Registration number 301
Status Registered
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Details

Function Cargo Vessel
Subfunction Narrow Boat
Location Grand Union Canal
Vessel type Star Class Butty
Current use Commercial Activity
Available to hire No
Available for excursions No
Info required Yes

Construction

Builder Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich
Built in 1935
Hull material Iron
Rig None
Number of decks 1
Propulsion Towed
Primary engine type None
Boiler type None
Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Length: Overall
71.75 feet (21.87m)
Tonnage: Gross
37.00
Breadth: Beam
7.08 feet (2.16m)
Depth
3.00 feet (0.91m)

History

HYADES is a butty built in 1935 by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich, London, originally paired with HYPERION. They were the third and fourth of an order of 24 iron composite pairs, commissioned the previous year by the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd. Her first master was J Brooks.

In 1948, she was part of Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd fleet that was nationalised into the British Transport Commission (Docks & Inland Waterways Executive) fleet. She was then paired with motor COLESHILL, and throughout the 1950s HYADES was paired with both her and several other motors, such as PERSEUS and BRISTOL.

In 1963, she was leased to Willow Wren Canal Transport Services Ltd of Braunston, Northamptonshire, and in 1968, after being laid up for some years on Wendover Arm, she was purchased by Stevens and Sherwood Ltd of Tipton, West Midlands. The following year, HYADES was purchased by R Hatchard of Birmingham, West Midlands, who operated her under banner of Midland Canal Transport.

In 1972, HYADES was purchased by M and K Toms and was horse drawn from then on. In 1973, she was purchased by D Armstrong of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, and in 1976, she was sold to T Stockwell of Tiverton, Cheshire, and was used as a horse drawn passenger boat. In 1986, she was purchased by R and P Brind of Tiverton, Cheshire, who continued to use her as a horse drawn passenger boat.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, HYADES was laid up at Tiverton, and by 2004 she was listed for sale. In 2010, she was purchased by R Wain of Tomlow, who deconverted her from a passenger boat and fitted her with a new wooden bottom the following year. In 2014, she was purchased by P and M Routledge who reunited her with HYPERION and used them as fuel boats, all the while continuing HYADES' restoration.

In 2020, she was taken on by M Hicks of Watford, Hertfordshire, and leased to her current owner, who purchased her in 2022. She is still paired with HYPERION, purchased by the owner in 2019, and they work together around Staffordshire.

Key dates

  • 1934

    Commissioned by the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd with HYADES as one of 24 pairs

  • 1935

    Built with HYADES as the third and fourth of the 48 boats built

  • 1948

    Part of Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd fleet that was nationalised into the British Transport Commission (Docks & Inland Waterways Executive) fleet

  • 1963

    Leased to Willow Wren Canal Transport Services Ltd of Braunston

  • 1968

    Purchased by Stevens and Sherwood Ltd of Tipton

  • 1969

    Purchased by R Hatchard of Birmingham, who operated her under banner of Midland Canal Transport

  • 1972

    Purchased by M and K Toms and horse drawn from then on

  • 1973

    Purchased by D Armstrong of Rickmansworth

  • 1976

    Purchased by T Stockwell of Tiverton and used as a horse drawn passenger boat

  • 1986

    Purchased by R and P Brind of Tiverton and continued to be used as a horse drawn passenger boat

  • 2010

    Purchased by R Wain of Tomlow

  • 2011

    Deconverted from a passenger boat and fitted with a new wooden bottom

  • 2014

    Purchased by P and M Routledge, who reunited her with HYPERION and used both as fuel boats

  • 2020

    Taken on by M Hicks of Watford and leased to her current owner

  • 2022

    Purchased by her current owner

Sources

Hamer, Geoffrey, Trip Out 1995/6 - A Guide to the Passenger Boat Services of the British Isles, G P Hamer, 1995

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

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