Craft

/

Fleet No

/ Built at / Hull / Cost / Owner / Launch Date

ADMIRAL

/ 105 / Saltley Dock / Iron Composite / £600 / FMC / 9.9.1905

Steamer Registrations

Place / PH Number / Captain / Date Inspected / Date Registered
Birmingham / 1157 / W Gould / 31.8.1905 / 29.9.1905

Steamer Gaugings

Place / Gauging Number / Notes / Date
GJC / 11692 / 27.3.1911

Hull Composition

Maintenance

/

Date

Boiler Return tube dryback

Supplier / Tubes / PSI / Cost
John Thompson (Wolverhampton) / 44 x 2¼’’ + 10 stay tubes / 110 lbs / £70
Maintenance / Date
Dome covered / 8.1908

Engine

/ FMC Haines
Maintenance / Date
Crank shaft webs reduced / 8.1908

Propeller Shaft

/ 9’ 11’’ (8’ 0’’ – 10¼’’ – 1¾’’) Screw 2’’ dia – 6 threads
Maintenance / Date
New shaft (bent)
New shaft & bush / 8.1906
8.1908

Steamer History

/ Date
Mercer/TWM “ held in ice at Buckby bottom”
Millner letter: “sinks Sefton’s coalboat MAY by not slowing down
Millner Letter: “with butty VERBENA” hits gates at Lock 8
Millner Letter; “runs into tug SPIDER” / 5.2.1912
28.8.1912
24.8.1917
12.9.1917

Conversion to motor

At / Cost / Engine / Cost / Date
Saltley Dock / £287 / 15hp Bolinder ModelNE (Pollock 1124) / £221.9.0 / 24.6.1924

Motor Registrations

Place / PH No / Captain / Date Inspected / Date Registered
Birmingham / 1539 / John Green / 14.3.1932 / 15.4.1932

Motor Gaugings

Place / Gauging Number / Notes / Date
BCN
GJC / 1065
12157 / +4cwt / 9.7.1925
30.11.1926

Maintenance

Docked Uxbridge
Docked Uxbridge / 12.1935
1.1939

Motor History

/ Date
deSalis' notebook: "Quick journey. MB ADMIRAL T.Green Steerer. BB UPTON. left Nottingham Thurs Nov 23 1927 Empty arr Stewarts & Lloyds Coombeswood 9pm Friday Nov 24 - 75 miles via Fradley, Fazeley, Aston, FarmersBridge, Netherton. Dep midday Saturday 25 Nov to B'ham. Dep Sunday morning 26 Nov, arrive Brentford Wed morning 29 Nov. CW to Warwick Bar 14m. B'ham to Brentford 135m. Total 149m"
"MB ADMIRAL BB PORTUGAL Discharged ore ex London at CW Th eve 26.6.1930. Reloaded tubes Fri am 27.6.30. Passed Fazeley St 3pm 27.6 Passed Braunston 5pm 28.6Arr Brentford 8pm 30.6.1930" / 23 – 29.11.1927
27 – 30.6.1930

