Secrets of the Thames & Severn Canal - 2 - Brimscombe Boatyard

I head to Brimscombe on the T&S to unpick the fascinating story of Brimscombe Boatyard
Grace's Guide:
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African Queen:
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#gloucestershire #boats #canal

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

A really fascinating account of boatbuilding at Brimscombe Port. What an exotic array of craft - some of which must have had to be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere before export. I believe the Port was also the site of the former Brimscombe Polytechnic and wonder if that had links with the boatyard. Fantastic restoration of the canal thereabouts. The last time I walked that way, a decade or so ago, it was all overgrown. Now its completely transformed.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hi Malcolm, Yes, fascinating history. A lot were moved as they were, but after the canal closed they had to be disassembled then reassembled at the site where they were going to. Brimscombe Port itself is about another 1/2 mile to the East. The polytechnic there was the HQ of the T&S and it became the polytechnic later - now all sadly destroyed in the 1950s and 1960s, unfortunately. I hadn't been to the section for about nine months - wow! So much progress since then! Amazing job has been done here. Thanks Malcolm, Cheers, Paul

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Paul - greetings from Poland A superb video. The story about the Brimscombe Boatyard was fascinating. To think that boats built here ended up all over the world. Your research paid dividends - so much historical information gained.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Good afternoon Michael! Glad you enjoyed it. It really is amazing where these fabulous boats ended up - The Amazon! How on earth did they arrange business transactions to build something for the market there?! It really is a 'secret' part of the wonderful T&S but I do hope that a intrepretive board (even better - a dry dock and a replica!) is placed here when this section is restored. Thanks so much! Cheers, Paul

[@jonbotting1]

Hi Paul, thanks for that video really interesting, we both enjoyed it a lot, glad you’re on the road to recovery

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Jon! Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully there will be another installment in this series again soon. Take care, Paul

[@derrickfield8957]

My Grandfather used to work at the Phoenix Iron Foundry about half a mile from where you were standing; that to long gone. I would imagine that much of the iron work for the boats came from there. Who knows he may well have made some of it. As a young boy in the late 50s early 60s my favourite cycle ride was from the Daneway pub along the towpath into Stroud, all downhill having gone uphill to Bisley, going right past there many many times and never realising there had ever been a boat yard there. Thank you so much for your research and presentation it has added something to my life's story.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you so much Derrick. Yes, I had heard of the Phoenix Iron Foundry, but I know little of it; I am sure that the iron work for the boats did indeed come from there. I do know about John Ferrabee and the world's first adjustable spanner being made there though. I was amazed to find out that they made the steam engines for the boats on site here too. I do hope that when this section of the T&S is eventually restored at Hope Mill that there is at least an intrepretative board telling passers by what used to be made here - even better, a dry dock with a replica boat in it! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Take care, Paul

[@PeterPowis-vp6fv]

I used to work at Waller's in the late 60's & have just completed an archive of the firm,mostly from old glass slide negatives held in Stroud museum in the park. I haven't seen any signs of boat components being made there,but who knows?

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@PeterPowis-vp6fv That's when Londoner George Waller took over.

[@PeterPowis-vp6fv]

@@westcountrywanderings 1874 was when they competed their move from Southwark, however they used Ferrabees for their iron castings for many years before that. They were closed down by an asset stripper in1973/74. What a shame!

[@derrickfield8957]

@@PeterPowis-vp6fv : There are seldom any of the day to day documents archived things like order books or receipts the mundane stuff that could really get into the lives of the people and firms, records of what was made, and who for. Without this we will never know. From our family history, handed down orally, I can state that the Phoenix Iron Works had a very good reputation, a dirty place to work but a wonderful place to learn your trade. This was in the period my Granddad worked there 1900 to just after WWII.

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Most engaging video again Paul. You research so well and visit the most interesting places. Thank you for my wee escape this Saturday morning. Set the tone for today on a positive note. Happy wanderings. 👌🇳🇱🙋‍♀🇳🇿

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Anita! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I was so pleased to find those old photos. Take care, Paul

[@cathydyer3774]

That was really interesting Paul and an achievement when you did not feel well. I liked hearing about Issac Abdela.. from Corfu... and you even found some great music that sounded like the Turkish baglama or the Greek bouzouki. 🙂🪕🎶

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Cathy! Yes, this is a slice of T&S history which really is a secret! Many local people and canal enthusiasts are completely unaware of this. I do hope some kind of information board can be placed here when this section is eventually restored. Yes, the music! Took me ages to find something I was happy with to go behind these wonderful vintage photographs. Thanks again! Take care, Paul

[@faithg9766]

That was jam packed full of wonderful history & the old photos were super, they really helped to bring it to life.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Faith! Yes, I have had those photos for a while and was wondering how I could fit them into a video. Glad you enjoyed them! Cheers, Paul

[@theweatheredventerer1254]

Well done Paul for this part of history that I did not know about as a Stroud resident for many years . wish you well for recovering from the dreaded bug.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Lloyd! I don't think many people are aware of this at all. Shame that there isn't a blue plaque or an intrepretative board there saying about it to canalside walkers. I do hope that will change when this section is (eventually) restored. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers! Paul

[@wendingourway]

Pretty great history in the area for sure! Wonderful to see the older pics as well!! Awesome!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed this little known slice of the T&S history. Take care, Paul

[@hvee4]

I had absolutely no idea of the boat building history at the T&S canal, that was so interesting to hear about… I’ve not seen the Africa Queen but I’ll put it on my wish list now. Great video Paul, thoroughly enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Lee! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, this part of the T&S's history is little known. Glad to have made it a little better known. Take care, Paul

