Name: Gifford Certificate number: 452	Status: Designated Vessel Function: Cargo Vessel Sub Functional Area: Barge Type: Horse Boat Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England Current use: Museum: floating Length Overall: 21.79 metres (71.44 feet) Tonnage Not Known: 0.00 Draught: 1.14 metres (3.74 feet) Breadth Not Known: 0.00 (0.00 )

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Web address

http://www.thewaterwaystrust.co.uk

Builder

• 1926, William Nurser, Braunston,

History

GIFFORD is the only existing butty of her type - an unpowered narrow boat used to carry liquid cargos on the English canals. She was part of the fleet owned by Thomas Clayton (Oldbury) Ltd., whose vessels were bulk liquid carriers of tar, creosote and crude oil. The holds were covered to form a tank and were isolated from the cabins at each end by twin bulkheads with air gaps between them. Access was by trap doors which were covered by slides to keep water out as the decks were often awash. She was restored in 1970 and is currently exhibited afloat at Ellesmere Port.

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

• The Boat Museum, pp. 9-10, The Boat Museum
• Sullivan, Dick, 1978, Old Ships, Boats and Maritime Museums, pp. 17, Coracle Books
• Brouwer, Norman J, 1993, International Register of Historic Ships, pp. 151, Edition: 2, Anthony Nelson

National Maritime Museum

Copyright in these images rests with National Historic Ships and the vessels' owners. Pictures must not be reproduced without the permission of National Historic Ships or of the owners.

Royal Observatory Greenwich