Towlines – Events 2009

Archive of events that took place during 2009

Thursday January 22nd 2009

IWA Chiltern Branch at Amersham, 7.30 pm
“Horseboating into the 21st century”, a powerpoint talk by Sue Day.
Enquiries-Colin Bird 01932-248178

Sunday February 15th 2009

Northern Counties Heavy Horse Working Society, Training Day
Mick Gorry’s farm, Downyfield Farm, Middleton, Morecambe, Lancashire, LA3 3JU
Tel. 01524-858356

Saturday February 28th and Sunday March 1st 2009

Midlands Heavy Horse Association, horse logging, at Kinver
Saturday, members’ practice day. Sunday, open to public, small logging competition

Sunday March 8th 2009

HBS AGM & EVENT DAY, National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

am: Bonny and foal in attendance. Boathorse harnessing demo, ropework training

12.00 noon: Talk by Mike Baldey – his horsedrawn hotel barges in 1970s on Grand Union
Lunch in museum café or bring your own.
1.30 pm: HBS Award Ceremony
2.00 – 4.00 pm: Horseboating Society Annual General Meeting,

Sat 14th – Sun 15th March 2009

Shire Horse Society Spring Show at the Eastern Counties Showground, Peterborough, PE2 6XE.
Most of the show will be in the new indoor arena. To include the first ever display of “The Boathorses and Bargehorses of Britain”.
About 4 horses in traditional decorated boathorse harness will be in the arena with a commentary about horseboating today.
Display times, approx 7.00 pm Saturday, 3.45 Sunday.
Enquiries – Sue Day 01457-834863

Saturday April 4th to Wednesday April 8th 2009, 5 nights

Horsedrawn hotelboat, Ellesmere to Trevor on the Llangollen Canal

Book a holiday through locks, tunnels, and aqueducts with accommodation on board.

Bywater Hotelboat Cruises, www.bywaterholidays.co.uk Tel. 07775-850098
Email: info@bywaterhotelboats.co.uk

Monday April 6th 2009

IWA Manchester Branch, at Dukes 92 pub, Castle St, Castlefield, Manchester. Enquiries – Sue Day 01457-834863
– a speaker from the Duchess Countess Packet-Boat Trust.

The talk will be about the aspiration to build a replica of the Duchess Countess which was originally built in the early 1800s as a horsedrawn packet boat which operated on the Bridgewater Canal. The hope is that the replica will be horsedrawn as often as possible, on the national canal system.

Thursday April 9th 2009

Saturn horseboating (4 miles, 0 locks) from Chester to the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port for the Easter Boaters’ Gathering 2009.

Saturday April 11th

at the National Waterways Museum (Boat Museum), Ellesmere Port

Shropshire Union Fly Boat Restoration Society AGM, 11.00 am in the Tom Rolt Centre

Monday April 20th

(1 day and 1 or 2 nights)
Horsedrawn hotelboat, on the Cheshire flight of locks (known as Heartbreak Hill)
Book a day with meals and accommodation on board
Cost £25/day, and £25/night for accommodation on Sunday and/or Monday nights
Bywater Hotelboat Cruises www.bywaterholidays.co.uk Tel. 07775-850098
Email: info@bywaterhotelboats.co.uk

Thursday April 23rd – Monday May 4th

Horseboating Maria, built 1854, from Guidebridge on the Ashton Canal then along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal to Huddersfield, and return.

A journey of 45 miles, 148 lock passages, legging small tunnels and Britain’s longest canal tunnel, Standedge Tunnel (3.24 miles).

Legging Standedge Tunnel on two event days –
•   Saturday April 25th, Diggle to Tunnel End, Marsden. In tunnel, approx. 1.00 – 4.00 pm
•   Sunday May 3rd, Tunnel End, Marsden to Diggle. In tunnel, approx. 1.00 – 4.00 pm
(These event days are linking in with Cuckoo Day on April 25th, and a Teddy Bears Picnic on May 3rd.)

