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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Narrowboaters knowledge

traditional canal boat ware

Do you like to watch brightly painted narrowboats go by?

Are you curious about the origins of canal folk art?

Do you have any traditional canal ware at home?

Many boaters are interested in the art and collectable items that were once used to decorate the traditional back cabins of cargo-carrying narrowboats. If you don’t own a boat yourself, you may like to have some of these pieces in your own home. In a traditional boatman’s cabin you may find antique ribbon and lace plates and original Measham pottery. You may also see horse brasses, oil lamps, cabin lace and rag rugs. Although working on canal boats was hard and messy work, boaters were proud of their small living spaces, and kept them painted, decorated and polished.

Roses and Castles

Traditionally narrowboats and their fittings were decorated with painted roses and castles. The designs sometimes included other flowers and landscapes, and might be seen on cupboard doors and drawers inside the boat, and the water cans on the roof (known as Buckby cans). Castles were often painted on the inside of the stern doors.

The origins of this style of folk art are unclear. Dating back to the 1850’s when rail was already becoming more popular than canal transport, roses and castles have been compared to the painted style on Romani vardos (gypsy caravans). It is thought that perhaps some Romani’s took work as boatmen and brought their designs to the waterways. The garland of roses design is similar to decorations on Sheraton furniture at the start of the 19th century. But it is likely that roses and castles originally came from Birmingham and the Black Country. Although the boats were owned by the cargo carrying companies and painted in the company livery, the roses and castles were added by the boatmen themselves.

Measham Ware

Measham is a village in Leicestershire, on the Ashby Canal, where teapots decorated with a dark brown glaze, colourful flowers and a painted motto, were sold around the end of the 19th century. This Measham Ware, popular with canal people, was made in villages near Measham, particularly Church Gresley. It was sometimes known as barge ware. Boaters might place an order for a personalised teapot as they passed through Measham and collect it on their return journey. Measham Ware can still be seen at the Measham Museum, and at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Modern reproductions can be bought these days, but authentic pieces are rarer.

Museums

If you’d like to visit a museum on a narrowboat holiday with Fox Narrowboats you can choose from the museums in Peterborough, March, Ely and Cambridge, or the more unusual Prickwillow Museum, which tells the story of the drainage of the Fens, the history of the local area, and showcases some of the region’s finest examples of restored diesel engines.

Read: Are Museums Ever Fun? (The Answer Might Surprise You.)

Canal Ware

Online, there is a beautiful collection of narrowboat themed items for sale at Lockside Antiques. Also check out eBay and Etsy. This canal ware artist, based in Braunston, will paint an item of your own furniture if you provide it: Traditional Canalware. Canal ware and other boat themed items can also be bought at chandleries in boatyards.

Nostalgia

Fox Narrowboats is in a great position, nestled in the centre of the Middle Level Waterways, not far from the idyllic riverside villages of Upwell and Outwell. On a boating holiday beginning at our marina in March, you can lose yourself in narrowboat nostalgia, gently chugging along at three miles an hour.

You may also like 10 surprising ideas for canal holidays, taken from the highlights of our previous blog posts. The Top 10 Narrowboat Holiday Ideas.

For more ideas to add to this year’s holiday plans, sign up for digital updates from this blog. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.) Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and get insider knowledge about the Fenland Waterways.

Image credit: deposit photos

 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles, Narrowboaters knowledge

fens waterway lock marmont priory

Do I need to bring anything for using a lock?

What’s the latest time I can go through a lock?

How can I best prepare for a lock?

If you are new to narrowboats, or planning your first canal boat holiday you may have some questions about using the locks on the Fenland waterways. Passing through a lock requires a windlass, decent ropes and fenders, and sometimes a life jacket, all of which are provided with your hire boat. Smaller locks are operated by you and your crew, and some larger tidal locks are operated by lock keepers.

The ones that are operated by boaters can be operated at any time of the day or night, but we recommend doing this in clear daylight, for safety’s sake! If you have read our previous article, How to Work a Lock (Even if You’ve Never Done it) you will already know how to moor up, set the lock, open the gates and use a windlass. Locks can be dangerous, so full training is given by our friendly RYA qualified instructors before you even leave the hire boat base, at the start of your holiday.