Fate

/ Sold to Samuel Barlow Coal Co Ltd, Braunston / Date / 5.1942
Post-FMC History
Date / Action / Owner / Name / Source
5.1942 / To S Barlow (Coal) Co / S Barlow / ADMIRAL / AF
2.6.1942 / Registered Daventry 524 / S Barlow / ADMIRAL
13.6.1942 / Regauged 12157 Add 10 cwt / S Barlow / ADMIRAL / Gauging Sheet
13.3.1948 / Regauged 12157 Add 7 cwt / S Barlow / ADMIRAL / Gauging Sheet
10.10.1948 / Photographed by H C Casserley leaving Northchurch 51 / S Barlow / ADMIRAL / Barlows - AF
7. 1955 / Photographed in Griff Arm with MOSQUITO carrying 44 tons to Banbury / S Barlow / ADMIRAL / Barlows - AF
7.1955 / Photographed stemmed up with MOSQUITO / S Barlow / ADMIRAL / NBaW Ware p80
7.1955 / Photographed by C P Weaver at Banbury also another on OxfordCanal. Boats still in Barlow livery / Warwickshire CCCo / (ADMIRAL) / C Clegg 4.6.01
3.2.1955 / Registered Coventry 549 to WarwickshireCanal Carrying Co as DIAMOND (Cost £70) / Warwickshire CCCo / DIAMOND / S.Mitchell
8.1955 / Seen with SAPPHIRE / Warwickshire CCCo / DIAMOND / Norman Humphris
1961 Whitsun / at Charity Dock as DIAMOND / Warwickshire CCCo / DIAMOND / AB
1964 / To John & Joe Gilbert of Charity Dock, Bedworth for £70. / J Gilbert / DIAMOND
Mar - July 1965 / Shortened to 57'. Converted to pleasure craft with a full length cabin and fitted with a Lister SR3 for J A Clegg of Shrewsbury. One side painted ADMIRAL, the other ADMIREL / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / C Clegg 3.6.01 & Margaret Clegg 11.6.01
31.7.1965 / First voyage for J A Clegg / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / C Clegg 3.6.01
Oct 1966 / New cratch made at Norton Caines by MB / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / MB/ C Clegg 3.6.01
26.3.1967 / at Stoke Bruerne / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / AB
29.7.1967 / at Leicester / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / AB
27.7.1969 / at Birmingham / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / AB
13.8.1971 / at Northampton / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / AB
3.8.1972 / at Lymm Rally / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / AB
2.1973 / Picture by Cyril Arapoff taken in Regents Canal Dock in the 50's / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / WW
24-26.8.1974 / Seen. 57' x 6' 10" x 2' 9" fitted with SR3 owned by J A Clegg, TyrleyWharf. / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / AB
1 & 2.1976 / Advertised for sale WW £6000 / J A Clegg / ADMIRAL / C Clegg 4.6.01 & WW
1976 / To Steve Mitchell at Glenfield, Leicester. In summer moved to Foxton Lower Arm. Lived on boat there. / S Mitchell / ADMIRAL / P Crecraft 26.2.01
4 - 6.1979 / WW Advert by Steve Mitchell for £7900 / S Mitchell / ADMIRAL / WW
Late 1979 / To Pat Crecraft / P Crecraft / ADMIRAL / P Crecraft 26.2.01
14.8.1980 / at Walthamstow Rally owned by Pat Crecraft / P Crecraft / ADMIRAL / AB
1980's / On CaldonCanal. Latterly stripped down and taken as hull and engine to Tony Gregory / P Crecraft / ADMIRAL / T Gregory 21.4.01
1988-1992 / Refitted by Tony Gregory on S&W to original cabin layout, with wooden bottom / P Crecraft / ADMIRAL / P Crecraft 26.2.01
1993 / Wooden bottom replaced in steel by Ian Goode at Debdale. SR3 in boat but not fitted / P Crecraft / ADMIRAL / P Crecraft 26.2.01
6.2000 / Photographed at DebdaleWharf. / P Crecraft / ADMIRAL / RT
Sightings
Ref / Date / Source / Captain / Crew / Butty / Notes
ADMIRAL / 31.8.1905 / Inspected
9.9.1905 / Launched Saltley
Bm 1157 / 29.9.1905 / Reg / W Gould
Bm 1157 / 18.11.1905 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 4--
