Original Chesterfield Canal boat in action

Published: Wednesday, 17 July 2019

THE only Chesterfield Canal Boat in existence, will be running horse boating displays on several Sundays during the summer in Worksop.

The boat, Dawn Rose, will be towed between the winding holes below Stret Lock and opposite Sandhill Lake (Godfrey’s Pond), passing through Morse Lock. Stret Lock is alongside the Lock Keeper pub (S81 1TJ).

CharlieCountryfileCharlie will be pulling the boat, that appeared on the Countryfile broadcast in May, when he was walked by Matt Baker. (pictured.)

Months training

Charlie’s owner, Dean Pearce, has been training him for many months, originally pulling a railway sleeper. Eventually a trial was carried out at Manton with Python, the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s 90-year-old ex-working boat. In early July the first trial took place with Dawn Rose and all went well. The original Chesterfield Canal boats were named Cuckoo boats and were unique to the Chesterfield Canal.

The design did not change from the 1770s right up to the 1920s when the last ones were made. Up to the end of commercial use in the 1950s, they were still horse drawn. They were never equipped with engines. A mast was used when they ventured onto the Trent.

Dawn RoseRotted away 20 years ago

The last Cuckoo boat known to be in existence rotted away over 20 years ago. A group of Chesterfield Canal Trust members decided to build a new Cuckoo boat in the early 2000s. After much research, they drew up a list of all the timber that was needed. This was published in the Trust’s magazine, in Spring 2004 and sponsors
were found for every piece within a few weeks.

Seven and a half tons of fresh Lincolnshire oak and boat-skin larch was then bought and stored in a secret location to season. An appeal also went out for traditional hand tools of the type used a century ago.

An agreement was reached with British Waterways to do the work in a corner of Shireoaks Marina, with construction starting in 2011. The picture above shows Dawn Rose under construction and the one below shows the boat during the 'pull'.

DawnRosePullHas real working knowledge

The work was led by David Bownes who has a vast knowledge garnered by talking with working boatmen on the Chesterfield Canal. He was involved with working on Cuckoo boats as a young man, so he was one of the very few people alive—possibly the only onewith real working knowledge of their construction.

As a result of this build, there are now several others who have picked up this knowledge.

David was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chesterfield Canal Trust at its A.G.M. in 2015.

Four years to complete

It took four years to complete the boat. Some of the planks (or strokes) that make up the sides are 27’ long, 10” wide and 2” thick. They had to be planed exactly and then put into a home-made steamer for several hours before being bent into place. There are 90 planks along the bottom. Each one had to be shaped precisely and they were then fixed into place by 360 home-made nails each 9” long, and hammered upwards.

Vast quantities of old rope, tar, pitch and linseed oil were used to make the boat watertight.

Since its launch in 2015, Dawn Rose has run an annual Boat Pull where groups can tow the boat for a fee and raise money for their chosen cause.

Star attraction

Last year, Dawn Rose was the star attraction at the Erewash Rally having been towed there, including along the Trent, by Python.

It has long been the intention to arrange for a horse to demonstrate towing, but there have been lots of problems along the way. The crew is delighted that finally everything has fallen into place.

You can support the project by becoming a Friend of Dawn Rose. Go to the Trust’s websitesearch for Chesterfield Canal Trust.