On the Middle Level heading from March towards Ely you will pass through Marmont Priory lock, before arriving at the picturesque villages of Upwell and Outwell. If you’re new to boating in this area, there are three things you should know.

You’ll Have to Plan Your Journey Times

Salters Lode lock is a tidal lock, and is therefore operated by a lock keeper at certain times. When tides are very low there may be days it cannot be used, so boaters may need to call the lock keeper in advance. On the Middle Level side of the lock there are good holding moorings, in total around 150 feet. It’s a bit trickier to enter from the river than it is from the canal, but the lock keepers will give you plenty of advice.

Passage through Denver lock is also tidal so boaters should ring the complex to check passage times. (Any numbers needed will be provided with your hire boat.) Mooring at Denver is good because mooring rings or bollards are available. Boater’s facilities there include chemical toilet disposal, a boater-operated pump-out, a boatyard pump-out and a water point. But most holiday boaters should not need to use anything other than a water point.

We Have Amazing Lock Keepers

You may be surprised to know there is a British Marine Inland Boating Lock Keeper of the year award! The Esme Dowling Award is presented each year by hotel boat and hire boat operators in British Marine membership to navigation authority staff or volunteers who have gone the extra mile in delivering excellent customer service. In 2020 three Fenland Lock Keepers were finalists in the award. (1)  The runner up certificates were presented to Ben Di-Giulio and Dan Pollard of the Denver Lock and Complex and Paul Grodkiewicz of Salter’s Lode.

These certificates were presented to them by our very own Paula Syred, with a letter of thanks from the British Marine Inland Boating Chair. Paula is Vice Chair of British Marine Inland Boating and Managing Director of Fox Narrowboats. The presentation took place at Denver Lock on Thursday 10th June 2021.

We Have Different Words

The definition of the word ‘lock’ is a section of a waterway, closed off with gates, in which boats are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section. But as well as a noun, it’s also a verb, which means to pass (a boat) through a lock.

Liveaboard boater Amy, from M.BWillow says,

“Some things vary by area. In the Fens, paddles are known as slackers or penstocks and on the Severn a narrowboat is a longboat, and what we call a cabin shaft on the canals is a hookshaft on the Severn.  In the Fens we also call a dock or mooring a staithe, and a man-made drainage channel is a lode.

Read more: The Canal Lingo Those Toe Rags Won’t Tell You About

We hope that’s given you an idea of just some of the ways the Fenland waterways can be a bit different. They are also quieter than the other waterways, with an unusually flat landscape, offering stunning views of very big skies. Start planning your boating holiday today by checking boat availability.

You may also like, Amy’s Top Safety Tips for the Salters and Denver Tidal Crossing.

Ref: (1) Middle Level Commissioners website.

Hey! Are you new here? Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to receive more helpful holiday tips about the Fenland waterways. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Narrowboaters knowledge

narrowboat working a lock

Are you new to canal boating?

Are you planning your first narrowboat holiday?

Are you wondering if locks are really complicated?

Don’t worry. These simple tips will ensure that your first canal boat cruise goes smoothly, and that you impress your crew with your amazing lock operating skills!

Before you set off on your first cruise, make sure the windlasses are somewhere that you can reach them easily. A windlass is an essential L-shaped tool that allows you to operate the locks. How to use a windlass will be part of the narrowboat handover process with our friendly staff, who will be happy to answer any questions you have about working a lock.

If this is your first time narrowboating you may be wondering if it is difficult to operate a lock, and how many people will need to be involved. For an experienced boater a lock can be navigated single handed, but we wouldn’t recommend that, if this is your first time boating. If you have booked a narrowboat holiday with us, we are assuming you are bringing along some willing and helpful family and friends. Ideally you will need one or two people to operate the lock, plus somebody to navigate the boat.

As you approach the lock you will need to nominate a steerer to be in charge of the tiller. This person will first be responsible for guiding the boat towards the bank, so that one or more crew members can carefully step onto the bank. You will need to temporarily moor the boat to the bollards provided at the lock landing, while you set the lock, ready for your boat to approach. A lock is a structure that allows a boat to travel uphill or downhill to another level of the waterway. However, some locks, such as Lodes End Lock on the Middle Level waterways, are all on one level: Even when there is no difference in levels, you must still ensure that all gates are closed behind you.

