Why saving a 1913 Fellows and Morton Butty Canal Boat Matters!

A short film and interview with Jim Hutchinson owner of historic Canal Butty Hampton, Jim talks about life working the boats and show's us around butty Hampton's traditional cabin. The Jericho Living Heritage Trust are restoring Canal Boat Kilsby from the same fleet of canal boats as Hampton Butty. We are grateful to Jim for his support and guidance as we learn more about the history and the practicalities of the restoration. The heritage significance of Kilsby: Kilsby is one of a batch of 24 butty boats built for FMC by Braithwaite and Kirk of Wolverhampton between 1912 and 1913 B&K were and unusual choice of boatbuilder since their regular work was heavy construction projects, such as bridges, storage tanks etc. throughout the Empire. This batch of boats was popular with boatmen because of their handling properties. Only thirteen of these boats survive in various stages of preservation; only five retain their original appearance: Gosport, Hampton, Ilkeston, Ilford, and Kildare. Many of the rest have been converted to motors. The B&K boats are an important part of FMC history boats and deserve more attention. Kilsby was one of the FMC boats tied up at Braunston during the 1923 strike. At the time Kilsby was paired with Japan and was run by the Edwards family. A descendant of the Edwards family has identified all people on the well-known 1923 photo of Kilsby (Michael Ware collection H158).Another well-known boating connection with Kilsby was the Brace family. Albert Brace was born on Kilsby to Jack and Eliza Brace in 1934. After nationalisation Kilsby was sold to the Manchester Ship Canal company and became Mud Boat 4. Sometime in the 60s Kilsby was sold into private ownership, was shorted to 60’, had a wooden cabin added and became a liveaboard boat based in Oxford. In 1993 Helen McGregor acquired Kilsby and lived aboard on the Hythe Bridge arm, Oxford. In 2019 she donated the boat to the Jericho Living Heritage Trust. It is intended that the restored Kilsby will be as close as possible to its 1912 appearance while being a community arts venue for heritage arts, storytelling and music aboard and heritage trips.