 Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead. |
|
 |
These tugs are listed in number order taken from a document originating from E C Jones & Son (Brentford) Ltd, the builders of the series of Bantam tugs. Bantams that are known but can't be identified by number are at the end of this list.
Length 25 foot 0 inches (7.62metres) Width 12 foot 0 inches (3.66metres) Draught 7 foot 0 inches (2.13metres)
Construction Date Before 1955
| Bought by Swan Hunter. Now owned by Tyne Towage. |
|
Construction Date September 1955
Bought by Farrans, Belfast. Alan Geddes writes ""Photo taken at a small harbour near Derryclone, Lough Neagh, 12 March 1999. Employed by Mulholland in sand trade with grab dredger Enterprize. Bantam 2 built circa 1955 and purchased by Mulholland from English owners about 1969."
She was still a working boat in 1999 and towed/pushed the dredger Enterprize and a barge to retrieve sand from the Lough. This was done by means of a grab on the deck of the dredger. Most, if not all, of the other firms engaged in the Lough sand trade use suction retrieval.
It's a multi-million pound business and Peter McCann's yard is now owned by one of the national construction companies.
Since posting the above I've learned that the Bantam 2 sank - in the harbour or Lough was not stated - later raised. I can't say for certain, but I would think that Mulholland is still her owner."
 |
| Photo by Alan Geddes |
Construction Date January 1950
Bought by Wraysbury Sand & Gravel
Length 21 foot 0 inches (6.40metres) Width 8 foot 9 inches (2.67metres) Draught 3 foot 6 inches (1.07metres)
Construction Date March 1950
| Bantam Pusher Tug red/green. BUILT 1949/50 E C Jones & Son, Brentford, Middx. Lister JP2 2l bhp (original, with hand starting). Base as operational exhibit at London Canal Museum, Battlebridge Basin, Regent's canal. Fourth of 89 Bantam tugs. |
|
Construction Date June 1950
Bought by Hall & Co., Rye Harbour
Construction Date July 1950
Bought by Darenth River Aggregates. Chichester Canal Society bought it around 1987 from Portsmouth Harbour. Fitted with a JP Lister engine.
Construction Date September 1950
| Bought by Thames Sand & Gravel, Ashford. In October 2002 John Gibson, National Trust Navigations Manager for the River Wey & Godlaming Navigations reported we "are lucky enough to own and operate a Bantam tug. I ... believe our tug to be No. 7 built circa 1950. It has changed ownership several times since Thames Sand and Gravel owned her." In October 2002 Kevin Redway wrote "Other Bantam Tugs operated in this area include, Illeta Col Marine (River Wey) possibly No.14 now named Silkie, No 7 was sold some time ago." |
|
Construction Date October 1950
Bought by Thomas Roberts, Wraysbury
Construction Date November 1950
Original engine 21 hp. Bought by Hilton Gravel, Derby
Construction Date March 1951
Original engine 21 hp. Bought by Branston Gravels, Birmingham
Construction Date June 1951
Original engine 21 hp. Bought by Walter Smith, Brasted
Construction Date January 1951
Original engine 30 hp. Bought by Thomas Roberts, Thrapston
Construction Date March 1951
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Thomas Roberts, Bletchley.
Construction Date August 1951
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner of Bantam 16 was Manchester Ship Canal Co.
Length 23 foot 0 inches (7.01metres) Width 8 foot 6 inches (2.59metres) Draught 4 foot 0 inches (1.22metres)
Construction Date July 1951
Original engine 30 hp. Original owner of Bantam 17 was D&IWE, Watford. Ex BWB stationed until 1963 at Brentford Docks, when purchased for the Lower Avon Trust. See WW December 1989. Bought by the Lower Avon Trust Apr 63 for £600. Lister JP3. Base Mill Wharf, Wyre Piddle, Lower Avon. In August 2002 Dudley Matthews, Director & Tugmaster, LANT, reported "To comply as far as possible with BSS standards, in view of the age of the vessel, LANT has carried out some minor changes to her, the most obvious being in the extension of her exhaust to a stack, level with the top of the wheelbox.".
