates could still be won at the fairs, throwing for coconuts.
The chain for the chimney was made from bent ex army buckles and highly polished.
Traditional castles and roses decorated the rear cabin doors and fitted furniture.
We had a stool and watercan painted by Ron Hough of Braunston to use as a pattern. Max
An interesting job was graining with scumble the inside of cabin to make it look like oak. Working boatmen advised us to look for ornate brass knobs in the countryside on old bedsteads put in the hedgerow by farmers to block up holes.Decorative lace plates could still be won at the fairs, throwing for coconuts.
The chain for the chimney was made from bent ex army buckles and highly polished.
Traditional castles and roses decorated the rear cabin doors and fitted furniture.
We had a stool and watercan painted by Ron Hough of Braunston to use as a pattern. Max
Vesta and Spitfire at Diglis.
Diglis Dry Dock. Vesta leaving the dock after restoration of the boatmans cabin. Max
Vestas Cabin.
The boaters family cabin on “Vesta”. Top left is the forward and reverse wheel, top right the throttle knob, the Hardy and Padmore “Guidwife” stove provided warmth and cooking. On the right is the table fall lowered for meals and food preparation and when lifted up the crumbs fell into the drawer below which could be taken out and emptied in the canal. Room for two adults and two children. Any more and they had to sleep in a small bow cabin.Brasswork off discarded bedsteads. Max
Vesta being launched sideways at Stewart and Lloyds during the war. Max