Bm 1157 / 3.1.1906 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 4--
Bm 1157 / 10.1.1906 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 4--
Bm 1157 / 17.2.1906 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 4--
Bm 1157 / 5.3.1906 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 4--
Bm 1157 / 12.5.1906 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 4--
Bm 1157 / 7.7.1906 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 3--
8.1906 / Dock maintenance
Bm 1157 / 20.12.1906 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 4--
Bm 1157 / 15.1.1907 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 4--
Bm 1157 / 13.9.1907 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 3--
Bm 1157 / 17.2.1908 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 3--
Bm 1157 / 2.3.1908 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 3--
8.1908 / Dock maintenance
Bm 1157 / 6.11.1908 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 3-- / quoted as Bm 1057
Bm 1157 / 24.1.1909 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 3--
Bm 1157 / 6.9.1909 / Dav CIJ / T Wenlock / 4--
GJ / 27.3.1911 / Gauged
5.2.1912 / Millner L / Iced in at Buckby
28.8.1912 / Millner L / Sinks MAY - not slowing down
Bm 1157 / 10.3.1913 / Dav CIJ / Griffin / 3--
24.8.1917 / Millner L / P Littlemore / Hits gates at L 8
11692
11692
11692 / 12.9.1917
27.10.1917
8.6.1918
3.7.1918 / Millner L
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll / P Littlemore / Runs into tug SPIDER
16t 14c
Bm 1157 / 31.12.1920 / Dav CIJ / W Roberts / 2--
GJ 11692
11692
11692
11692
11692
11692
11692 / 24.12.1921
3.1.1922
22.8.1922
31.8.1922
4.1.1923
13.1.1923
21.7.1923 / Hill TR
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll / Cresswell / Hartford / Paper Cov C to GJC
13t 15c
14t 6c
13t 11c
14t 2c
14t 5c
14t 3c
24.6.1924 / Converted
BCN 1065 / 9.7.1925 / Gauged
15.2.1926 / Hill A / Green / Unknown cargo to Hayes
By 12024
(Lotus)
By 12024 / 15.2.1926
13.8.1926
27.8.1926 / Brock-moor
Gauge
Brent Toll
Brent Toll / Upton
Upton
Upton / Admiral 18" Upton 14"
25.11.1926 / Hill A / Green / Unknown cargo
12157 / 30.11.1926 / Gauged
Bm 1157
By 12024
By 12024
12157
12157
12157 / 3.2.1927
10.8.1927
26.8.1927
26.9.1927
12.10.1927
11.11.1927 / Bre CIJ
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll / … / … / Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
23.11.1927 / deSalis / T Green / Upton / Left Nottingham
24.11.1927 / deSalis / T Green / Upton / Arr Coombeswood
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157 / 29.11.1927
26.11.1927
14.12.1927
8.1.1928
8.2.1928
21.2.1928
7.3.1928
13.4.1928
27.4.1928 / deSalis
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll / T Green / Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton / Arr Brentwood
Bm 1187
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157
12157 / 3.5.1928
9.5.1928
19.5.1928
5.6.1928
21.6.1928
4.7.1928
20.7.1928
3.8.1928
15.8.1928
30.8.1928
14.9.1928
1.10.1928
31.10.1928
15.11.1928
28.11.1928 / Nott CIJ
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll
Brent Toll / J H Green / 313 / Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton
Upton / b7 g10 g5
Bm 1157 / 2.11.1929 / Nott CIJ / J Green / 42- / Portugal
27.6.1930 / deSalis / Portugal / Left Coombeswood
30.6.1930 / deSalis / Portugal / Arr Brentwood
14.3.1932 / Inspected
Bm 1539 / 15.4.1932 / Reg / John Green
Bm 1539. / 29.6.1934 / Nor CIJ / J Green / 233 / Portugal / b3 g11 g1
Bm 1539. / 24.1.1935 / Bm CIJ / J Green / -12
Bm 1539. / 25.1.1935 / Bm CIJ / J Green / -12