Length 23 foot 0 inches (7.01metres) Width 8 foot 6 inches (2.59metres)
Construction Date October 1951
| Bantam Tug number 18 originally bought by D&IWE Nottingham to work with the dredging fleet. The original engine was 30 hp (probably a Lister 3JP water cooled diesel) but this was later replaced with a Lister HR3 air cooled engine. Still in service with BW on the Grand Union Canal (North) last seen at Trent Lock on the Erewash Canal - see photo. |
|
Construction Date December 1951
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was E. Hill & Sons, South Cerney
Length 23 foot 6 inches (7.16metres) Width 9 foot 0 inches (2.74metres) Draught 3 foot 5 inches (1.04metres)
Construction Date February 1952
| Original engine 30 hp Bantam 20, Manchester Ship Canal Co. Boat Museum. Registered as built in 1955. Length 23ft 6 inches, Lister JP. |
|
Construction Date May 1952
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was E. Hill & Sons, Newbury
Length 27 foot 0 inches (8.23metres) Width 9 foot 0 inches (2.74metres)
Construction Date July 1952
Bantam tug number 22. Originally bought by D&IWE, Nottingham for work in the Nottingham area with the dredging fleet, then transfered to the Castleford Area on similar work.About 1967 the original 40 hp engine was replaced with a Lister HA6 air cooled diesel engine. In 1986 this tug was sold to General Marine of London. BW on the GU (north) still have a relatively modern (and very Bantam-like) tug of this name on the section which presumably replaced the original tug.
Construction Date August 1952
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Ham River Grit, Waltham Abbey. The Chichester Canal Society bought it around 1990 from ARC, 3 cylinder engine.
Construction Date September 1952
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was D&IWE, Liverpool
Construction Date April 1953
| Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was D&IWE, Liverpool. Now a static canalside feature in the Wigan Pier Area. |
|
Construction Date February 1953
Original engine 60 hp.Original owner of Bantam 26 was Reading Dredging Co., Marlow
Construction Date May 1953
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Ham River Grit, Thorpe
Construction Date July 1953
Original engine 21 hp.Original owner was Hall & Co., Bedfont. In September 2002 John B Toy reported "The gravel contract at Thurmaston/Soar found 2 Bantams at work, late '94 and again Feb '95. These were BANTAM 28- regn 53771, and BANTAM 83 - neither seen since". In February 2004 Chris N Deuchar reported it and Bantam 83 "were run on the gravel traffic by Richard Barnett who also owns a number of barges.I suspect he still owns the tugs".
Construction Date September 1953
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Ham River Grit, Chertsey
Construction Date October 1953
| Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Ham River Grit, Fisher's Green. Sparkle (and Pledge -No 45) were sponsored by Johnsons Wax in the late 70s, being purchased from Ham River Grit at Fishers Green. Kevin Redway of the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society writes "When I personally became involved with the tugs and barges they were in poor condition, having been worked hard for many years, as working party leader my brief was to renovate equipment which had capacity for further work, use reclaimable spares where possible and scrap the remainder." in 1966 "SPARKLE was in sinking condition, bent prop shaft, gearbox removed and stripped, stearngear worn and leaking, the Hull was rusted through on bottom and side plates, the decision was to break for spares and donate the hull to the Canal Centre Play Area." |
|
 |
| Sparkle's last ride as scrap - photo by canalman |
Construction Date January 1954
Original engine 21 hp.Original owner was Wraysbury Sand & Gravel
Construction Date February 1954
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was W.J. Lavender, Littleton
Construction Date April 1954
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Darenth River Aggregates
Construction Date July 1954
Original engine 90 hp.Original owner of Bantam 34 was Thomas Watson, Rochester
Construction Date September 1954
| Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was D&IWE, Liverpool. In September 2002 Tim Lewis reported "I have come across bantam No. 35 at Sowerby Bridge, I enclose a picture". |
|
Construction Date October 1954
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was T.W. Howard, Langley
Construction Date November 1954
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Thomas Roberts, Wraysbury
Construction Date December 1954
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Derbyshire Aggregates, Derby
Construction Date January 1955
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was H. Haines, Witney
Construction Date March 1955
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Murray-Taylor, Colnbrook
Construction Date April 1955
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Ham River Grit, Chertsey
Construction Date May 1955
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Hall & Co., Bedfont
Construction Date June 1955
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Thrapston Sand & Ballast
Construction Date January 1956
| Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Marley Tile, Riverhead. Sapper was purchased in 1980s from Marley Tile at Riverhead, was moved to the Basingstoke by the Royal Engineers free of charge, hence the name. Kevin Redway of the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society writes "SAPPER had the JP3 engine problems of a cracked cylinder head, a replacement cylinder head, new gaskets, injector overhaul and cleaned fuel filters had the engine running again. A general overhaul and repaint followed before being put back into service transporting roadstone for towpath laying in rural Hampshire where road access for materials was not possible. Towpath work, carried out at weekends by volunteers lasted over three years, since then Sapper and barges have been used for off bank undergrowth clearing and removal of fallen trees. An unusual task was the recovery of a stolen safe from the canal, found by hitting it, the Police then required it for evidence, we were involved in transporting it by trailer to the Police Station. A more traditional role for Sapper and barges is transportation of Pipes equipment and materials for Woodham and St Johns Backpumping projects, work at St Johns is in progress. Sapper has also been in attendance at our canal events, even pushing a workboat with a live band playing through Woking Town Centre in an Illuminated Boats parade." |
 |
| Spring 2002 the Basingstoke Canal - Kevin Redway |
Construction Date March 1956
| Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Ham River Grit, Fisher's Green. Pledge and Sparkle (Bantam 30) were sponsored by Johnsons Wax in the late 70s, being purchased from Ham River Grit at Fishers Green. Kevin Redway of the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society writes "Our second Tug Pledge (No.45 ) is on bearers at Ash Lock Depot in the process of being overhauled, the engine cylinders heads have been dc-glazed, heads overhauled and reassembled. A new propeller shaft has been fitted, rudder and steering gear overhauled, it is hoped to complete work on Pledge during 2003 and operate both Tugs." (the other bing Sapper - Bantam 44) "Due to very low bridges (at Fleet and Farnborough) on the Basingstoke Canal, the top half of the Wheelhouses on the tugs have been removed, lightweight removable roofs have been added recently, providing some protection for the crews. The original Wheelhouses have been kept and could be refitted if the need arose". |
|
Construction Date May 1956
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was BTW, Liverpool
Construction Date July 1956
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was John Hawtrey, Harefield
Construction Date August 1956
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Bletchley Concrete Aggregates
Construction Date February 1957
Original owner was Forgings & Presswork. In September 2002 Stephen Pike of The Troy Wharf Trust Ltd reported ". I am the proud owner of Bantam 49, purchased at auction on 18/04/02 from Midland Earth Moving Company Ltd. We have carried out some restoration on the tug and are currently working on the original Lister FR3 engine".
Length 30 foot 0 inches (9.14metres) Width 11 foot 0 inches (3.35metres) Draught 4 foot 9 inches (1.45metres)
Construction Date April 1957
Original owner was Shree Digvijay Cement. Colin Ward wrote in August 2002 that Bantams 50 and 58 were "30ft x 11ft x 4ft 9ins and powered by 90hp Ruston & Hornsby engines, were an export order for Shree Digvijay Cement, whose works were, I was told, some 300 miles north of Bombay. Photographs showed pre-delivery trials on the Thames, the vessels looking totally incongruous in the Middlesex surrounding with their wheelhouses of beautiful slatted hardwood!"
Length 30 foot 0 inches (9.14metres) Width 11 foot 0 inches (3.35metres)
Construction Date July 1957
Original owner was BTW, Nottingham - BW-NE. Was transferred to the South Yorkshire Navigation in 1996, the unknown original engine was replaced with a 95 BHP Lister HRW6 date unknown, this engine was replaced in 2000 with a 130 BHP Sabre Perkins. Vessel still working on the South Yorkshire Navigation.
Length 30 foot 0 inches (9.14metres) Width 11 foot 0 inches (3.35metres)
Construction Date September 1957
Original owner was BTW, Nottingham - BW-NE. Purchased for the Nottingham Area, this was transferred to the South Yorkshire Navigation in 1996, the unknown original engine was replaced last in 1998 with a Sabre Perkins engine.
Construction Date November 1957
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was T.W. Howard, Iver
Construction Date January 1958
Original owner was Joseph Sankey, Wolverhampton
Construction Date November 1957
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Ham River Grit, Thorpe
Construction Date December 1957
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was Kent Sand & Ballast, Sevenoaks
Construction Date May 1958
Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was BTW, Liverpool. Worked in the Castleford area before being sold to Forster marine of Kegworth, Derbyshire in 1993.
Length 30 foot 0 inches (9.14metres) Width 11 foot 0 inches (3.35metres) Draught 4 foot 9 inches (1.45metres)
Construction Date September 1958
Original owner was Shree Digvijay Cement. Colin Ward wrote in August 2002 that Bantams 50 and 58 were "30ft x 11ft x 4ft 9ins and powered by 90hp Ruston & Hornsby engines, were an export order for Shree Digvijay Cement, whose works were, I was told, some 300 miles north of Bombay. Photographs showed pre-delivery trials on the Thames, the vessels looking totally incongruous in the Middlesex surrounding with their wheelhouses of beautiful slatted hardwood!"
Construction Date April 1958
Original owner was London & Rochester Trading Shovette
Construction Date July 1958
Original owner was London & Rochester Trading
Construction Date August 1958
Original engine 33 hp.Original owner was BTW, Liverpool
Construction Date August 1958
Original engine 33 hp.Original owner was Marco Aggregates, Chertsey
Construction Date December 1958
Original engine 114 hp.Original owner of Bantam 63 was MB Dredging
Length 48 foot 0 inches (14.63metres) Width 14 foot 6 inches (4.42metres)
Construction Date October 1959
Original owner was BWB, Leeds Worked in the Castleford Area with the Compartment Fleet towing the well known Tom Puddings. Moored at Goole Waterway Museum.
