Craft Fleet No Built at Hull Cost Owner Launch Date

PRINCE 20 Saltley Dock Iron Composite £600 FMC 10+.1898 Steamer Registrations Place PH Number Captain Date Inspected Date Registered Birmingham 1011 J Dickinson 8.8.1898 5.10.1898 Steamer Gaugings Place Gauging Number Notes Date Port of London 9987 71.6 x 6.9 x 3.6 12t 16cwt 19.8.1898 GJC 11672 24.1.1911 GJC 11672 Add 8 cwts 19.6.1913 Hull Compositi on Maintenance Date Sides of boiler hold – plain iron plates New cabin sides (galvanised) 9.1904 Boiler Type Tubes PSI Cost Fletcher 2¼’’ 100 lbs Maintenance Date Pressure altered to 110 lbs Retubed 9.1902 Engine FMC Haines Maintenance Date

Propeller Shaft 9’ 3’’ ( 8’ 3’’ – 10’’ – 2’’ ) Maintenance Date Shaft out, key fitted and turned 12.1903 New shaft 9.1904 Steamer History Date Taylor/TWM “captain using indecent and abusive language” 4.1905 Warren/TWM “went in (tunnel) and tug had to back out with wide boat” Capt Fred Edwards 23.12.1911 Millner letter “leaving a paddle up about a foot and wasting 6 lockfuls of water at No 11 on Monday 30.12.1913 night last TWM/FMC & reply “damaged lock 20 at Stoke, Captain Edwards” 29.1.1915 TWM/FMC re damage to Lock gate 20 (appears to be separate incident) 11.2.1915 Betts/TWM & FMC TWM “Entered Braunston (Tunnel) without light” Capt Fred Edwards 15.1.1917 TWM/FMC “ passed too fast” Capt Edwards 22.12.1922 Conversion to motor At Cost Engine Cost Date Uxbridge £339 15 hp Bolinder Model NE (Pollock 1123) £190 18.3.1926 Motor Registrations Place PH No Captain Date Inspected Date Registered Birmingham 1534 Edward Westwood 27.1.1931 20.2.1931 Motor Gaugings Place Gauging Number Notes Date GJC 12145 19.10.1926 Maintenance New foreshoe 12.1927 Docked at Saltley 10.1936 Docked at Saltley 11.1939 Motor History Date

Fate Sold to Oxford Co-operative Society Date 11.1941 Post-FMC History

Date Action Owner Name Source 11.1941 Sold to Oxford Coop. Used for carrying ex Coventry coalfield Oxford Co-op PRINCE

undated Change of owner to Oxford Co-operative on GS GJ 12145 Oxford Co-op PRINCE GS

12.6.1943 Regauged for Oxford Coop Deduct 3 cwt Oxford Co-op PRINCE GS Boatman was Joe Harwood with butty SEARCHLIGHT Oxford Co-op PRINCE Phil Garrett 2.6.01 (Picture in Rolt Inland Waterways Plate XLIII)

1945 Inspected at Banbury Oxford Co-op PRINCE Banbury CIJ via A D 1946 Inspected at Banbury with SEARCHLIGHT (J Harwood) Oxford Co-op PRINCE Banbury CIJ via A D

8.1.1946 Oxford & District Coop Society, 65 George St, Oxford. Sold Oxford Co-op PRINCE HRD note via PH 4 years ago to O.Coop Reg Cert not amended

4.1948 To Tom Whitley. Still fitted with single cylinder Bolinder. T Whitley PRINCE Doris Whitley 13.5.01 Taken from Oxford to Hammersmith and moored by the Whitley's sailing barge. Converted to hotel boat.

