Black Boy, 2007 - Following-up on NB Lion

Because we were passing through Knowle on a wet Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend we decided to follow-up on Ken Tremain's 1960s photographs of NB Lion moored up outside the Black Boy. Several features of the pub look similar but the building has been much altered and the gardens are very different. Still what do you expect after 40 years!

The moorings opposite, for members of the Black Boy Cruising Club look very much improved. Unfortunately we couldn't gain access to off-side so we couldn't re-create Ken's camera angles; however it was interesting to re-discover his old haunts.

Narrowboat Lion - Story of a 1960's working boat conversion

We recently came across some photos and a notebook that belonged to Maggie's uncle, Ken Tremain. He was an early canal enthusiast who converted part of a working boat and lived on it for over 20 years near Knowle on the Grand Union.

Ken purchased the stern section of the former Birmingham Canal Navigation boat Lion from HW Ollis for £100 in 1963. The boat is thought to have been originally been built by Harris Brothers of Bumblehole, Netherton and is typical of the riveted boats they produced for use on the BCN.


Lion as purchased

Because the original boat was an unpowered butty the stern section of the "barge", as it was described on the bill of sale, was easily converted to the bow of the boat. A transom was welded onto it and stern gear fitted. The boat was 32ft in length and powered by a Wolsey 10 engine converted to run on paraffin. Ken built the cabin and fitted it out from 1963 until 1967.


Bill of sale for Lion

During the fit-out the boat was kept near the Black Boy pub near Knowle. Ken kept meticulous financial and technical records in a small notebook. Design outlines, sketch drawings, lists of components and details of all expenditure were recorded in the notebook. In all he spent £489 3s 6d during the build. This included £100 for the hull, engine and stern gear. Even details such as the screws and varnish used were recorded.


Ken Tremain during Lion's fit-out


Accounts for Lion
The notebook has suffered from water damage.


Lion moored at the Black Boy

Ken lived on Lion until his death in 1987. Lion was then sold by the family. Most of the time he lived afloat Ken moored on the Grand Union near the Black Boy. He had a ginger cat appropriately called Leo. Working boats occasionally passed to and from Birmingham.


Lion with sleeping cat, tunnel light, fuel can, and club flag
The original BCN decoration can be seen on the bow (formerly the stern).



BW working boat Banstead on its way to Birmingham passing the Black Boy and Lion
A butty is obviously in tow. It may have come from the Oxford area.



An empty working pair from Birmingham passing Lion and breaking ice

During our recent trips along the Midlands Canals we looked out for Lion. In August 2004, whilst travelling along the North Stratford canal near Kings Norton, Steve noticed the characteristic bows of a BCN riveted boat and spotted the name Lion on a boat moored up on the off-side. Because the owner was on board, Steve stopped Albert and asked the owner, who by then was wondering why a boat had come alongside, if he knew the history of his boat. "Yes it is part of an ex-BCN boat converted by Ken Tremain" came the answer. It appears that after a short period with some other owners, Lion had been purchased by Ken Bromidge who used her since as a live aboard.


Lion on the North Stratford Canal 2004
The windows are now portholes and the rear deck has been changed.

During our mid-canal chat Ken B told us that he been recently refitting Lion's cabin and had discovered a letter addressed to Ken T behind some pine panels. It had been sent to Ken T shortly before he died and been mislaid. We were able to give the letter to Mollie, Ken Tremain's sister (Maggie's mother). Sometime later we were also able to take Mollie over to visit Lion. It brought back memories of her brother.


NB Albert meets NB Lion

For more details and photographs of Lion please enter our web album where you will find a collection of scanned images of Ken Tremain's notebook and pictures taken by Ken Tremain of Lion during the 1960s.