The lock gates are opened by pushing a balance beam. After you have opened one gate you will need to cross the lock to open the other one. There is usually a bridge to cross on. When both gates are open, the steerer can untie the mooring ropes and gently, slowly guide the bow into the lock. As soon as the front of the boat enters the lock you will want to put the boat into reverse gear to slow the boat down to a stop. You may like to throw a mid-rope over (going down a level) or up (if you’re going up) to a crew member standing on the lock-side. Warn everybody that locks can be deep and dangerous places; we suggest no running next to a lock. At the hire base before you depart, our instructors will explain how to use a windlass to open the paddles on the lock gates, which will either fill or empty the lock, depending on which direction you are travelling in. The currents caused by this can be surprisingly strong, so the boat can be held steady with a loose rope around a bollard, or by using the engine to pull the boat against the current.

When travelling downhill it is very important to note the cill marker – a painted line on the edge of the lock that will guide you to keep clear of an underwater ledge, which is not visible until the lock is almost empty. The boat must keep forward of this point to avoid being caught on the cill, which can quickly cause a boat to get stuck, tip at an angle and sometimes even sink. Things can go wrong in a lock very quickly, so be sure that everybody knows their role, and that any children are safe while you operate the lock. Finally, after the lock has been emptied or filled, the paddles can be wound down, and the gates are opened to allow your boat to leave the lock chamber.

Always close the gates of a lock behind you. This saves water, and prepares the lock for the next boaters approaching to use it. If you see other boaters around before using a lock it is considered polite to wait and share the lock; this also saves water. At busy locations you may even have to wait to use a lock.

Having read this article we hope you now feel confident enough to nominate yourself to operate the locks with your crew! You may also like to read: What’s it Like to Actually Steer a Narrowboat?

For more ideas to add to this year’s holiday plans, sign up for digital updates from this blog. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.) Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and get insider knowledge about the Fenland Waterways.

Image credit: Fox Narrowboats

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Canal Blog, Fayres & local events

fens day st ives riverside

Do you love to escape into the tranquillity of nature?

Are you intrigued by ancient English traditions and heritage?

Want to explore the Fens at your leisure, on a narrowboat holiday?

#CelebrateTheFens Day 2022

Then Celebrate the Fens Day may give you some great ideas of where to visit this year.

Celebrate The Fens Day, will be returning on 18th June 2022 (for the whole weekend 17th-19th). There will be a mixture of actual and virtual events taking place, so whether you are here exploring the Fens by narrowboat, or comfy at home, you can still enjoy it!

The Fens are an area in the east of England that cover parts of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Suffolk.  (Fox Narrowboats are based in Cambridgeshire, in the heart of The Fens.) The Fenlands are known for their rich history, flat fertile farmlands, rare wildlife and unique traditions, festivals, myths and legends.

Karen created the website Fascinating Fens, and Celebrate the Fens Day “for the love of the Fens and to unite with others who might feel the same.” She says, “The Fens are an essence of calmness and beauty, a tranquil place to escape the crazy pace of this world.”

Karen’s intention for this not-for-profit venture, is to bring people and communities together to explore and promote the Fens.

“The fens are unique, inspiring, mysterious, fascinating, beautiful, yet misunderstood….”

So, Celebrate the Fens Day is an idea that brings communities together, with events and activities that showcase the unique landscapes, towns, heritage, nature and beauty of the Fens. It promotes and explores the area through creativity, nature, wellbeing and accessibility.

Events already planned for 2022 include heritage open days, guided walks and tours, craft activities, exhibitions, nature trails, music, films, poetry, talks and competitions.

For example, on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th June you can visit ‘Discover Downham’ heritage centre in Downham Market, to see St. Winnolds horse fair video and exhibition, and download self-guided walking trails. Other displays include: Fen life, ‘Bread or Blood’ telling the story of the Downham riots, and Fen skating.

Downham Market is a charming market town, nicknamed the ‘Gingerbread Town’ due to the type of bricks used in some of its older buildings, as seen on the church and town hall. Downham used to hold the largest horse fair in Europe, and it still celebrates it with an annual parade.

On a narrowboat holiday you can cruise to Downham Market along the relief channel and moor on a 48 hour Environment Agency mooring. There is a variety of shops for stocking up with provisions, as well as a local market held on Fridays and Saturdays.