4.1951 Run with Mafeking as early pair of hotel boats. Waterborne T Whitley PRINCE Doris Whitley 13.5.01 Tours. 6.12.1953 Inaugural meeting of APCO held on board T Whitley PRINCE WW 2.1984 c1954 Fitted with new Bolinder 1052 BR 2 cylinder. Possibly first T Whitley PRINCE Doris Whitley 13.5.01 of its kind in UK

1962 Retired from hotel boating, cruised for 2 years then settled at T Whitley PRINCE Doris Whitley 13.5.01 Old Stables, Audlem 1977 To Raymond Kearnes at Middlewich. Collected from T Whitley PRINCE Ray Kearnes 15.5.01 Audlem. Deconverted and asbestos cabin removed 24.6.1978 at Middlewich T Whitley PRINCE AB 13.4.1979 at Middlewich with Bolinder 1052 BR (plate missing) type T Whitley PRINCE AB 777696 No 1008 Gearbox 1.5:1 1979/80 To Malcolm Webster. Put on bank at Malkins Bank. M Webster PRINCE Restored and relaunched 7.2001 Photographed by RT at Malkins Bank M Webster PRINCE RT

Sightings

Ref Date Source Captain Crew Butty Notes

PRINCE June 1898 Launched Saltley WH 9987 19.8.1898 Gauged 8.8.1898 Inspected Bm 1011 5.10.1898 Reg J Dickinson Registered 9.1902 Maintenance docking 12.1903 Maintenance docking 9.1904 Maintenance docking 11.4.1905 Millner L Using indecent and abusive language Bm 1011 23.8.1905 Dav CIJ Edwards 2-- Bm 1011 24.11.1905 Dav CIJ Edwards 2-- Bm 1011 10.1.1906 Dav CIJ F Wright 2-- Bm 1011 13.1.1906 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 4-- Bm 1011 27.1.1906 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 4-- Bm 1011 5.2.1906 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 4-- Bm 1011 28.2.1906 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 4-- Bm 1011 28.3.1906 Dav CIJ F Edwards 4-- Bm 1011 9.4.1906 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 4-- Bm 1011 3.5.1906 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 4-- Bm 1011 15.6.1906 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 3-- Bm 1011 9.7.1906 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 3-- Bm 1011 22.3.1907 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 3-- Bm 1011 20.8.1907 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 3-- Bm 1011 13.9.1907 Dav CIJ J Crockett 3-- Bm 1011 ?.12.1907 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 4-- Bm 1011 31.12.1907 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 3-- Bm 1011 20.1.1908 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 4-- Bm 1011 23.4.1908 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 3-- Bm 1011 19.7.1908 Dav CIJ T Wenlock 4-- GJ 11672 24.1.1911 Gauged 22.12.1911 Millner L F Edwards tunnel transgression GJC 19.6.1913 Regauged +8 cwt Bm 1011 16.7.1913 Dav CIJ F Edwards 3-- "requires painting, leaky roof" 29.12.1913 Millner L leaving paddle drawn Bm 1011 24.9.1914 Dav CIJ F Edwards 3-- 11672 23.10.1914 Brent Toll 14ton 5cwt 11672 29.10.1914 Brent Toll Edwards 13t 19c 11672 4.12.1914 Brent Toll Edwards 13t 8c 11672 12.12.1914 Brent Toll Edwards 15t 3c 11672 1.1.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 15t 6c 11672 16.1.1915 Brent Toll 11t 12c 11672 25.1.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 16t 29.1.1915 Millner L Edwards rams gate Lock 20 11672 3.2.1915 Brent Toll 15t 16c 11672 8.2.1915 Brent Toll 15t 1c 11672 24.2.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 9c 11672 16.3.1915 Brent Toll 14t 11c 11672 24.3.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 2c 11672 1.4.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 11c 11672 14.5.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 9c 11672 15.4.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 18c 11672 55.4.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 15t 14c 11672 27.4.1915 Brent Toll 15t 11672 4.5.1915 Brent Toll 15t 19c 11672 10.5.1915 Brent Toll 11672 15.5.1915 Brent Toll Edwards Venice 12t 11c with 26t 10c on butty 11672 5.6.1915 Brent Toll 15t 3c 11672 12.6.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 13t 16c Bm 1011 15.6.1915 Dav CIJ F Edwards 3-- 11672 19.6.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 2c 11672 21.6.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 6c 11672 30.6.1915 Brent Toll 14t 11c 11672 8.7.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 15t 13c Bm 1011 13.7.1915 Bkd CIJ 32- Columbia 11672 15.7.