Journey into the 30s

A marvellous series of articles, with photographs taken in 1935 by Cyril Arapoff, began in the first issue of Waterways World, in Spring 1972. The scenes recorded were thus from only 37 years previously - now, of course, they are of 75 years ago and outside most people's memories.


The location is Brentford; the subject is wide boat Golden Spray.

"These boats were built and styled along the lines of a narrow boat, but with a more generous beam for the wide locks of the Grand Union.  Golden Spray is pictured at Brentford after loading 40 tons of grain in 2 cwt sacks from a lighter.  The sacks were swung by crane from the lighter's hold on to its hatch covers and then by men with sack-hooks on to the gunnel.  They were then dropped onto the shoulders of the skipper of the Golden Spray, lying alongside, who carried and positioned them in the hold of his boat - a typical example of the back-breaking loading methods of canal boats."

Two more photographs accompanied the article: in the first the elder girl is "clothing up" after loading.


According to the text the two narrow boats in the background (below) "are Fellows, Morton and Clayton boats: Composite boat Foxton, built 27th July 1900 and registered BIRMINGHAM 1058, and wooden boat Evenlode, built at F.M.C.'s Uxbridge yard in 1922 and registered UXBRIDGE 523."