From Downham Market you can also take the short train journey to Kings Lynn. As part of Celebrate the Fens Day there will be a guided walk in Kings Lynn on 18th June, (which must be pre-booked). This tour combines a visit to St George’s Guildhall – Britain’s largest medieval guildhall and oldest working theatre – with a tour of the town from both banks of the River Great Ouse.

However, if you can’t make it to the Fens in June, virtual events include Fen Folks Friday, Fen Poetry and Words, virtual tours and art activities.

The Fenland waterways have more than twice the navigational distance than the Norfolk Broads, so there is more choice of places to explore and more boating routes to take. Our hire boat base is in March town, where there are restaurants, pubs, a small museum and an unusual church to visit; St Wendreda. Like many Fenland towns, this market town was once an island surrounded by marshes. March lies on the banks of the old course of the navigable Nene, which is perfect for leisure boating and enjoying the stunning Fens scenery.

If reading about Celebrate the Fens Day has made you keen to visit the Fenlands, browse availability of our boating holidays here: Search narrowboat breaks.

To find out more about boating in the Fens you may like to follow us on Facebook or sign up to receive blog articles by email. (See ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right.)

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Featured articles

welney norfolk 2022

We’re counting down the days now, until the hire boat season opens, and for the first time in two years our plans are working to schedule. Cape Fox has had her bottom coated and is now going to the paint shop for the finishing touches to be added. The Sparkle Oven Cleaning Company have just made the cookers on board all shiny, and we’re ready for the 1st April!

Around here, the first signs of spring are the daffodils, primroses and chocolate eggs appearing everywhere, along with the sound of the first narrowboats chugging cheerfully down the river on a day trip or an Easter holiday. The waterways in spring are less crowded than in summertime, new waterfowl are born and the amateur photographer can take photos of all the tree blossoms. There is something very photogenic about the stunning skies of the Fenlands remote landscapes. You only need a smart phone to capture the sunset reflected in the water, or the local ducklings, cygnets and dragonflies. Don’t forget to take pics of you and the gang steering the boat and working the locks, to show everyone back home.

If you’re on a narrowboat holiday with us this Easter, spring is a great time to visit and discover the wonder of WWT Welney Wetland Centre. Not far from the River Great Ouse, it’s a perfect place to start exploring the wetlands, get up close to the wildlife and make memories with your family. For peace of mind, reserve your tickets and pay in advance online. The best way to visit is to take a taxi from either Denver or Littleport to the centre. Fox Route 1 will take you on the River Ouse. You could also see Denver Sluice on this holiday. Without its complex engineering, tens of thousands of homes in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk would be flooded. Denver Sluice plays a key role in river navigation, conservation, water abstraction, agricultural and land drainage and fisheries.

Also near the River Great Ouse, RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes is a complex of lakes and traditional riverside meadows. Explore and see ducks, swans, geese, terns, a variety of dragonflies and maybe even otters. These lakes began life as a flooded sand and gravel quarry next to riverside meadows.

On a narrowboat holiday this spring you could head west from March crossing the Greenwich meridian line at Floods Ferry and on to Whittlesey, Stanground, Peterborough and the Nene valley. Alternatively, if you travel east to Upwell and Outwell, then cross the tide at Salters Lode and head on towards Littleport and Ely and Cambridge you’ll visit pretty villages and ancient cities. Imagine starting your day with a coffee and a hot cross bun in the sunshine on the deck of your canal boat. Then try shopping for Easter chocolate in Peterborough, Ely, Cambridge or smaller picturesque market towns that you can visit by boat.

Alternatively, with Easter just around the corner why not treat the family to a day hire voucher?  You can then choose when to take a trip afloat. Call 01354652770 for a voucher or book a day out online.

Our well-equipped, comfortable boats are the best way to discover the waterways around the Cambridgeshire Fens. To get more tips and advice about travelling these navigations sign up now to receive regular articles by email (See ‘Follow Blog’ to the right of this article.)

Image Credit: Welney Wetlands Centre 2022 – Deposit Photos MikeLane45

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Books TV online narrowboating, Canal Blog, Featured articles, Uncategorized

Are you looking for an unusual gift idea this Mothering Sunday?

Something more original than flowers or chocolates?

A present for a mother who loves the canals?