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 15t 3c 11672 23.7.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 15t 15c 11672 27.8.1915 Brent Toll 15t 10c 11672 2.9.1915 Brent Toll Edwards 13t 4c 11672 31.12.1916 Brent Toll Edwards 16t 8c 11672 8.1.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 11672 11.1.1917 Millner L F Edwards through tunnel without light 11672 23.1.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 7c 11672 13.3.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 16t 5c 11672 21.3.1917 Brent Toll 16t 16c 11672 28.3.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 2c 11672 18.4.1917 Brent Toll 11672 9.5.1917 Brent Toll 14t 16c 11672 26.5.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 19c 11672 6.6.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 17c 11672 21.6.1917 Brent Toll 12t 16c 11672 28.6.1917 Brent Toll 11t 13c 11672 5.7.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 12t 5c 11672 8.7.1917 Brent Toll 12t 9c 11672 1.8.1917 Brent Toll 12t 10c 11672 9.8.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 15t 7c 11672 19.9.1917 Brent Toll 15t 11672 26.9.1917 Brent Toll 13t 15c 11672 3.10.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 15t 4c 11672 24.11.1917 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 15c 11672 2.1.1918 Brent Toll 14t 5c 11672 14.1.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 16t 7c 11672 15.2.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 13t 11672 23.2.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 13t 10c 11672 1.3.1918 Brent Toll 14t 17c 11672 15.3.1918 Brent Toll 16t 2c 11672 22.3.1918 Brent Toll 13t 9c 11672 28.3.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 3c No coke 11672 6.4.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 13t 13c 11672 12.4.1918 Brent Toll 16t 19c 11672 20.4.1918 Brent Toll 14t 10c 11672 27.4.1918 Brent Toll 15t 11672 11.5.1918 Brent Toll 13t 13c 11672 29.6.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 13t 17c 11672 6.7.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 17c 11672 13.7.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 14t No coke 11672 20.7.1918 Brent Toll 10t 12c 11672 30.7.1918 Brent Toll 14t 9c 11672 15.8.1918 Brent Toll Brass Rods 11672 28.8.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 8c 11672 10.9.1918 Brent Toll Edwards 14t 16c 11672 9.10.1918 Brent Toll 15t 2c 11672 9.11.1918 Brent Toll 15t 13c 11672 16.11.1918 Brent Toll 14t 2c Bm 1011 4.5.1919 Dav CIJ F Edwards 2-- Bm 1011 21.3.1921 Dav CIJ F Edwards 3-- Bm 1011 3.2.1922 Dav CIJ F Edwards 3-- Bm 1011 2.3..1922 Dav CIJ F Edwards 3-- 11672 14.9.1922 Brent Toll 13t 12c Bm 1011 20.11.1922 Dav CIJ F Edwards 3-- "requires painting" 22.12.1922 Millner L F Edwards nearly swamped another pair 11672 3.7.1923 Brent Toll 12t 17c 18.3.1926 Converted GJ 12145 19.10.1926 Gauged 19.10.1926 Hill A Nightingale Sugar to Cov C 4.4.1927 Hill bks Nightingale Leighton Motors, Sugar Bm 1011 18.6.1927 Nott CIJ J Woodfield 3-- - Bm 1011 17.9.1927 Nott CIJ J Nightingale 31- Leighton 12145 29.6.1927 Brent Toll Leighton 12145 12.7.1927 Brent Toll Leighton 12145 28.7.1927 Brent Toll Leighton 12145 11.8.1927 Brent Toll Leighton 12145 9.9.1927 Brent Toll Leighton 12145 3.10.1927 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 27.10.1927 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 12.11.1927 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12.1927 Maintenance docking 12145 20.1.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley Bm 1011 30.1.1928 Nott CIJ J Woodfield 2-- - 12145 27.2.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 14.3.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 26.3.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 20.4.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 26.4.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 8.5.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 16.5.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 19.5.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 23.5.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 5.6.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 19.6.