Name Cygnus

CYGNUS  is a Star Class Butty (unpowered) and was built by Harland and Wolff. It is a “Small Woolwich” design. She was delivered on 21st June 1935 to the Grand Union Carrying Company (GUCCCo) along with the Motor Boat CEPHEUS cost for the pair was £1275 0s 0d. Their fleet numbers were 26 and 26B.

From 1944 to 1960 known to have been paired with the following motor boats BUXTON, ACHERNAR, USWORTH, SALTAIRE and CLOVER.

In 1948 She was transferred to British Transport Comission and in 1963 she was leased to Willow Wren Canal Transport Services Ltd and then sub-let to boat families who became self employed. She was paired with TOWCESTER on the Southern GU.  In 1964 she was repainted into Willow Wren colours.

During the 70's  CYGNUS was sold to A Stevens and used as a rubbish hulk.  In 1983 she was sold again and rebuilt by David Harris into a fully operational carrying butty with a lengthened steel cabin and given the BWB index no 70843.

In 2004 sold and paired with OTLEY traded as Hanbury Chandlery and set up a floating shop.  Through the noughties she was sold various times until she was bought by her current owner in 2021 and paired with NB ANDROMEDA No 5.