Stour (narrowboat) facts for kids

Stour is a special kind of boat called a narrowboat. It's made entirely of wood and has an engine to help it move. This engine is a Bolinder diesel engine, which means it runs on a type of fuel called diesel. The engine has 15 horsepower, which tells you how powerful it is.

Stour was built in 1937 by a company called Fellows Morton and Clayton. They built it at their dockyard in Uxbridge. Stour was made for another company, Thomas Clayton Ltd, which carried fuel oil. Stour was designed to be a "tar tanker," meaning it carried thick, sticky liquids like tar or fuel.

Building the Stour Narrowboat

The Stour narrowboat is very special because of how it was built. Its sides are made from strong oak wood planks. The bottom of the boat is made from elm wood, which is also very durable. The top deck, where people walk, is made of pine wood.

Inside, Stour has a traditional boatman's cabin. This is a small, cozy living area where the boat's crew would have lived. Stour was part of a large group of wooden boats used by Thomas Clayton Ltd. These boats were designed to carry liquid cargo, and the main part of the boat where the cargo went was fully covered by a deck.

What Did Stour Carry?

When Stour was first built, it carried refined fuels. These were lighter fuels, like gas oil, which were used to power machinery. As the boat got older, its job changed. It started carrying heavier liquids, like lubricating oil. This oil was picked up from fuel distribution centers located along the Manchester Ship Canal.

Where is Stour Now?

Today, Stour is owned by the Black Country Living Museum. This museum is in Dudley, a town in England. Stour is based at the museum and you can often see it docked in a special area called Lord Ward's Canal Arm. It's a great way to see a piece of history up close!

Stour is also listed on the National Historic Ships register. This means it's recognized as an important part of the United Kingdom's maritime history.