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Welcome to the HNBC

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Welcome to the HNBC

The Historic Narrow Boat Club was formed in 1966 and is a not-for-profit club dedicated to preserving the working heritage of UK canals, from the boats themselves to details of the waterways on which they travel.  We are passionate about working boats, traditional skills, the built heritage, and the practices and courtesies of the working boat people.

We are an active pressure group for navigational and waterway heritage interests and we welcome all who support our aims, whether boat owners or not.  By supporting the Club, you are helping to ensure that the UK’s canals retain their unique heritage value.

We hope you enjoy exploring this website.

Do you know what a TITCH or a KEB is?

Find out here - Know Your Boats

Six good reasons to join us

  • Access to our Archive of boat histories
  • Regular updates on waterway pinchpoints affecting historic boats
  • Advice on using and preserving traditional boating skills
  • Campaigning on issues affecting historic boats
  • Socials and gatherings for members and their boats
  • Money saving discounts on boating services

How to join

You can join us as an individual, joint or associate member.

Read more about how to join

Newsletter

The Club's Newsletter is published quarterly. This is a high quality and lavishly illustrated colour publication with many fascinating features of interest to enthusiasts of historic boats.

Read 'taster' Newsletter articles here.

Why not join the club and get your copy hot off the press every quarter?

 Front cover of issue 2023/3

Find historic boats...

Events   view all

Sat 23 November
HNBC Committee

Venue: Whittington Village Hall, Whittington, Nr Lichfield

Sat 23 November
HNBC Social

Venue: Whittington Village Hall, Whittington, Nr Lichfield WS14 9LR

Our speaker will be Andy Tidy on The Tub Boats of Telford: Exploring a lost network of canals which joined Norbury with Ironbridge

followed by Show-and-Tell - your chance to bring interesting artefacts for discussion or to look at what other members have brought 

Refreshments will be available, but please bring your own mug or cup! Thank you

Wed 15 January
HNBC Committee (Zoom)
Wed 5 February
HNBC Committee (Zoom)

Club shop

Have you bought your copy yet?

   

Following on from the successful first volume of Mr Weaver’s photographs of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, HNBC has now published the promised second book.

This perfect-bound, soft back volume of 136 pages covers most of the other waterways of England and Wales, with 220 photographs taken by Mr Weaver between 1950 and 1982.

 

£6.00  plus p&p

 

 

 

Navigation issues

It is so important to tell C&RT, and us, if you get stuck on the waterways.

C&RT's general contact phone number is 03030 40 40 40, their emergencies number is 0800 479 9947, or you can use their Contact Form. 

C&RT Region by Region - a list of email contacts, and a map of 2019 Regions, is here.

Please let us know too so that we can chase it up. 

Here is our pinchpoints form, or you can email navigation@hnbc.org.uk

DON'T JUST SORT IT, REPORT IT

Thank you!

Latest stories   view all

Hollywood Star to visit Crick Boat Show

Boatman Peter Boyce of Braunston spent four weeks on set with a Hollywood film crew putting together the December 2023 Warner Bros release "Wonka", and will be making an appearance at the Crick Boat Show near Northampton - the UK's largest inland waterway event - over the Spring bank holiday weekend at the end of May. 

HNBC CELEBRATES CAPITAL SUCCESS

London’s Limehouse Cut had a slightly different look to it at the end of May 2022 when 31 historic boats came together for one of the HNBC’s ‘campaigning’ gatherings. Like Brownhills and Hebden Bridge in previous years, the London event had the dual purpose of shining a light on a less frequently boated or lesser appreciated part of the system while showcasing historic boating to the general public

Red diesel for boats

The government published its response on 3 March 2021 to its consultation on the use of red diesel. The good news for boaters in mainland UK waters is contained in paragraphs 4.6 and 4.7, different rules apply for Northern Ireland:

4.6 Following consultation, the government has decided to maintain the entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022 for all commercial boat operating industries, including but not limited to the fishing and inland water freight industries. 

Restricted access for wide beamed boats

Canal & River Trust has confirmed in a notice dated 11 February 2021 that wide beamed boats may only use parts of the north Oxford canal if they are booked to do so.

"The north Oxford Canal between Braunston Junction and Hillmorton Locks is a narrow canal, not suitable for wide-beam craft. 

Access to the marinas on the north Oxford is permitted but only at pre-agreed times and must be done in a single journey (i.e. not stopping between the marina and the destination)."

Recent updates   view all