If your mum, wife, or gran is a lady who enjoys narrowboating, or dreams of getting afloat, then consider getting her a book revealing the quirks and charms of parenting on board.

#NarrowboatBooks #WaterGypsies #Annie Murray #NarrowMargins #MarieBrowne #RamlinRose #SheilaStewart

When my children were young we lived on board a narrowboat, so I loved seeking out stories about mothers on canal boats; and it was even better if they were true to life.

Water Gypsies by Annie Murray

The historical novel, ‘Water Gypsies’ by Annie Murray is a sequel to ‘The Narrowboat Girl’, but I was told that the canals do not actually feature that much in the first book, so I went straight for the sequel. Water Gypsies begins in 1942 and describes a series of tragedies that befall the heroine, who is tormented by a miserable past! The story follows Maryann, her husband and children as they live and work on their canal boat, the ‘Esther Jane’.\

Narrow Margins by Marie Browne

In contrast, Marie Browne’s ‘Narrow Margins’ is a modern tale of a family aboard, trying to make a new start after losing their IT company and large house when Rover went bust. They moved their children and dog onto a ramshackle narrowboat called ‘Happy Go Lucky’ and taught themselves about narrowboat life and boat refurbishment as they went along. She has since written several sequels about their family’s adventures afloat. This is a fun read that details the challenges of living aboard a ‘fixer upper’!

For Better For Worse, For Richer For Poorer

I also enjoyed reading ‘For Better For Worse, For Richer For Poorer’ by Damian and Siobhan Horner. This husband and wife team wrote a memoir about leaving their careers and lives ashore, to travel the French canals with their two young children. Told in two voices, this mid-life crisis story follows their journey on an old fishing boat.

Ramlin Rose by Sheila Stewart

However, my favourite book about mums on board is ‘Ramlin Rose’, by Sheila Stewart. Recommended to me by another live-aboard mum, this book reveals the details of day to day life for a hardworking family in the cargo-carrying canal age. Sheila Stewart had wanted to interview a Banbury boatwoman and write her biography, but ended up compiling a number of true stories into a fictional life story. As so many boaters were illiterate back then, there is no autobiography written by a boatwoman. So this is the closest thing you will get to a mother’s perspective of parenting on board, while working the boats. Although the days were long, and the work was hard, and sometimes dangerous, there was a good sense of community. When the men went to canal-side pubs, they’d be moored alongside other families, and while the women minded the children on board they could catch up with their temporary neighbours moored next door.

“’Spite of all you hears about ‘drunken boatwomen’ most of ‘em was content of ‘n evenin to loose their chaps orf to the pub while they stayed tied to their kiddies and the cabin. It was a chance for Mum to catch oop on her chores ready for mornin and catch oop with news of the Cut with the women moored alongside.”

  • ‘Ramlin Rose’, Sheila Stewart

If reading narrowboat books gets your mother in the mood for boating, then a family boat trip on the Cambridgeshire Waterways could be just what you are looking for. Why not plan an unforgettable day-trip to our hire boat base in March? The whole family can have a go at steering the day boat, and spend some quality time together. Boating is an activity that suits all generations, and you can include a picnic, a pub lunch or some fish and chips in your day out.

In 2022 the Mother’s Day falls on Sunday March 27th, and the Fox boating season begins in April. If you book a day-trip now you could surprise your mum with this idea on Mothers Day. Read more: The Ultimate Mother’s Day Surprise

Get more canal-themed tips and stories by signing up for our blog updates. Subscribe on the right, by email. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

Photo credit: Deposit photos

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Fayres & local events, Featured articles

 

St Georges fayre in March on Sunday 24th April

After two years of social distancing and pandemic precautions festivals are coming back to England this year! We are so ready to kick off the festival season with the return of our local St George’s Fayre, which will take place on Sunday 24th April 2022.

Pre-Covid this was an annual event in our home town of March, Cambridgeshire. You can expect the streets in the town centre to be pedestrianised, making way for a bustling street market and fun fair. The day begins with an opening parade at 10am, followed by live music throughout the day.

Fox Narrowboats will be offering river trips on board the March Adventurer day boat with a qualified skipper. Visitors can enjoy a half hour trip along the tranquil waters of the River Nene, leaving from the town bridge every half hour. This beautiful cruise travels through a park, continuing down the quiet Nene Parade.

