W.H. Walker and Brothers facts for kids
W.H. Walker and Brothers was a company that built special boats called narrowboats. These boats were used on England's canals. The company was based in Rickmansworth, England. They were very important for canal transport for many years.
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Building Boats for Canals
W.H. Walker and Brothers was one of the main companies building narrowboats. They operated for a long time, from 1905 to 1964. Their boats helped move goods all across the English Canal Network.
How Walker's Boatyard Began
Harry Walker started his business in 1905. He rented a part of Frogmoor Wharf. This area was next to the Grand Union Canal. He leased it from Robert Grosvenor, 2nd Baron Ebury. At first, Harry mainly fixed boats. But soon, he began building his own brand new boats.
Making Boats from Wood
In 1907, Harry Walker started building boats. His company was known for making boats from wood. Each boat needed eight oak trees and one elm tree! The first boats were pulled by horses. But by 1913, they started building boats with motors.
Famous Customers and Their Boats
Many companies bought boats from Walkers. Some big names included Fellows Morton and Clayton. The Grand Union Canal Carrying Company also bought their boats. Even Cadbury of Bournville and Wander of Kings Langley used their boats. Wander made the drink Ovaltine.
The End of an Era
After World War II, the company stopped building new boats. However, they kept fixing boats until 1964. In total, W.H. Walker and Brothers built 212 new boats. They also repaired more than 600 boats. The land where the boatyard was located was sold in June 1989. It was sold to Tesco for new buildings.
