Friendship | National Historic Ships

Registration number 449

Status National Historic Fleet

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Details

Function Cargo Vessel

Subfunction Narrow Boat

Location Ellesmere Port

Vessel type Horse Drawn

Current use Museum based

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Info required Yes

Web address https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/national-waterways-museum

Construction

Builder Sephtons, Sutton Stop, Coventry

Built in 1925

Hull material Wood

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Propulsion Towed

Primary engine type None

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

6.98 feet (2.13m)

Depth

12.30 feet (3.75m)

Length: Overall

71.44 feet (21.79m)

Tonnage: Gross

22.00

History

An unconverted horse drawn boat, FRIENDSHIP was built in 1925 by Sephtons of Sutton, Coventry, for Joe and Rose Skinner who lived and worked on her until 1959. They mainly carried coal from the East Midlands to destinations on the Oxford Canal; for about twenty years to the Morris radiator works at Oxford; and then until their retirement to the Dairy at Banbury. Joe was a lover of animals and was not interested in having his boat motorised. She has been on display in the Boat Museum (not the National Waterways Museum) at Ellesmere Port since 1981, where she is under cover with one side opened for display.

We are currently seeking further information on this National Historic Fleet vessel. If you have any details about this vessel past or present, please contact us.

Key dates

1925
Vessel built by Sephtons of Sutton, Coventry
1959
Vessel retired from her working life carrying coal from East Midlands
1981
Displayed at the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port

Sources

Brouwer, Norman J, International Register of Historic Ships, Anthony Nelson, pp150, Edition 2, 1993
Sullivan, Dick, Old Ships, Boats and Maritime Museums, Coracle Books, 1978
The Boat Museum, The Boat Museum