If you don’t live close to March, you may like to book a narrowboat holiday to coincide with St George’s Fayre. Enjoy live music, dance performances, Punch and Judy shows and circus skills workshops.  St George’s Fayre is delivered by Fenland District Council and a committee of volunteers; it’s one of four ‘Four Seasons’ events which usually take place in Fenland’s market towns throughout the year.

On previous years attractions have included sword dancers, stilt walkers, mini golf, birds of prey, traditional games, storytelling, a vintage fire engine, a duck race and knights in shining armour.

The patron saint of England is often associated with the mythical tale of St George and the Dragon. This story is loosely based on a real-life George who was a Christian soldier of the Roman Empire, born around 280AD. Legend has it that George slayed a dragon that was terrorising the countryside, intent on devouring a princess. The idea of George as the nation’s patron saint probably began in William Shakespeare’s time. In his play ‘Henry V’, the king’s famous battle cry is, “God for Harry, England and St George!”

A Fenland narrowboat holiday is the perfect way to soak up the history and heritage of England. After a day at St George’s Fayre you could set off by boat, to explore the charming villages of Upwell and Outwell on the Middle Level navigation. Grab some fish and chips and take them back to the boat. Then if you carry on along the River Ouse and River Cam towards Ely and Cambridge you will discover Oliver Cromwell’s House, Ely Cathedral and the colleges of Cambridge University. You may like to travel at a leisurely pace and stop at some cosy waterside pubs along the way. This is an idyllic way to take a break from all the challenges we’ve faced over the past two years.

Choose from week boating holidays (seven nights), midweek boating breaks (four nights), or weekend boating breaks (three nights). We have different narrowboats available depending on the size of your group, and you can view the different boat layouts here: Fox Holiday Hire Fleet.

Price Discount: Holiday price discount of 7.5% until 1st April 2022 (VAT at 12.5%). Act now to take advantage of the VAT discount.

You may also like: How to Stop Gongoozling and Start Narrowboating

Don’t miss more articles about what to see and do when narrowboating in the Fens: Sign up to follow this blog in the sidebar on the right.

Covid-19: Check out our safety precautions and coronavirus guarantee.

Image credit: St George’s Fayre March facebook page

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by Paula SyredPosted on Posted in Guest & customer articles, Navigation articles

middle level commissioners 2022

We are pleased to share for our customers the Navigation Spring 2022 newsletter reproduced here with permission of Middle Level Commissioners.

It is now 18 months since the Middle Level Commissioners (MLC) introduced licencing for pleasure craft for the first time in its history. There were many questions over what this would mean for users of the system and it is fair to say the change was unsurprisingly not universally supported. However, the introduction of licencing has allowed many positive things to happen and has changed the focus on our waterways from one where navigation was seen as a drain of resources to one where opportunities for enhancement and encouragement of waterway use is now in our targets. So below is a summary of some of the things that have happened in the last eighteen months and some of our aspirations for the future.

It is now 18 months since the Middle Level Commissioners (MLC) introduced licencing for pleasure craft for the first time in its history. There were many questions over what this would mean for users of the system and it is fair to say the change was unsurprisingly not universally supported. However, the introduction of licencing has allowed many positive things to happen and has changed the focus on our waterways from one where navigation was seen as a drain of resources to one where opportunities for enhancement and encouragement of waterway use is now in our targets. So below is a summary of some of the things that have happened in the last eighteen months and some of our aspirations for the future.

In the last 18 months we have

Taken over derelict moorings and renewed and improved them at Salters Lode Lock. These moorings have been reconstructed using navigation finances with a minority contribution from the Well Creek Trust. Going forward these mooring are now owned and maintained by the MLC.

The Salters Lode guillotine gate has been serviced and all gate seals replaced. This was an expensive exercise. To replace the seals required a team of professional divers working over a period of 4 days.

 

 

 

Four rural moorings have been installed.

We have appointed a full-time navigation officer to liaise with users of the system and Kev will now be well known now to many of you.

Contact number 07725 134170.

 

 

Marmont Priory Lock has been dewatered and remedials have been undertaken.  Marmont Priory upstream moorings have been fully refurbished.

We have removed a number of sunken or abandoned boats from the system.