Horseboating dates:
•   Thursday April 22nd: Guide Bridge to Lock 8w, Heyrod, Huddersfield Narrow Canal
•   Friday April 23rd: Lock 8w Heyrod to Lock 21w Uppermill, Saddleworth Museum
•   Saturday April 24th: Saddleworth Museum, Uppermill to Diggle then legging through Standedge Tunnel to Tunnel End, Marsden, 3.24 miles, 1.00 – 4.00 pm.
Also: a guided walk for the public with the boathorse over the tunnel top, 1.00 – 3.00 pm.
•   Sunday April 25th: Horseboat Maria moored on public display at Tunnel End, Marsden
•   Monday April 27th: Tunnel End, Marsden to Slaithwaite
•   Tuesday April 28th: Slaithwaite to Huddersfield
•   Wednesday April 29th: Horseboat Maria moored at Huddersfield
•   Thursday April 30th: Huddersfield to Slaithwaite
•   Friday May 1st: Slaithwaite to Tunnel End, Marsden
•   Saturday May 2nd: Horseboat Maria moored on public display at Tunnel End, Marsden
•   Sunday May 3rd: legging through Standedge Tunnel, 3.24 miles, 1.00 – 4.00 pm.
Also: a guided walk for the public with the boathorse over the tunnel top, 2.00 – 4.00 pm.
•   Horseboating down Diggle Flight to Uppermill.
•   Monday May 4th: Uppermill to Guidebridge on the Ashton Canal

STOP PRESS!
Horseboating between Marsden and Huddersfield has had to be cancelled because a leaking culvert has closed the canal near Lock 31e. Maria will remain at Marsden until Sunday, when she will be legged through the tunnel as planned.

View Huddersfield Canal and Standedge Tunnel dates in printable form (.pdf).

May 18th 2009

Horseboating with Elland:
•   Monday May 18th: Norton Junction to Crick.

Legging Crick Tunnel as advance publicity for British Waterways, Crick Boat Show

May 19th, 20th 2009

Horseboating with Vixen:
•   Tuesday May 19th: Foxton to Husbands Bosworth/North Kilworth
(Towpath closed Husbands Bosworth to North Kilworth)
•   Wednesday May 20th: North Kilworth to Crick.

Saturday May 23rd – Monday May 25th 2009

Crick Boat Show, boathorse harnessing demos, Wild over Waterways (WoW) activity

June 8th – 12th

Horseboating Elland from Crick to the National Waterways Museum, Stoke Bruerne, Grand Union Canal

 •   Monday June 8th: Crick Marina to Norton Junction/top of Buckby Locks.
•   Tuesday June 9th: Buckby Locks to Weedon/Stowe Hill area.
•   Friday June 12th: Stowe Hill area to Blisworth Tunnel.

Saturday June 13th – Sunday June 14th

Gala Open Weekend at the Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne

 •   Saturday May 13th:
7.30 – 9.30 am – Legging Blisworth Tunnel, boathorse over tunneltop.
Tunnel entry approx 8.00 am. Exit at Stoke Bruerne, approx 9.30 am.
12.00 noon – Boathorse Harnessing demo and talk.
1.00 – 4.00 pm – Horseboating photo opportunity, Elland down then up locks

 •   Sunday May 14th:
am – WoW activity
12.00 noon – Boathorse harnessing demo and talk.
1.00 – 4.00 pm – Horseboating photo opportunity, Elland down then up locks

Wednesday June 17th 2009

Horseboating Trial and Training Day in preparation for Kinkintilloch Canal Festival (August 30th). Enquiries: Richard Davies 0141-775-2990, mobile 07960-783670.

Sunday June 21st 2009

Heavy Horse Day at the Chiltern Open Air Museum (COAM) in association with the Hertfordshire Heavy Horse Association. See horses at work on the 40 acre site.