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 2.7.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 18.7.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 31.7.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 16.8.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 31.8.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 13.9.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 26.9.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 11.10.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 1.11.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 14.11.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley 12145 28.11.1928 Brent Toll Yiewsley Bm 1011 13.3.1929 Nott CIJ J Nightingale 22- Yiewsley Bm 1011 14.5.1929 Bre CIJ J Nightingale 4--- Dart Bm 1011 31.10.1929 Nott CIJ J Nightingale 2-- - 27.1.1931 Inspected Bm 1534 20.2.1931 Reg Edward Registered Westwood Bm 1534. 29.6.1934 Bm CIJ W Wood 2-- - Bm 1534. 26.7.1934 Bm CIJ W Wood 511 Drayton Bm 1534. 22.10.1934 Bm CIJ W Wood 231 Drayton Bm 1534. 18.1.1935 Bm CIJ W Wood 231 Longton Bm 1534. 4.2.1935 Bm CIJ W Wood 231 Longton Permit 2140 28.2.1935 GUCCC Longton 50½t coal Bm 1534. 10.4.1935 Bm CIJ W Wood 411 Longton Bm 1534. 13.9.1935 Bm CIJ W Wood 41- Longton Bm 1534. 21.12. 1935 Bm CIJ W Wood 2-- - 10.1936 Docked Saltley Bm 1534. 16.1.1937 Bm CIJ J Green 125 Dawley 4.3.1937 Hill bks Green Drayton Coal Newdigate to Uxbridge Bm 1534 7.6.1937 Bm CIJ Bm 104 Lttg Finsbury 26 Lttg Bm 1534. 22.6.1937 Wv CIJ H Westwood 122 Penkridge Bm 1534. 27.6.1941 Bm CIJ T Kendal 222 Aire Bm 1534. 19.7.1937 Wv CIJ J Green 124 Dawley Bm 1534. 11.9.1937 Bm CIJ J Green 135 Dawley Bm 1534 23.9.1937 Lei CIJ Joseph Green 135 Dawley Bm 1534 25.2.1938 Nott CIJ J Green 116 Darley (sic) b3 b2½ g8 g6 g? g7m 23.3.1938 Regauged +6cwt 11.1939 Docked Saltley Bm 1534. 31.7.1941 Bm CIJ T Kendal 232 Aire Bm 1534. 4.11.1941 Bm CIJ T Brooks 121 Italy 11.1941 Sold to Ozford Coop 12145 10.11.1941 Ban TR 1691 J Harwood Searchlight 47 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 29.12.1941 Ban TR 1800 J Harwood Searchlight 47 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 14.1.1942 Ban TR1886 J Harwood Searchlight 48 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 20.3.1942 Ban TR 4 J Harwood Searchlight 47.15 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 3.4.1942 Ban TR 104 J Harwood Searchlight 47.5 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 16.4.1942 Ban TR 175 J Harwood Searchlight 43.15 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 23.5.1942 Ban TR 458 J Harwood Searchlight 47.15 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 6.6.1942 Ban TR 545 J Harwood Searchlight 46.10 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 18.6.1942 Ban TR 633 J Harwood Searchlight 46.10 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 1.7.1942 Ban TR 721 J Harwood Searchlight 47.5 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 14.7.1942 Ban TR 816 J Harwood Searchlight 45.10 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 27.7.1942 Ban TR 912 J Harwood Searchlight 47 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 10.8.1942 Ban TR 977 J Harwood Searchlight 43.15 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 22.8.1942 Ban TR 1057 J Harwood Searchlight 44.15 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 5.9.1942 Ban TR 1154 J Harwood Searchlight 46 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 19.9.1942 Ban TR 1263 J Harwood Searchlight 47.5 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 2.10.1942 Ban TR 1369 J Harwood Searchlight 42.15 coal Moira to Oxford 12145 15.10.1942 Ban TR 1448 J Harwood Searchlight 49 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 30.10.1942 Ban TR 1551 J Harwood Searchlight 48.10 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 13.11.1942 Ban TR 1651 J Harwood Searchlight 49.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 26.11.1942 Ban TR 1735 J Harwood Searchlight 50.10 coal Baddesley to Oxford 12145 11.12.1942 Ban TR 1821 J Harwood Searchlight 50.10 coal Baddesley to Oxford 12145 24.12.1942 Ban TR 1905 J Harwood Searchlight 49 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 9.1.1943 Ban TR 1965 J Harwood Searchlight 50.