 

 

 

 

We have worked with the Environment Agency and Conservators of the River Cam to agree the Anglian Pass bolt on which allows vessel owners the option (for a modest sum) to annually cruise the whole of the watercourse system covered by the 3 authorities.

We have also set money aside for future facility provision on the link route.

What planned for this spring (2022)?

Work will commence on installing 120m of piled moorings on High Lode near the Town of Ramsey. These new moorings will be owned and maintained by the MLC. Ramsey Town Council will supply fresh water and rubbish disposal facilities for visiting boats.

Four further sets of rural moorings will be installed.

Another phase of dredging for navigation will commence on the Well Creek stretching from the Aqueduct to Newton’s Bridge

We will be levelling the area of land outside the George public house on the Forty Foot (near Ramsey) to create an area where people can sit and enjoy the local water environment.

Marmont Priory Downstream moorings are to be refurbished.

And for the future

We are in discussions with Fenland District Council on possible improvements which can be implemented through the March Town river corridor.

We have had early discussions with Chatteris Town Council and possible future moorings at Carters Bridge.

We have been investigating co-funding moorings outside the George public house near Ramsey on the Forty Foot Drain.

We will be developing plans for new facilities on the link route and elsewhere.

Look to develop a scheme to dredge through March Town centre.

Seek to develop new and strengthen existing links with user group bodies who share our vision of an improved system benefiting all users.

 

So, in summary we believe that much has happened in the last eighteen months and it is our hope with your help we can maintain this rate of change.

 

 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Books TV online narrowboating, Canal Blog, Featured articles

canal boat lock oxfordshire

Couples who narrowboat together, stay together! Am I right? OK, so maybe I’m biased, but I think canal boating is the perfect way to spend quality time with your Valentine. Over the years many celebrity couples have been spotted out cruising together on the English canals. Who have you seen on the waterways?

1, 2, 3

In no particular order the first three couples on our list are Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, Kiera Knightly and Rupert Friend, and David Suchet (Poirot) and his wife Sheila. The media reported that they have all enjoyed boating on the British waterways. David and Sheila actually spent six years living on a 53-foot narrowboat, ‘Prima Donna’ which they found in Stratford-upon-Avon. Pirates of the Caribbean actress Keira Knightley rented a canal boat in London in 2010 and was seen walking the towpath with her actor partner.

So I asked on Facebook, what other celebrity couples have been seen boating together?

4

Bernard Booth commented that he saw Tim and Pru, and Harrison Ford and Calistoga Flockhart on the Llangollen canal. Of course, many others have spotted famous narrowboaters Tim and Pru around and about. Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales, and her husband actor Timothy West have been boating for decades, and starred in their own charming TV travel series, Great Canal Journeys.

5

Harry Potter actor Timothy Spall and his wife Shane were keen canal boaters for several years, and have been seen on the Grand Union canal. Spall later swapped his narrowboat for a seaworthy barge.

6

James Spencer was moored at Fox Narrowboats until last June when he moved his boat back onto the canals. He said he often used to see Timothy Spall, Roberta Taylor and her husband Peter Guinness when they had narrowboats moored near to his at Whilton Marina. He also met Tim and Pru at Braunston historic boat rally and has photos of them relaxing. “We did make it on to a TV programme about holidays when TV crew were filming at Braunston bottom lock and filmed us locking. Roberta and Peter Guinness boat was called ‘A Waste of Time.’ I did ask why, and apparently it was a play they had appeared in.”

7

It’s not a canal boat, but Russell Brand and his wife Laura shipped their wedding guests down the River Thames on a paddle steamer. Their wedding was at Remenham Church near their home in Henley-on-Thames, and wedding guests included Noel Gallagher, Jonathan Ross and David Baddiel.

8

In 2021 Sir Rod Stewart bought a narrowboat for his wife Penny’s 50th birthday. Speaking on Loose Women, Penny said it had always been her dream to have a canal boat and renovate it. She likes the idea of a slower lifestyle.

9

For couples with kids a narrowboat holiday is a great idea. Coleen and Wayne Rooney think so anyway. They took their four boys for a trip along the Shropshire Union Canal last year.