Contact COAM Information Line : 01494-872163 Site open 10am to 5pm.
COAM, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks, HP8 4AB

June 25th – 29th 2009

Horseboating Elland from Stoke Bruerne to the Braunston Historic Boats Rally.

 •   Thursday June 25th:
Horseboating Elland from Stoke Bruerne to Weedon.
•   Friday June 26th:
Weedon to Braunston Tunnel portal.
(NB: Awaiting to see if towpath closure is finished between Nortons Jn and the tunnel)
•   Saturday June 27th:
9.00 – 10.00 am – Legging Braunston Tunnel, boathorse over tunneltop.
10.30 am – 12.00 noon Horseboating down locks to Historic Boat Gathering
pm – Boathorse Harnessing demo and talk; WoW activity.

 •   Sunday June 28th:
pm – Boathorse Harnessing demo and talk; WoW activity.

Friday July 3rd 2009

Maria, Guidebridge to Marple top lock on the Lower Peak Forest (10 miles, 16 locks)

Sunday July 5th 2009

Marple Locks Heritage Society Festival

11.00 am: Top Lock – Maria will be loaded with a cargo of beer barrels from the Robinsons’ horsedrawn brewery dray.
Horseboating down 4 locks (16- 13) to the festival in the park, above Lock 12.

2.00 pm: Boathorse harnessing demo

3.00 pm: Maria will leave the festival site and unload the beer barrels at St Martins Road Wharf, i.e. Lock 9/10, near Samuel Oldknows Warehouse.
Then Marple to Guidebridge on the Ashton Canal (10 miles, 12 locks)

July 7th – 24th 2009

Horseboating Maria on the Rochdale Canal.

From Guide Bridge on the Ashton Canal via Manchester to the Rochdale Canal. Through Failsworth and Rochdale, to the Summit, and on down to Sowerby Bridge.

A nine day Rochdale Canal Festival, July 11-19, organised by The Waterways Trust.

During the festival, the horseboat will link communities along the route of the canal.

A return journey would involve 68 miles and 202 locks on this trans-Pennine canal.

 •   Tuesday July 7th:
Ashton Canal, Guide Bridge to Dale Street.
•   Wednesday July 8th:
Rochdale Canal from Dale Street via Newton Heath, Failsworth and Chadderton to The Rose of Lancaster (Mills Hill).
•   Thursday July 9th:
From the Rose of Lancaster via Boarshaw to Slattocks.
•   Friday July 10th:
From Slattocks via Castleton and Rochdale to Littleborough.
•   Saturday July 11th:
Maria to attend the Opening Ceremony at Littleborough.
Then from Littleborough to the Summit.
•   Tuesday July 14th:
From Summit via Walsden to Todmorden.
•   Wednesday July 15th:
From Todmorden to Hebden Bridge.
•   Thursday July 16th:
From Hebden Bridge via Mytholmroyd and Luddendenfoot to Sowerby Bridge.

The return journey starts on Monday 27th July. Crew members are needed. Details of dates are shown below.

Saturday July 25th and Sunday July 26th 2009

Trimpley Heavy Horse Festival -many breeds and types of horses at work on the land,

in assocation with the Midlands Heavy Horse Association

At Mike Clarke’s farm where he keeps many Suffolk Punch horses.

Mike Clarke, 01299-403812, 07831-674018, mikeclarke134@tiscali.co.uk

July 27th – August 9th 2009

Horseboating Maria on the Rochdale Canal – crew needed, please contact Sue Day.

From Sowerby Bridge on the Rochdale Canal via Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Littleborough and the Rochdale Nine to Castlefield, Manchester. Then back by way of the Ashton Canal to Guide Bridge.

