Details
Construction
Dimensions
History
EILEEN was built in 1903 by Eli Aston of Tipton, Birmingham as a BCN day boat, a Narrow Boat carrying cargo on the canal network. She is of iron riveted construction and her current engine is a BMC 2.2 diesel.
As one of many similar boats working in the canal systems of her time, EILEEN spent 60 years working at and around the huge Bilston Steel Works in the ownership of Alfred Hickman Co. and after the Second World War for Stewart & Lloyds. She was used as a mobile trading base by Canalware Supplies, one of a new generation of water based traders that emerged following the decline of commercial carrying on the inland waterways in the late 1960s. Later, she was used as a 'camping boat' and was also a base for one of the first water based travelling theatre companies 'Day Star Theatre' in the 1970s.
Key dates
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1903
Built by Eli Aston of Tipton as a Narrow Boat (BCN18686) for Benjamine Pearson, a canal carrier then sold to the Alfred Hickman Co. working around the Bilston Steel Works in Spring Vale, Bilston
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C1946
Sold to Stewart & Lloyds Co and used as a mobile trading base by Canalware Suppies, one of a new generation of water-based traders that emerged following a rapid decline in commercial carrying on the inland waterways. She was used as a camping boat to reflect the emerging interest in the waterways as a leisure utility and as a base for one of the first water-based theatre companies, the Day Star Theatre and renamed Daystar
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1950s
She was shortened on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to accommodate an engine
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C1967
Fitted with a twin cylinder 16HP Fowler engine
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1970's
Engine replaced with Lister HA2
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1980
She was taken to the IWA National Waterways Festival
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1981
She was taken to the IWA National Festival and Waterside Arts Festival on the Aire & Calder Canal
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1988
She burst into flames and was completely burnt out with a serious distortion to the hull
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1990
She was towed behind the Elizabeth from Cassio Wharf, Watford to the Warwickshire Flyboat Co Ltd, Stockton where the distortion was straightened out and a 16ft cabin, gunwales and foredeck added
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C1990
She became a neglected, static houseboat on the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal
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1991/1992
She was repainted with white panels, red coach lines and a blue border and a cabin fit-out carried out
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1992
She journeyed extensively attending the National Rally at Wakefield
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1993/4
She again journeyed extensively attending the Pesall Campaign Rally and following a broken water pump she was towed by Skylark and then Seagull
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1995
She again journeyed extensively loaded, with 2 tons of coal at Stoke Bruerne together with homefire nuts and ½ ton of sandstone & other sundries. Also loaded with 1 ton of homefire nuts at Yardley. She was breasted with Elizabeth again at Cassio Wharf, the first time since Xmas 1991. The engine and gearbox stripped down and rebuilt. In November she was loaded with timber, steel and 3 tons of coal and travelled from Cassio Wharf to MLCB and back
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2005
She again travelled extensively then moored at a back mooring at Jackdaw Pound and Cowroast where she was left until 2006 before returning to Cassio Wharf
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2006
Epoxy pitch put on the hull for insurance purposes at Bridgewater Basin and returned to Cassio wharf
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2007
Sold to Lesa Vallantine
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2016
She is believed to be in good condition on the South Oxford Canal in private use
Own this vessel?
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk