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BOLD lettering indicates the original boat name; new names in plain text.

In 1842 William Clayton set up a business at Salford Bridge, Birmingham, as a canal carrier. General cargoes were carried during the first 20 years, and then the company began to specialise in carrying liquid cargoes such as gas water, and crude tar (by products of the new gas industry). The boats moved over the canal network, carrying the liquids in decked boats, of wooden construction. The load was poured directly into the hold, and pumped out at the destination.

In 1889 the Clayton carrying business was merged with Fellows Morton & Co to become Fellows Morton & Clayton Ltd. The bulk liquid carrying side however remained separate, and the move to Oldbury was made soon afterwards. In 1904 the business company name was changed to Thomas Clayton (Oldbury) Ltd. A number of boatyards built the tar boats, notably, Saltley dock, Rudkins of Leicester, Costins of Berkhampstead, Walkers of Rickmansworth, and Nursers of Braunston. Lees & Atkins of Polesworth made 3 , and FMC built 4 at Uxbridge. In 1935, a repair yard was established at Oldbury to maintain the fleet, now at 80 in number.Winches and side slips were made, and moveable shelters provided to work under. In 1937 the first motor, SOAR, was introduced.

Thomas Clayton Ex horseboat TIBER (No 89) on the BCN.

In 1948 four motor boats were purchased from the Severn Carrying Co, and renamed DANE (seen right), DART, DON, and DOVE. DANE is still powered by the 15hp Bolinder single cylinder engine. Four iron composite boats entered the fleet for a short time; CAPTAIN, EMPEROR, PORTUGAL and FRANCE. All were ex FMC boats and were not kept long. In 1939 the fleet consisted of 50 horse boats, and 10 pairs; in 1952 the fleet was at 60 horse boats, and 16 pairs. South of Birmingham, Clayton's boats served the gas works at Solihull, Leamington, Oxford and Midland Tar Distillers at Banbury. Until 1927 Shrewsbury gas works had a service, the canal becoming disused not long afterwards.A later traffic was to MTD at Four Ashes on the Staffs. & Worcs. Canal.

...............................................................................................................Thos. Clayton motor boat DANE at Braunston.

A well known traffic was the long distance run from Stanlow oil refinery on the Manchester Ship Canal, to Shell's depot at Langley Green on the Titford branch of the BCN. The traffic started in 1924 with horse drawn boats taking a week there and back. Horse boats were last used in 1953, motors and butties having been on the run since 1938. Between Autherley and Langley Green, horses were used to the end, as it was quicker getting up the 21. The trade via the Shropshire Union Canal came to an end in 1955. Carrying on the BCN gradually declined, with the closure of canal side gas works. The boats were disposed of, and in 1966 only 8 boats remained in service. The last load carried was by STOUR in March 1966 from Walsall gasworks to Oldbury. Fortunately many of the Clayton's boats survive in original form, most notably the GIFFORD, based at the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port.

...GIFFORD on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Handsacre.

THOMAS CLAYTON boats TODAY.

BEAVER; No 15, Regd Brm 1366, BCN No 116, horse boat, built by Nursers of Braunston 1917. Sunk Croxon flash ,T & M.

CONWAY; No 19, Regd Brm 1468, BCN No 985, butty, from I.C.I.Ltd, 1949; shortened.

DANE; No 18, Regd Oldbury No 24, BCN No 1516, motor, bought from Severn Carrying Co of Gloucester, 1950. In original condition, restored.

DART; No 16, Regd Oldbury No 23, BCN No 1387, motor; bought from Severn Carrying Co, Gloucester, 1950. Shortened to 60ft.

DON; No 1, Regd Oldbury No 22, BCN No 1771, motor; bought from Severn Carrying Co, Gloucester 1949. Converted.

DOVE; No 8, Regd Oldbury No 21, BCN No 1531, motor; bought from Severn Carrying Co, Gloucester, 1948; on Macclesfield Canal. Passed through the T&M in June 2000.

GIFFORD; No 60, Regd Daventry No 374, BCN No 1288, horse boat, built by Nursers of Braunston 1926. Rebuilt at Malkins Bank, and restored. Attended Crick boat show in May 2000, and Middlewich in June.

HEBBLE; No 30, Regd Leicester No 159, BCN No 1371, horse boat, built by Rudkins of Leicester 1927. Motorised last seen Leeds & Liverpool.

HUDSON; No 62, Regd Daventry No 375, BCN No 1370, horse boat, built by Nursers of Braunston 1927. Converted, front half known as PAINTED LADY.

KUBINA; No 70, Regd at Daventry No 414, BCN No 1646, horse boat, built by Nursers of Braunston 1930. Shortened to 57ft, with BMC 2.2, and converted. For sale in Birmingham 1981.

MONNOW; No 77, Regd Brm 1104, BCN No 2030, butty, bought from British Cyanide Co Ltd, Oldbury, 1932. Paired with UMEA at Cowley.

PEARL; No 81, Regd Daventry 461, BCN No 1851, horse boat, built by Nursers of Braunston 1935. Motorised by Claytons; on Northern T & M.

POYLE; No 82 , Regd Brm 1568, BCN No 1864, horse boat, built by Nursers of Braunston, 1935. Converted, motorised by Claytons.

SEVERN; No 86, Regd Brm 1605,BCN No 1960, motor; built by FMC at Uxbridge 1937. At Puttenham, Aylesbury arm.

SPEY; No 88 , Regd Brm 1612, BCN No 1990, motor; built by FMC at Uxbridge 1937. Based at Bedford Basin, Leigh. Summer 2000, touring the BCN. Spey is Bolinder powered, and is in original condition.

STOUR; No 87, Regd Brm 1611, BCN No 1983, motor; built by FMC at Uxbridge 1937. At Black Country Museum, in original condition, but needing considerable work.

TAY; No 90, Regd Oldbury No 1, BCN No 2009, motor; built by FMC at Uxbridge 1938. Based Northern T & M.

TOWY; No 93, Regd Oldbury No 4, BCN No 2033, motor; built by FMC at Uxbridge 1938. At Boat Museum Ellesmere Port.

UMEA; No 3 , Regd Oldbury No 7, BCN No 2080, motor; built by FMC at Uxbridge 1939. Has original Bolinder, and back cabin paintwork from Polesworth. Converted, at Cowley on GU.

USK; No 94, Regd Oldbury No 6, BCN No 2054, motor; built 1939 by FMC at Uxbridge. Sept 2000, on River Thames.

Boats broken up.

TWEED; No 37, Regd Birmingham 1613, BCN No 2004, motor built 1938 by FMC at Uxbridge. TWEED sank around 1978 at Uxbridge, where it slid into the channel, and was broken up by BW.

BEAVER; No 15. Wooden horse boat. BCN gauging No 116, 4/10/1921.

DEVON; No 42, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 401, 30/8/1922.

ALDE; No 44, cabined wooden horseboat, with fore cabin ,BCN gauging No 422, 13/9/1922.

ADDER; No 53, cabined wooden horseboat, with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 430, 18/9/1922.

BOURNE; No 54, cabined wooden horseboat, with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 440, 25/9/1922.

CALDER; No 11, cabined wooden horseboat with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 444, 25/9/1922.

BRENT; No 10, cabined wooden horseboat, with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 460, 10/10/1922.

DOON; No 57, cabined wooden horseboat, with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 464, 11/10/1922.

WITHAM; cabined wooden horseboat, with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 466, 11/0/1922.

WELLAND; No 50 cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 467, 16/10/1922.

BANNON; No 55, cabined wooden horseboat with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 477, 1/11/1922.

CHERWELL; No 2, cabined wooden horseboat,with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 501, 1/12/1922.

SWALE; No 39, cabined wooden horseboat, with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 523, 12/12/1922.

BLYTH; No 40, cabined wooden horseboat with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 746, 22/10/1923.

EXE; No 4, cabined wooden horseboat with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 839, 18/4/1924.

EREWASH; cabined wooden horseboat with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 927, 1/10/1924.

EDEN; No 14, cabined wooden horseboat, BCN gauging No 958, 7/11/1924.

ERNE; No 24, cabined wooden horseboat with fore cabin, BCN gauging No 970, 24/11/1924.

FROME; No 41, cabined wooden horseboat BCN gauging No 1129, 25/1/1926.

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