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 23.1.1943 Ban TR 2046 J Harwood Searchlight 49 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 1.2.1943 Ban TR 2125 J Harwood Searchlight 49.15 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 18.2.1943 Ban TR 2213 J Harwood Searchlight 50.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 2.3.1943 Ban TR 2297 J Harwood Searchlight 49.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 12.3.1943 Ban TR 2371 J Harwood Searchlight 49.15 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 24.3.1943 Ban TR 2447 J Harwood Searchlight 49.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 5.4.1943 Ban TR 2523 J Harwood Searchlight 49.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 16.4.1943 Ban TR 2589 J Harwood Searchlight 49 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 1.5.1943 Ban TR 2686 J Harwood Searchlight 49 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 14.5.1943 Ban TR 2771 J Harwood Searchlight 48.15 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 27.5.1943 Ban TR 2850 J Harwood Searchlight 48.15 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 7.6.1943 Ban TR 2922 J Harwood Searchlight 49 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 19.6.1943 Ban TR 2989 J Harwood Searchlight 48.10 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 30.6.1943 Ban TR 3055 J Harwood Searchlight 48.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 12.7.1943 Ban TR 3131 J Harwood Searchlight 48 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 22.7.1943 Ban TR 3202 J Harwood Searchlight 48.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 9.8.1943 Ban TR 3281 J Harwood Searchlight 46.10 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 19.8.1943 Ban TR 3351 J Harwood Searchlight 46.10 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 13.9.1943 Ban TR 3516 J Harwood Searchlight 47 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 23.9.1943 Ban TR 3593 J Harwood Searchlight 47.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 5.10.1943 Ban TR 3682 J Harwood Searchlight 47.15 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 14.10.1943 Ban TR 3759 J Harwood Searchlight 46.10 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 28.10.1943 Ban TR 3839 J Harwood Searchlight 48 coal Baddesley to Oxford 12145 9.11.1943 Ban TR 3965 J Harwood Searchlight 48.10 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 20.11.1943 Ban TR 4054 J Harwood Searchlight 41 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 13.1.1944 Ban TR 4353 J Harwood Searchlight 42 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 22.1.1944 Ban TR 4441 J Harwood Searchlight 45.10 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 7.2.1944 Ban TR 4545 J Harwood Searchlight 47 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 16.2.1944 Ban TR 4630 J Harwood Searchlight 47 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 2.3.1944 Ban TR 4727 J Harwood Searchlight 46.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 14.3.1944 Ban TR 4827 J Harwood Searchlight 45.10 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 27.3.1944 Ban TR 4934 J Harwood Searchlight 45.5 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 7.4.1944 Ban TR 5029 J Harwood Searchlight 44.15 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 20.4.1944 Ban TR 5099 J Harwood Searchlight 46.15 coal Griff to Oxford 12145 1.5.1944 Ban TR 5180 J Harwood Searchlight 46.5 coal Griff to Oxford 5.1945 Ox.C TR 47.15 coal Griff to Oxford 2.2.1943 Ox.C TR Harwood 49.15t coal Griff to Oxford 15.2.1943 Ox.C TR Harwood 50.5t coal Griff to Oxford 27.2.1943 Ox.C TR Harwood 49.5t coal Griff to Oxford 3.1943 Ox.C TR 2 trips 49.15 & 49.5 t coal Griff to Oxford 5.1943 Ox.C TR 3 trips 125.5t coal Griff to Oxford 12.6.1943 Regauged Ded 3 cwt 3.1945 Ox.C TR 2 trips 96t coal Griff to Oxford 12145 17.4.1945 Anon CIJ 1- - Oxford & Dist Coop 12145 1945 Ban CIJ Bm 1534 1946 Ban CIJ (J Harwood) - (Searchlight) 1534 17.10.1946 Anon CIJ 1- - Oxford & Dist Coop 1534 18.5.1947 Anon CIJ 1- - Oxford & Dist Coop