 •   Monday July 27th:
Sowerby Bridge to the Halifax Branch of the Calder & Hebble Navigation, Salterhebble, with a full or partial return to Sowerby Bridge.
•   Tuesday July 28th:
Rochdale Canal from Sowerby Bridge via Mytholmroyd to Hebden Bridge.
•   Wednesday July 29th:
No boating.
•   Thursday July 30th:
From Hebden Bridge to Todmorden.
•   Friday July 31st
From Todmorden via Walsden to the Summit.
•   Saturday August 1st:
A few locks near the Summit or no boating.
•   Sunday August 2nd:
From Summit to Littleborough or Belfield.
•   Monday August 3rd:
From Littleborough or Belfield to perhaps Slattocks.
HBS Committee Meeting – all welcome
•   Tuesday August 4th:
No boating.
•   Wednesday August 5th:
Late afternoon/evening, from Slattocks via Boarshaw to the Rose of Lancaster, Mills Hills, Chadderton.
•   Thursday August 6th:
From Rose of Lancaster via Failsworth and Newton Heath to Dale Street, Manchester.
•   Friday August 7th:
“Rochdale Nine” from Dale Street to Castlefield, Manchester.
•   Saturday August 8th:
No boating.
•   Sunday August 9th:
“Rochdale Nine”, return to Dale Street, Manchester city centre, then up the Ashton Canal from Dale Street via Clayton and Fairfield to Ashton Packet Boat Company boatyard, Guide Bridge.

August 29th – 31st 2009

IWA National Festival, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, River Soar.
HBS PowerPoint presentations on Saturday (Sue Day) and Monday (Sean Neill).

September 12th – 13th 2009

Saturday Sept 12th – Horsedrawn boat Malus in a procession of 3 boats from Hawne Basin to the Black Country Boating Festival at Windmill End. The order of the boats will be a horsedrawn boat, a motor boat, and a bowhauled boat.
Depart 11 am, Hawne Basin, Halesowen (Postcode for SatNav: B62 8AW). Legging Gorsty Hill Tunnel, approx. 500 metres. [More info]

Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th – Horseboating Society display and harnessing demonstrations at Black Country Boating Festival, Windmil End.

September 26th – 27th 2009

Horseboat Elland on display at the Black Country Living Museum Boaters Gathering. WoW activity with Toy Bonny.

October 10th – 11th 2009

 •   Saturday October 10th:
Horseboating Vixen from Foxton to Market Harborough, leading the procession of boats to mark the bi-centenary of the opening of the Market Harborough Arm.

 •   Sunday October 11th:
Return, Market Harborough to Foxton.

October 31st & November 1st 2009

Horseboating at the Heritage Days 2009 on the Cromford Canal:
The modern boat, Duchess, will be towed from Cromford Wharf to Leawood Pump House, a distance of about one and a half miles. Several return trips are to be made during the two days as a demonstration of horseboating (carrying no passengers).
Cromford Wharf, Mill Lane, Cromford, Derbyshire (Postcode for SatNav: DE4 3RQ).

Saturday 14th November 2009

Railway and Canal Historical Society, West Midlands Group
Commencing at 2.00 pm at Carrs Lane Church Centre, Birmingham in the Bertha Wright Room.
A seminar on “Horses on the Waterways”. Members of R&CHS are invited to contribute if they can, to assist the West Midlands Group highlight an area that deserves better coverage. Members of other R&CHS groups and visitors are welcome to attend these meetings where a voluntary contribution of £1 is requested from both members and non-members towards the cost of room hire.
Further details may be obtained from Ray Shill (contact details not available yet).

Location of Carrs Lane Church Centre:
Carrs Lane Church Centre is at the junction of Carrs Lane and Moor Street Queensway (O/S map ref. SP 074869) across the road from Birmingham, Moor Street railway station. Looking across from the station, it is to the right of the Pavilions centre and Marks & Spencers store and is easily identified by the large wooden cross in front of the main entrance. If travelling via New Street station, follow the signs to Moor Street Station (about 5 minutes walk) then directions as above.

If you come into Birmingham by car (although this is not recommended) there are several multi-story car parks nearby but these are rather expensive. There is NO parking available at Carrs Lane Church Centre.

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