Permit1927 / 29.1.1935 / GUCC / Portugal / 49t coal to Alperton KG
Bm 1539. / 6.4.1935 / Bm CIJ / J Green / 126 / Portugal
Permit 2693 / 30.4.1935 / GUCC / Portugal / 50¾t coal to Willesden EL
Bm 1539. / 10.8.1935 / Bm CIJ / J Green / 234 / Portugal
Bm 1539. / 28.9.1935 / Bm CIJ / J Green / 233 / Portugal
Bm 1539. / 11.10.1935 / Bm CIJ / J Green / 225 / Portugal
Bm 1539 / 9.12.1935 / Bm CIJ / Bm 752 Ptg
Docked Uxbridge
Bm 1539 / 27.3.1936 / Nott CIJ / W Brace / 131 / Leighton / b9m
Bm 1539. / 10.11.1936 / War CIJn / W Kendall / 2-- / Leighton / Copper
Bm 1539. / 14.1.1937 / Lei CIJ / William Kendall / 3-- / Leighton
Bm 1539 / 22.1.1937 / Nott CIJ / W Kendall / 211 / Leighton / b13
Bm 1539. / 11.4.1937 / Bm CIJ / W Kendall / 4-- / Leighton
Bm 1539. / 17.8.1937 / Nor CIJ / H Beresford / 4-- / Keswick
Bm 1539 / 28.10.1937 / Nott CIJ / Hy Beresford / 3-- / Keswick
Bm 1539 / 10.5.1938 / Nott CIJ / Geo Morris / 211 / Forward / g10
Docked Uxbridge
Bm 1539. / 19.12.1940 / Wv CIJ / J Brace / 2--
Bm 1539 / 31.12.1940 / Bm CIJ / Bm 137 LRo
Bm 1539 / 10.3.1941 / Bm CIJ / Bm 122 LKo
5/1942 / Sold to S Barlow
Dav 524 / 2.6.1942 / Reg / Alfred Buckley / S Barlow new reg insp
Dav 524 / 13.6.1942 / Regauged / Add 10cwt
12157 / 27.8.1942 / Ban TR 1086 / H Collins / Mary / 49.10 coal Pooley to Oxf EL
12157 / 10.9.1942 / Ban TR 1188 / H Collins / Mary / 47 coal Moira to Oxf EL
12157 / 1.10.1942 / Ban TR 1358 / H Collins / Mary / 46 10 coal Pooley to Oxf EL
12157 / 31.10.1942 / Ban TR 1559 / H Collins / Mary / 49 coal Pooley to Oxf EL
12157 / 13.10.1942 / Ban TR 1646 / H Collins / Mary / 54.5 coal Newdigate to Oxf EL
12157 / 2.12.1942 / Ban TR 1765 / H Collins / Mary / 47.15 coal Pooley to Oxf EL
Dav 524. / 31.1.1947 / Bm CIJ / T Dell / 2--. / Jack
Dav 524. / 14.11.1947 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 46.5 Coal Orchard to KL
Dav 524. / 23.12.1947 / Bm CIJ / T Dell / 2--. / Jack
Dav 524. / 22.1.1948 / Bm CIJ / T Dell / 2--. / Jack
Dav 524. / 28.1.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 46 Coal Baddesley to Frogmore
Dav 524. / 13.2.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 48 Coal Longthorpe to Uxbridge
Dav 524. / 26.2.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 48.10 Coal Longthorpe to Southall
Dav 524. / 12.3.1948 / Bm CIJ / T Dell / 2--. / Jack
Dav 524 / 13.3.1948 / Regauged / +7 cwt
Dav 524. / 17.3.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 49 Coal Baddesley to Frogmore
Dav 524. / 25.3.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 48.15 Coal Longthorpe to KL
Dav 524. / 26.3.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 48.10 Coal Baddesley to Frogmore
Dav 524 / 12.4.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 48.10 Coal Newdigate to Uxbridge
Dav 524. / 21.4.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 48.10 Coal Donisthorpe to Little
Dav 524. / 26.5.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 48 Coal Baddesley to Frogmore
Dav 524. / 23.6.1948 / Hill TR / Dell / Jack / 50 Coal Baddesley to Frogmore
Dav 524. / 28.7.1948 / Hill TR / Gibbons / York / 46 Coal Griff to Uxbridge
Dav 524. / 5.9.1948 / Hill TR / S Gibbons / York / 47.5 Coal Longthorpe to KL
Dav 524. / 6.10.1948 / Hill TR / S Gibbons / Rosie Agnes / 48.5 Coal Baddesley to Frogmore
10.10.1948 / Photos / Rosie Agnes / at Berkhamsted
47.5 Coal Longthorpe to KL
Dav 524. / 8.12.1948 / Hill TR / S Gibbons / Rosie Agnes
2/1955 / Sold toWarwicks Canal Carrying
as DIAMOND / 3.2.1955 / Reg
Cov 549 / 8.1955 / Norman Humphris / With Sapphire. Info ex AB
Documents held on file