Documents on file

Port of London Gauging 9987 pc 19.8.1898 Letter Taylor/Millner re abusing and threatening language pc 4.1905 GJ Gauging 11672 pc 24.1.1911 Letter Warren/Millner re tunnel transgression pc 23.12.1911 Letter FMC/Millner re tunnel transgression pc 29.12.1911 Letter Bliss/Millner re lock damage pc 11.2.1915 Letter Betts/Millner re lack of headlamp pc 15.1.1917 Letter FMC/Millner re above pc 22.1.1917 Letter Millner/FMC re speeding pc 22.12.1922 GJ Gauging 12145 (Oxford Coop) pc 19.10.1926 Extracts from Oxford Coop Minutes orig 1941/46 Waterborne Tours brochure orig 1961 WW Obituary Ike Merchant pc 11.1977 WW The Canal Pioneers pc 11.1978 WW Report re Tom Whitley pc 2.1984 Correspondence from Doris Whitley History of Prince – Doris whitley Millner Letters

21.4.1905 I wish to report the driver of Messrs Fellows & Co steam boat PRINCE for using abusive & threating language on the 11th inst also for using indecent and abusive language on the 20th inst. The Tug came in the tunnel at 4 pm on the 11th and the above named steamboat was the other side Welton Bridge and when they got out of the tunnel at the Braunston end the driver began to use the abusive language and said the tug came in before 4pm. It can be proved by the boatmen on the boats that were towed by the tug that we came in at the right time. W Taylor/Millner

20.11.1908 I beg to thank you for your letter of the 10th inst enclosing your Mr Smith’s report respecting the above accident. I am afraid I cannot add anything further to my former remarks on the affair and these accidents will occur as long as the men cannot be made to use more care. I certainly told Wenlock I was pleased the damage was on your side for once as it is just a trifle one-sided for our tug always to be the victim. Since the above accident we have had the tiller of the Braunston tug bent double while moored at the S end of the tunnel simply because the men on your steamer PRINCE did not ease down soon enough. Millner/FMC

23.12.1911 Burtin reports to me that yesterday afternoon when they left the south end of the tunnel at the 1 oclock turn there was a wide boat waiting to come in the tunnel at the 2 oclock turn the flag man was at the south end at 1 oclock to stop the steamers when the tug whent in at 1 oclock a steamer one of Fellows Morton named the PRINCE Captain name Fred Edwards whent in tunnel and meeting the tug with the wide boat coming from the north end and the tug had to push back out of the end again to let the steamer pass I do not no what he told the flag man when he came up there as the tug must have gone in the tunnel some time before he came up there. F Warren/Millner

29.12.1911 We have your favour of yesterday and are much concerned to learn of the irregularity in working through Blisworth Tunnel by our steerer F Edwards, steamer PRINCE. We will take the matter up with him at Braunston, and also give him instructions to call and see you. We cannot help but think that there has been some misunderstanding. As a rule Edwards is a very tractable and willing steerer and we should not have thought him guilty of such carelessness. Ironmonger FMC/Millner

