Severn Trow Spry under reconstruction.

Remains of Severn Trow Spry at Diglis.
The Severn Trow Spry was used as a workshop in Diglis Basin for many years.
Eventually the hulk was taken to Ironbridge where a superb replica was built by master shipwright Alan Williams.
Having been sailed in the Bristol Channel, it has returned to the Museum where it will sadly deteriorate for not being used. Max.

Diglis Basin 1968 Stern of the Severn Trow Spry awaiting rebuild at Ironbridge. Max

Worcester Bridge in 1930.

Cast iron parapet and footpath designed by Leader Williams.
The Trow Betsy is being used as a platform for a pile driver to create footings on the rock bed.
The bridge was widened on both sides in stone with the original Gwynnes bridge in the middle of the sandwich.
The Betsy survived for 150 years making it the Worlds longest lived sailing boat. Max.

Worcester’s North Quay with a fully rigged large Trow moored alongside. Max

Smaller vessels were called Trows with a tonnage of 40 to 80 tons. They were able to sail downstream with the current, but had to be towed upstream by horses or gangs of men called bowhauliers.

Sad end for many trows.

84 boats were pulled on to the bank near Sharpness and filled with clay to stop erosion

Clinker Trow.

This is an early clinker built trow of about 30 ton capacity, used on the Wye up to Hay, the Severn up to Welshpool and the Teme up to Leintwardine.
They had white painted patches to make them visible in the dark.
The picture is of historical interest as it shows “Bow Hauliers” in their “Billy Cock Hats” and with their wooden bows and lines coiled up on the bows. Max.

Bow Hauling in China.

A mother and daughter hauling their boat on the river Li, Chini in the 1950’s. Dont ever grumble about hard work again. Max.

Bow Haulier with his bow.

Bow hauliers were groups of men who towed Severn Trows upstream.