10

But Peter Green won the most famous celebrity couple afloat when he commented on Facebook, “I had the Queen and Prince Philip on my boat! Slight cheat as it was on the Thames. Diamond jubilee taking them to a garden party near Henley. Also had the Queen solo in 2009 and the Princess Royal in 2018. My boat is ‘Alaska’, built in 1883.”

Could you and your partner be the next glamourous couple to cruise the waterways? Check out availability for this year’s narrowboat holiday now!

Fox Boats director, Paula Syred told me, “Strictly come Dancing’s Neil Jones and Rick Wakeman and his wife, have been day hire customers of ours.”

So if you want to holiday like a celebrity, Fox Narrowboats is a great choice! Read: How to Holiday Like a Celebrity Without it Costing a Fortune

Get more fun narrowboat articles by signing up for our blog updates. Subscribe on the right, by email. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Booking budget tips, Canal Blog, Ely & Cambridge, Featured articles

booking a narrowboat holiday

Did you go on holiday last year? Did you mainly work from home? Were you hoping it would be all back to ‘normal’ by now?

If there’s one thing 2021 has taught us it’s to be flexible with whatever we have planned! But it’s also important to have hope, and plan holidays and get-togethers to look forward to.

While the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an increase in common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, our blog offered some good tips to help you to cope.

Read: How a Narrowboat Holiday Can Improve Your Mental Health

For those wanting to be well-prepared before setting off on a trip, we shared a few insider secrets that every new boater should know. These simple safety tips will ensure that your first cruise is a great success, and that everyone has the best holiday.

Read: Get Ready to Go Canal Boating (Even if You’ve Never Done It)

In February the UK government advised against booking a summer holiday abroad in 2021, and introduced quarantine hotels. On Valentine’s Day romantic restaurants and hotels were closed due to lockdown. So some couples opted for booking a romantic narrowboat break to look forward to later in the year, knowing that all bookings were covered by our Covid guarantee.

Read: Valentines: Why Narrowboats Are the Most Romantic Break

In March, you might have wondered whether it was even wise to book a canal boat holiday. This article explains why narrowboat staycations actually became a popular choice. (Early booking for 2022 is advisable.)

Read: Can I Book a Narrowboat Holiday for 2021?

Have you ever wondered if it is difficult to go around corners in a canal boat? What happens if you run aground? How do you turn a 70 foot narrowboat around? In this blog post we shared Zen and the art of narrowboat handling with you. Boat handling is such a fun skill and can be learned at any age, from childhood to retirement, which makes a narrowboat holiday such a great experience for family groups.

Read: 3 Skipper’s Tips to Start Steering a Holiday Narrowboat

As the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in England in July, there were no longer limits on social contact, meaning that people could meet inside or outside with as many people as they wanted. This gave holiday makers far more choices of places to visit on the Fenland waterways. However, at Fox Narrowboats we kept all of our safety measures in place, including our triple clean boat procedures, as we do everything that we can to keep our staff and customers safe.

Read: 3 Waterside Pubs to Visit Now Restrictions Have Lifted

Does your boat have a distinctive bow? Do other boaters ask you, “What number is it?!” Are you proud to know the history of your boat? Then you may be the owner of a Charlie Fox narrowboat!

Read: Charlie Fox Narrowboats: Where are They in 2021?

Actors Gyles Brandreth and Sheila Hancock returned to our screens in 2021, and in case you missed it you can catch up with their ‘Great Canal Journey’ to Cambridge and the Fens by watching episode one of series 13 on All 4. They started their journey in the town of March, where Fox narrowboats are based, and visited Emneth, Ely Cathedral, and Cambridge.

Read: Great Canal Journeys visit Cambridgeshire Fens

And finally, are you intrigued by England’s legends and mysteries? Want to discover local folklore on your narrowboat holiday? Got any Harry Potter fans in your family? The Cambridgeshire Fens were one of the last places in England where people still believed in witchcraft. Discover the witchy history of Cambridgeshire’s Fens in our Halloween article.

Read: Finding Fenland Witches For the Curious Canal Boater

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading these highlights from last year’s blog. Never miss an article again. Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and enter your email address. We’ll send you occasional stories, tips and advice about narrowboating around the Fens. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.)

If you want to take a canal holiday this year check availability now. We have some great deals to look forward to.

You may also like: Why January is the Best Time to Book Your Hire Boat Holiday

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