30.12.1913 I beg to report the PRINCE for leaving a paddle up about a foot and wasting 6 lockfuls of water at No 11 lock on Monday night last. John Winkless/Millner

1.2.1915 At 6.45 am on 29th January steamer PRINCE Captain Edwards ran into the inside bottom lock gate and broke the balance beam near the breast.. The accident occurred owing to the steamer not answering quickly enough when the engine was reversed and as no strap was used the gates had to stand the blow. The balance was a pitch pine one and new in 1906. We can repair to last a few months longer.

11.2.1915 I have communicated with Messrs Fellows Morton & Co as to the damage caused to lockgate at Lock No 20 Stoke Bruerne, by steerer Edwards on the 29th ulto in accordance with your report to the engineer. Mr Thomas estimated the cost of repairing damage at £5 : 10 : 0 and I so informed Messrs Fellows. You will see by the enclosed copy statement made by the Steerer that there appears to be a difference of opinion as to the extent of the damage and I shall be glad to hear from you further before taking the matter up again with Messrs Fellows. Bliss/Millner Enclosure: 10.2.1915 Referring to yours of 4th inst re damage alleged to have been done by our steamer PRINCE captain Edwards at the bottom lock gate, Stoke Bruerne. Further to ours of 5th inst, we have now had this man seen, and attached you will find his statement regarding the occurrence which please peruse. “Damage to Lock gate No 20 Grand Union Canal by steamer PRINCE. Steerer Edwards, steamer PRINCE reports that coming into this lock in the usual way the propeller of the steamer fouled some wire netting and prevented the engine from reversing as quickly as it would have done. Consequently he struck the bottom gate slightly, just splitting about 4 to 5 inches of wood work near the end of the gate. The damage was so slight that the lock keeper wanted to know where the gate was hit. The Grand Junction Canal Co have since repaired the damage by putting an iron bolt through the place.

5.2.1915 …damage to Lock Gate 20 at Stoke by steerer Edwards on 11th inst. (PRINCE) The balance had a clean break for a length of two feet from the breast and the tenon on the end of the balance was also broken. I have temporarily repaired the same by drawing the broken ends up with two bolts, and it will last until it gets another blow, all the strength now being in the bumper. The carpenter was I½ days stripping the balance and fixing it up again. I inspected the damage before sending in my report. Millner/Thomas 15.1.1917 On Thursday January 11th 7am Turn, the steamer PRINCE F Edwards captain came through tunnel without headlamp, or any other light. They were told about it before they went in but they kept going. It was Fellows Morton & Clayton engine. P Betts/Millner

22.1.1917 Replying to yours of 15th inst re the captain of the steamer PRINCE coming through Braunston Tunnel without a light, I have taken this up very severely with this man and his excuse is that he broke his lamp glass before he got to Buckby and that although he tried at two places to get one he was unable to do so. He states however that his drver sat on the cabin top with a smaller lamp, and the driver confirms this. I have told him that in future when he comes through this tunnel he must have a proper light on. Anderson/Millner

22.12.1922 Boatman Sam Coales, working a pair of boats for the Moira Colliery, called here this morning and reported your steamer PRINCE (F Edward) for passing him in the Blisworth Pound at such a rate that he shipped a lot of water and was nearly swamped. He states this is by no means the first time such has occurred and I think it would be advisable to caution your ,men on the steamers. Millner/FMC

Photographs RT collection/D Whitley print As Hotel Boat (x2) RT collection/D Whitley print Prior to rebuild as hotel boat (x4) TW King collection print with butty NENE above L10 Buckby WW Nov 1978 press with Mafeking Illustration RT collection/D Whitley print As Hotel Boat

Current Owner:

Malcolm Webster