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Name: Dabchick

Certificate number: 2035

Status:

Registered

Function:

Cargo Vessel

Sub Functional Area:

Barge

Type:

Butty Boat

Location:

Shardlow, Derbyshire, England

Current use:

Private Leisure Craft

  • Length Overall:

    21.65 metres (71.00 feet)

  • Current Tonnage:

    25.00

  • Draught:

    0.31 metres (1.00 feet)

  • Beam:

    1.86 metres (6.10 feet)
Dabchick - Dabchick alongside Avocet

Web address

Builder

History

Built in 1930 by W J Yarwood of Northwich for the London Midland & Scottish Railway, DABCHICK is an iron riveted day boat without living accomodation and without an engine (the vessel was either rowed or towed).

Under the name NORAH she worked for the railways in the Birmingham area until 1954. She was then sold to Peter Keay & Son of Walsall and renamed DOG ROSE. In 1957 the ownership changed to the Willow Wren Canal Carrying Co. Limited and she was later renamed DABCHICK.

Paired with the motor barge AVOCET, she did varying journeys including a cargo of bicycles from the British Cycle Corporation in Smethwick to Brentford for export to Iran and another consignment of bicycles to Manchester. The pair worked in tandem until 1966 when traffic was being lost and the boats were laid up.

The next owners were Peter & Joyce Fox and in 1967 Michael Streat of Blue Line Cruisers at Braunston converted her into a hotel boat for the Inland Cruising Company. She was sold to Tony Dennis in 1997 and to her present owners in 1999. She is now a private leisure craft based at Shardlow in Derbyshire.

These brief histories are compiled from details supplied by vessel owners and enthusiasts and from various reference works. National Historic Ships would be grateful for any corrections of facts or additional information for inclusion. Please contact ron.ellis@nationalhistoricships.org.uk

Subsequent developments

None notified, please let us know if you have any additional information.

Previous names

Bibliography