[@martynbuzzing3327]

A very interesting video, Paul. Two of my favourite things, boats and canals. Very well told and explained. Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Martyn! Glad you enjoyed this little known slice of the T&S's history. Take care, paul

[@michaelmiller641]

Lovely video,and comprehensive history there, Paul, thankyou

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, so much history, and a lot that is little known too, like this one. Cheers, Paul

[@SouthWestSundays]

This was so well presented and so well researched Paul! Really fascinating history. Everywhere you go there is so much fascinating history. Lovely footage too.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Louise! Glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed researching this one when I was ill in bed! Hard to believe that they made such large boats right next to an 'ordinary' canal. Take care, Paul

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Paul, wonderful work, fascinating stories and information, I don't know how you do it. I would suffer from brain overload if I tried it. It is surprising how big the boats were for an inland boatyard. Enjoyed it, thanks. Ron

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Ron! And, to think that this wasn't even the first of the boatyards here - another secret still to come! It did take me a while to learn my lines after writing the script. Take care, Paul

[@meichong8278]

2.58k ...Hi Paul hope youre continuing to improve on the health front , as for todays part 2 I very much enjoyed it ...well researched and presented , you seem to improve with age 🤣😄 I notice youve had a welcome jump in subscribers from part 1 to part 2 which is thoroughly deserved !!!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Mei! Yes, I have had a big jump, my biggest jump ever, in subscribers, over the past 28 day period. Thanks for your kind words. Hope to be back to Severn Way levels of fitness again soon! Thanks so much, Take care, Paul

[@royedwards8713]

Hi Paul nice video and history ,and hope your feeling better now 👌👌

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks Roy - I am not quite 100% yet, but getting there! Hope you are having a good week. Cheers, Paul

[@Roamingthecotswolds]

Hi Paul very interesting video and on my doorstep. Cheers

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you for Adrian! Glad you enjoyed it. So many interesting things about the Cotswold Canals. Thanks again, Paul

[@davidberlanny3308]

Mornin' Paul, Hope your on the mend now!! Very interesting video, really well researched and presented as always. Those marine steam engines are really quite something whatever the size. They will definately need someone who knows what theyre doing to operate them. Thanks for including the links to graces guide a great source of information. Recently I found some agricultural machines in a restaurant nearby and was able to identify what they were using graces guide and found they were made in Manchester too. From that I was able to find their old building which ornately decorated with their logo and easily identifiable. I had a look for George Street in Manchester, Abdela's offices were number 55, but nothing to see really, quite close to the Rochdale canal, gave me a fun few minutes searching!! I also found my way to RCHS for the first time, what a wonderful collection of photos they have on this company. Great video well done, look forward to the next one in this series All the best!!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you David! Yes, I am on the mend, but still not 100% yet. I have not heard of the RCHS before - I have tried to get onto the website but it appears to be down - I will try again later. Glad you enjoyed it. This one really was a 'secret' because even a lot of local people are completely unaware what was made here, unless they were directly connected to it. I didn't realise that they made the engines here too! I had assumed prior to doing the research that they were made elsewhere. It is a shame that there is not even a blue plaque or even an intrepretative board by the existing towpath. Yes, Grace's Guide is an invaluable source of information - I also use a lot of the books (now mostly out of print) written about the T&S. Thanks again! Hope you are having a great week, Cheers, Paul

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@westcountrywanderings Hi Paul, I picked up a book today and spotted that it was printed by Tempus Publishing at the Mill Brimscombe Port and i thought, I recognise that name!! The book? Well it is called Portsmouth Voices and is a compilation of taped interviews, transcribed in the contributors own words. I searched it out last night as we want to do something similar with our parents. We're not quite sure what we want to do with it that will all come out in the wash!! Our parents are quite enthused about the project. Have you seen anything similar done before? All the best

[@westcountrywanderings]

@davidberlanny3308 hi David yes, Tempus publishing was formerly Alan Sutton Books (they did several railway ones) and my aunt used to work for them. I think Alan Sutton left for Canada. I think Tempus are still in The Mill though. Yes, oral history projects are a great idea. So much history that isn't kings and queens, but everyday lives, often gets lost and forgotten. Really good. Glad you managed to find that book. Cheers, Paul.

[@dianarolph1770]

Wonderful photos - they give a real feel for the times! And a comprehensive account of the history of Brinscombe. I liked the accompanying music too- seemed to fit the subject really well. I wondered why people would think it a good idea to have a boat building yard inland so far from the coast? It seemed that they exported their boats long distances to Africa and South America so there was the necessity of transporting them long distances to ports ( you pointed out they went by road when the canal closed)- the larger ones may not have been able to navigate our narrow canal waterways. My sister lives near the Norfolk coast & it just teems with boatbuilders ( or it did do!!!) It just seems such a palaver to get to the docks when the required boat can be built nearby. Hope you didn’t suffer too much out & about for our benefit! Thank you!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Diana! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I was lucky to have copies made of those photos - they were in the family, and I have been meaning to do a video about them for a while. My great uncle was one of the first trustees of the Cotswold Canals Trust. It is amazing to have built such great big boats so far inland and a long way from a wide & deep river. Somewhere like Gloucester, Lydney, Sharpness or Portishead would have made more sense in this part of the world. Take care, Paul

[@PeterPowis-vp6fv]

No mention of the far older & original T&S canal boatyard at The Bourne.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Don't worry, that story is for another day Peter! I have relatives that live at The Bourne that have given me access to archive materials. Cheers, Paul