If you have any information regarding Lion we would be pleased to receive it. Our email is below.

mailto:nbalbert@btinternet.com

Easter 2007 on the Aylesbury Arm

Took a trip down the Grand Union to Marsworth and then to Aylesbury. Weather was glorious throughout and the welcome at the Aylesbury Cruising Club was as warm as ever. Took Patches, our 14 year-old male cat, with us for the first time. It all went very well since he isn't very active and therefore is easy to control. He enjoyed sleeping on our bed and waking us up in the mornings.

We left Yardley Gobion on Tuesday April 3rd and moored up on Wednesday night at Campbell Park, Central Milton Keynes. Found that one of the domestic batteries had failed, and the calorifier was leaking! Couldn't do much about the latter but with the help of our neighbour Anthony Cross we replaced the battery via the chandlers at Whilton. The calorifier leak meant Steve had to bale out the "dry" bilge every day. Useful things towels as Ford Prefect pointed out to Arthur Dent in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

After replacing the battery on Wednesday morning and checking it was charging correctly we made it to one of our favourite moorings at Old Linslade that evening.

Old Linslade

On Thursday we travelled south with NB Keeping Up With The Jones. We've recently enjoyed veiwing their web site. We stopped at Leighton Buzzard (Tesco) for supplies but they travelled on. At Grove lock we picked up with NB Tyro who used to moor at Fenny Stratford and had just begun their "continuous cruising". That evening we moored up at Marsworth and enjoyed good food at the White Lion. On the Friday we made our way down the arm to Aylesbury. Joined by two Wyvern Shipping hire boats en route. Both crews were from one family. We mooored up on near the Inland Revenue in Aylesbury and found the Jones boat also moored up.

Narrow locks on the Aylesbury Arm

Aylesbury basin

On the return we followed the Wyvern pair for some time but they stopped for lunch and we didn't.

Reedy section of the Aylesbury Arm

Mooored up again at Marsworth on Sunday. Saw two steam traction engines outside the Red Lion.

Steam at the Red Lion, Marsworth

We were tempted to stay at the Red Lion (good real ale) but they were not doing evening meals so we walked up the main line to the the Grand Junction at Bulborne for a good Sunday roast. Very popular on a warm Easter Sunday evening. Spectacular transit of a hot air balloon.

Hot air balloon at Bulborne

On Monday 9th we travelled north in company with Still Tai who had also visited Aylesbury. Still Tai is a two year-old Lees 60ft sailaway that is still being fitted out by the owners. When they visited Aylesbury some of the family stayed in the Holiday Inn. They normally mooor at Leighton Buzzard not far from the Tesco store. The boat name means "STILL Thinking About It"! Glad I asked.

On Tuesday we moored up just outside Great Linford near to the lakes at Stantonbury. Took a walk down to the Great Ouse and the ruined church. Idyllic in the warm evening sun.

Great Linford

We got back to Yardley on Wednesday 11th after a leisurely journey back and lunch at Cosgrove. Patches was pleased to get home and investigate the garden. Now Steve will have to fix the calorifier!

Breaking Ice

Went for a Sunday trip to the Navigation at Cosgrove with Anne & Edward Winter. Since it was -5 deg. C last night there was lots of thin ice around. Since it was warm and sunny it broke up easily but with lots of noise. Good Sunday lunch at the pub and met the new(ish) landlord. Chatted with Chris Allin about the Friday Night Music Sessions. The ice was was gone when we returned to Yardley Gobion at 3.00 PM. Winter boating can be fun.


Passing NB Shannen


The coal fire kept the cabin warm.

Baxter's Dry Dock

Took Albert into the dry dock at Yardley Gobion to have the hull blacked and the gunwhales repainted. We take the boat into dry dock every 2 years. The view above is of the partially drained dock before Jon and Ian started work.



We also took the opportunity to measure Albert's draft and inspect the rudder and stern gear. As usual a number of fresh water muscles were growing in the "quiet areas" on the hull.



The bow flare decoration was repainted by signwriter Colin Dundas. We think the compass and diamond features look better outlined in black.