News from Audlem Wharf

One of the historic boats currently moored by the wharf is Radiant – which has an interesting history:

RADIANT was built in 1935 by W H Yarwood & Sons Ltd of Northwich for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company. It was originally paired with the butty (unpowered boat) REGULUS as part of the huge expansion of the GUCCC fleet in the 1930s. In 1941, along with a number of other narrow boats, RADIANT was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport and worked for the London Fire Brigade on the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal in London. It was fitted with three large pumps in the hold. After the war it was returned to the GUCCCo. At Nationalisation in 1948, RADIANT was transferred to the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive (South West), which eventually became British Waterways. From then until acquired by the present owners in 1993, it was employed on maintenance work on the Gloucester and Sharpness Ship Canal. The engine room was extended to house a pump, and later an air cooled Lister HR3 engine was installed in 1970.

RADIANT, along with butty REGULUS, is normally moored at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port. At Audlem it is representing the Boat Museum Society and the National Waterways Museum.

After you've had a look at RADIANT do call in at the Audlem Mill shop where, especially for the Festival of Transport, we have a wide range of drinks coasters, teapot/plant stands, fridge magnets, and glass chopping boards featuring classic cars, tractors and VW campers.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.