GJ Gauging 11692pc27.3.1911

Letter Mercer to Millner re icebound boatspc5.2.1912

Letter Thomas to Millner re sinking of boat Maypc28.8.1912

BCN Gauging working sheetpc9.7.1925

BCN Gauging 1065pc 9.7.1925 (wrongly dated 9.7.1923)

GJ (OC) Gauging 12157pc30.11.1926

Registration Certificate of DiamondCoventry 549pc8.2.1955

WW Article by Cyril Arapoff with photo pc2.1973
WW Advert for salepc1 & 2.1976
A Brief History of nb Admiral by Steve Mitchellts1979

WW Advert for salepc5.1979

WW Advert for salets5 & 6.1979

Millner Letters

6.2.1912At the bottom we have one wide boat and one pair of coal boats going south three pairs of Fellows including a steamer ADMIRAL with goods at the top going south. Also 4 pairs of empty boats going to Braunston. I have been to Braunston this afternoon & Mr Cope informs me that the Canal Co are not going to run the Ice boat as boats are not going to follow – Fellows have two steamers there but no buttys for them. Also 4 loaded boats with empty barrels on for this way Mercer/Millner

28.8.1912Re Raising Sunken boat at Linford. I am pleased to hear that you were able to raise Messrs Sefton’s coal boat MAY without interference to the traffic. Let me have an account of the cost to the Company which will be sent to Messrs Sefton in due course, and I should advise them to try and recover the amount from Messrs Fellows, Morton & Co as the sinking was due to their steamer ADMIRAL not easing down when passing. Thomas/Millner

24.8.1917FMC’s steamer ADMIRAL steerer P Littlemore and butty boat VERBENA , George Jones running into the top inside gate of Lock 8 at Buckby at 10.30 pm August 21st 1917 and breaking the gate bumper and otherwise straining the gate. There was no lockfiller ahead of the boats and at the time our night lockkeeper was drawing off the water and the lock was ¾ full. The lockkeeper shouted for the steamer to stop. The boats were coming at such a pace that the tow rope broke and the butty crashed into the gate. Had the lock been empty the gate might have been knocked down. The butty boat had no fender on the fore end otherwise the damage might have been less. I would suggest Geo Jones be fined 10/- for the damage.

12.9.1917…the Blisworth Tunnel SPIDER was towing the 3pm pull from Stoke Bruerne when Messrs Fellows Morton Clayton’s steamer ADMIRAL, P Littlemore, ran into the tug and bent the iron stem guard, crushed in the oak stem bar and sprung the sheering on top of the foredeck so that the tug will have to go into dock for the damage to be made good. . The collision occurred near the 2000 yard plate. The tug was against the tunnel wall on the offside (being her right side) and the ADMIRAL must have been across the tunnel. Both tug and steamer had sounded their whistles so the steerer knew of their proximity. Littlemore’s mate was steering and I understand the atmosphere was thick, but all the same the steamer should have kept its right side. I consider a claim should be made for the damage when the cost of repairs has been ascertained. I have not reported this to the General Manager

Photographs

BW 3784pcAs Barlow motor loaded with coal c/u of cabin at Northchurch Capt S Gibbons 10.10.1948 (H C Casserle

Barlows p34As Barlow motor loaded with coal c/u of cabin leaving Lock 51 at Northchurch 10.10.1948 Capt S Gibbons (H C Casserley)

BW 3248pcIn Regents Canal Dock as FMC motor with man standing on roof. With OWL

Barlows p27In Griff Arm with MOSQUITO (C P Weaver) July 1955

NbaW photo 80pcStemmed up on CoventryCanal with MOSQUITO July 1955

BW 780, 2581pcBoiler

BW 2532pcEngine

Lady Line Guide CoverprintMoored above lock

Advert WW 1 & 2.1976pcBoat moored up

Chris CleggprintAt Goldstone Wharf, 1965

Illustration

BW 3781pcf/l as Barlow motor towing laden butty ROSIE AGNES (fore end only in shot) entering

Lock 51 Northchurch 10.10.1948 Capt S Gibbons (H C Casserley)

Current Owner: Pat Crecraft