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.

The club's November meeting will be online via Zoom but the date remains the same,

Saturday 14 November 2020.

Six good reasons to join us

Our quarterly newsletter, full of interesting articles.
Discount offers on boating equipment and services.
Access to the ever increasing wealth of information in our narrow boat register and archive.
Help and advice on historic craft maintenance through our members' forum
Small, sociable rallies.
Twice yearly members’ meetings – the AGM in March and the winter social in November, both with interesting speakers.

How to join

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

Find historic boats...

By Company:	BCN, Fellows, Morton & Clayton, Grand Union Canal Carrying Co, Cowburn & Cowpar, Barlows, LMS, Bantock, Willow Wren Canal Carrying Co
By type:	Motor, Butty, Icebreaker, Bantock, Joey, Tug
By Class:	Admiralty, River, Royalty, Small Northwich, Middle Northwich, Station boat, Fish
By Builder:	Bantock, Braithwaite & Kirk, FMC Uxbridge, Harland & Wolff, Harris Bros, Nursers, Walkers of Rickmansworth, Yarwoods

Events view all

Fri 25 September

POSTPONED Middlewich FAB

Postponed to 16-20 June 2021 - press statement here

Middlewich Folk and Boat festival: see their website for further details about 2021.

Sat 26 September

Cancelled: Parkhead Rally

We have been informed that Parkhead Canal Festival, usually on the last weekend in September, will not be held in 2020.

Fri 2 October

Acton Bridge Steam Rally

Venue: Acton Bridge on the River Weaver, Cheshire

Sat 17 October

Stourbridge Open Weekend

Based around the Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge. Further details on their website.

Club shop

Christmas cards for 2020

Here is the Whitby on a crisp winter's day on the Trent & Mersey canal.

Single design, pack of 10 cards with envelopes

£3.00 per pack plus p&p

The greeting inside all cards is:
With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year

Buy your supplies through our Shop.

Our Club Shop always has an range of interesting products available. As well as running a stall at various events through the year, we offer a mail order service. Please browse the various categories using the links below

Blank Cards - Christmas Cards - Clothing - Club plaques - Maps and books

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

Postponement of HNBC's Annual General Meeting 2020

Statement from Phil Prettyman, HNBC Chairman

Dear HNBC Member

Unfortunately we have had to take the decision to cancel this Saturday’s AGM in light of the Coronavirus outbreak.

Vote for Phil, Eric and Ian!

Are you a private boater or a C&RT volunteer? You should soon receive an email inviting you to vote for a representative to sit on C&RT's Council. HNBC has no allocated seat on the Council, so we urge you to cast your vote for a club member:

Rag Mop

If you've wondered how to make a really good looking Rag Mop for your boat, have a read of this article from 2002 in our club newsletter, penned by Beryl McDowall.