 In Narrow
Boat, the Discovery Real Time runaway hit
series of 2005, expert woodworker and cabinet-maker Alan Herd transformed a rusting,
abandoned historic boat into a 21st Century floating holiday home.
After exploring the options of wooden or steel narrow boats, Alan found the
Dover, a 1937, 'Town Class' Woolwich type F boat, often known as a 'Large' or 'Big' Woolwich. We followed Alan as
he lovingly repaired and re-fitted the boat in hand-crafted American Hard Maple and the
latest in AV hardware.
The series climaxed with the boat being unveiled at The Inland Waterways National Rally where to our delight,
the fruits of his labour won the Marian Munk Rose Bowl for best narrow boat at the show.
The Dover was
one of 24 motorboats originally built by Harland & Wolff for the Grand Union Canal
Carrying Company (GUCCC),
delivered on 26th February 1937, at a cost of £900
each. Dover was built as part of the final phase in the expansion of the GUCCCo. This was a relatively
new company, formed only as late as 1934, its roots having been established a few years earlier (1929) in Associated
Canal Carriers Ltd., a small concern bought by the Grand Union Canal Co in order to provide itself with a carrying "arm".
The Dover is now being offered for sale for the asking price of £110,000, see the specification for
details or read more about the history
of the Dover. |
