towy group

The aim of the Towy group is to preserve and display the 72ft long  Thomas Clayton narrowboat 'Towy'                                              

To subcribe to free website updates click here.

If you would like to contact us please email nbtowy "@" hotmail.co.uk (remove spaces and quotation marks)

Tuesday ,1st December sees us start on the challenge of work over the Winter..all assistance welcome!!

Galley fitters come boat crew, Matthew & David Andrews working down the Wolverhanpton 21 on Sunday, 26th October. They picked up the boat at top lock continuing to Gnosall next day. stewart piloted them to Brewood.

The previous weekend sees kenny on the saturday as light fades on the Staffs & Worcs. A stuck engine valve meant that only Stourton Jct was reached that night and the 'Stourbvridge Open' the next day 

 A trip to the Stourbridge bonded Warehouse open weekend, October 17th-18th started on Sunday, 27th of September. Stewart & Chris  boated to Malkin's Bank . Shebdon embankment was still breached so Kenny  planned for crews to take the long way round via Harecastle.  Weekend two, Oct 3rd & 4th, saw Bill & Stan  boating onto Stone. Weekend three saw Kenny boat to Cross Green, just north of Wolverhampton. On the fourth weekend, Stewart made a slow start due to engine problems. He was joined by Kenny in the narrows on the Staffs & Worcs. The pair continued to Stourton Jct as darkness fell. Sunday morning saw 'Towy' boating a section of the cut previouslly not navigated by the current group:the Stourbridge canal & Dudley no1 as far as lock 2/3 on the Delph.The crew made  a triumphal arrival at the rally. the 'Towy' went the whole length of the Stourbridge Arm with a huge array of canal boats. Chairman Bill's advertising campaign was shown off to great effect.To spare the blushes of the delicate, Stewart stripped off to clear the 'blade' once passed the line of boats. Unfortunately time was pressing so the crew continued up Stourbridge 16 (joined by Judy Tweddle) & The Delph 8 with a pint at the 'Bull & Bladder', tying up at Merryhill.

Stewart started  the return leg to Waverton on weekend five. Emerging through Netherton tunnel he was joined by Linda & Alec. 'Towy' was refueled at Caggy Steven's old yard. A huge bladeful of black country rubbish prevented an early arrival at Wolverhampton. Linda & Alec jumped ship and Stewart went for a dip to clear the blade. 'Towy' berthed at Wolverhampton top lock as darkness fell. Reinforcements arrived the following morning in the form of David & Matthew Andrews. The '21 were taken leisurely We were pleased to encounter GordonTheobald, born on a Clayton's boat at Cox bank, Audlem. Once down the Wolverhampton 21 we were soon on the Shroppie and heading north. Despite a couple of stemmings up we had a pleasant cruise to Brewood and enjoyed a pint at the Bridge Inn. Stewart cycled off for the train in Penkridge and the Andrews crew continued, hoping to reach Wheaton Aston. Darkness fell though, and they tied up at Stretton aqueduct. The following day they boated onto Gnosall, where the 'Towy' awaited the next crew!

the late hours of monday,9th saw stewart arrive for a first light start on a wet morning up the Shroppie. a brief comfort break was taken at Norbury before more embankments and cuttings were tackled in the invariable scotch mist and occasional outburst. a brave attempt to sample Lion's tale ales in cheswardine was thwarted by restricted winter's hours. Tacking tyerly locks at 2pm, stewart was assisted by a gentleman recently moved to Market drayton, Terry and his daughter Rosie. In return Stewart gave them a lift into 'Drayton. Adderley top was reached as night fell. stewart then faced a 16 mile, two pub, two puncture cycle ride to Crewe station.

The Shuttleworths returned in force on saturday 14th together with Jonny Mountford and Ian holmes. The larger team were able to tackle the Adderley and Audlem flights with aplomb. The only problem arose in Audlem's bottom pound where a sticking valve, silt and a passing boat caused half an hours delay. A stop was made at Audlem wharf. A hury-gurdy session was going on in the Shroppie fly. The proprieter of Audlem Mill came out to specially invite the Towy to their gathering the last Sunday in July next year. Most of the crew jumped ship at Audlem bottom. Ian & Stewart continued by moonlight to Nantwich. The regular Chinese on Welch row was visited for sustenance. An early start was made at 7.25 on the Sunday morning by our two heroes. ....well one hero anyway, the other wisely stayed in his bed until Bunbury top. Geese were flying over Nantwich as the sun rose acoss the town. Starting off was assisted by the gentlemen off the 'Leopard' who previously had owned a wooden boat, King George. No deisel was availlable the whole way down. Anglo-Welsh was closed and the Hardern's were probably at church. Running mostly on deisel vapour we docked at Faulkner's Bridge just after 2pm to be greeted by our friendly, fellow moorer Paul Worthington.

Winter working parties will now commence!

Chris & Stewart, the first stage crew are seen here. They left Calveley at 8.45, finding unfortunately that the fuel pump was leaking. Repair was effected with string and Chris's chewing gum until Anglo-Welsh gave assistance at Bunbury where we departed at 10 having winded. 11a.m saw us  round Barbridge turn, to meet a 4 boat queue at Cholmondeston lock. Through at 12.30 and onto Minshul and then Stanthorne locks for 3.40. Mrs Shaw at Wardle lock was recovering from a nasty fall but still giving Chris guidance on lock operation. pleased to see the 'Towy' but wishing the painters would get on with the fore-end. leaving King's lock at 5 with a 'speckled hen' (Holden's next week!) to oil the mechanism, we were taken aback to come upon the massive British salt complex being demolished. Onto the Booth's lane 3, where we exited Crow's nest at 6.30. A further hour of daylight saw our heroes virtually at Wheelock..unfortunately there was 'no room at the wharf' so the crew continued thro' Wheelock two in the dark, tying just short of Malkin's bank about 8.30..another Towy epic.

  Kenny said in some ways we have had a frustrating boating season. The Liverpool trip has been postponed and we failed to access the Llangollen canal at Hurleston on August 23rd. He was pleased with the determination shown by the crews in reaching the Black Country

The first Winter working party will be on Tuesday, 1st December at faulkner's Bridge                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Considerable progress has been made throughout 2009. Easter working party week completed interior painting of the engine 'ole in blood and custard and priming of the back cabin, including painting of its floor. The Andrews family continue to rebuild the galley. The interior of the cabin and engine 'ole has been painted out as well as the bands on the stern and the shearing. New top strings have been put in place as well as attention to the flooring in the hold.                                          Work starts with a vengeance once 'Towy' arrives back at 'Faulkner' Bridge'.

Mel Batchelor has painted the back doors.

 The 2009 AGM is on Sunday, December 13th, 9.30 a.m. at Cloudsmoor, Lancaster

this is a link to the boat museum society website:

ttp://www.boatmuseumsociety.org.uk/index.html 

 well worth a visit if you have the time

  the domain http://www.nbtowy.co.nr/ was free from this website