Length 48 foot 0 inches (14.63metres) Width 14 foot 6 inches (4.42metres)
Construction Date December 1959
Original owner was BWB, Leeds Worked in the Castleford Area with the Compartment Fleet towing the well known Tom Puddings.
Length 48 foot 0 inches (14.63metres) Width 14 foot 6 inches (4.42metres)
Construction Date March 1960
Original owner was BWB, Leeds. Worked in the Castleford Area with the Compartment Fleet towing the well known Tom Puddings.
Construction Date April 1959
| 4.9m BW. This tug was photographed by Mr. Paul R. Harrison entering the Shropshire Union Canal, from the Staffshire & Worcshire Canal at Autherley Junc. |
Construction Date March 1959
| Original owner was H. Lavender & Son. In September 2002 John B Toy reported "In Jan 2001 BANTAM 68 was noted at Boxmoor /GU South. The owner hoped to use it on contract work". In 2004 it was owned by Wood, Hall & Hereward who named it "Scowser" and had purchased it from Roger Lorenz. Mike Carter, who surveyed the tug at the time of purchase, said the tug had been owned by BW at Wigan. |
|
Construction Date May 1959
| Original owner was BWB, Liverpool. Now in a childrens' play area beside the canal at Wigan. |
|
Construction Date August 1959
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Thames River Grit
Construction Date December 1960
Original owner was E.C. Jones & Son.
Construction Date May 1960
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Kent Sand & Ballast, Sevenoaks
Construction Date June 1960
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Cape Asbestos
Construction Date July 1960
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was W.W. Drinkwater
Construction Date January 1961
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Marley Tile, Poole
Length 23 foot 0 inches (7.01metres) Width 8 foot 6 inches (2.59metres)
Construction Date February 1961
Bantam tug number 76 purchased for the Nottingham Area, original engine not known, present engine Lister HR3 air cooled. Vessel still working on the Grand Union Canal (North).
Construction Date June 1961
| Possibly the tug "Walsall" now in the National Waterways Museum at Gloucester. Original owner was BWB, Liverpool. David Hilton reported that "my records show that Bantam 77 was seen fairly regularly between 1970 and 1974 in the vicinity of Nantwich.I cannot say whether the craft was later transferred to Birmingham Division". Max Sinclair writes "I recorded 'Walsall' in 1963 after the great frost, when the ice was up to two feet thick, pushing an old horse drawn ice breaker at Darlaston on the Walsall Canal, They had just reached the James Bridge Copper Works were the polluting copper salts stopped the water from freezing." " 'Walsall' was kept at the Bradeley maintenance yard and used on general maintenance work where its ability to turn in the narrowest canals made it popular to the work force as they did not have to travel to a winding hole which could often be a long distance". |
|
 |
| Gloucester & Sharpness Ship Canal: Gloucester Docks Bantam Tug "Walsall" in the Waterways Museum - June 2001 |
Length 35 foot 0 inches (10.67metres) Width 11 foot 0 inches (3.35metres)
Construction Date July 1961
Original engine 60 hp.Original owner of Bantam 78 was BWB, Nottingham. Purchased for the dredging fleet in the Nottingham Area to work on the tidal Trent, present engine Lister JW6 approx 140 BHP, still at work on the Trent.
Construction Date July 1961
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Thames Ballast, Shepperton
Construction Date September 1961
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was ARC, Lydd
Construction Date November 1961
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Hall & Ham, Wraysbury
Construction Date January 1962
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Greenham Sand & Ballast, Staines
Construction Date April 1962
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Robert Brett, Sturry. In September 2002 John B Toy reported "The gravel contract at Thurmaston/Soar found 2 Bantams at work, late '94 and again Feb '95. These were BANTAM 28, and BANTAM 83 - neither seen since". In February 2004 Chris N Deuchar reported it and Bantam 28 "were run on the gravel traffic by Richard Barnett who also owns a number of barges.I suspect he still owns the tugs".
Construction Date July 1963
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was T.W. Howard, Iver
Construction Date July 1963
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Greenharn Sand & Ballast, Feltharn. In September 2002 Ron Ross reported "I am Marine Manager for May Gurney Dredging at Thorpe St. Andrew Norwich Norfolk. We own 2 Bantum tugs nos. 85 & 86. One is still working the other is waiting for repair. I have only been in this dept of our company for 2 years but we do have personnel here that have worked with them for some time.
Construction Date February 1964
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was W.J. Lavender, Shepperton. In September 2002 Ron Ross reported "I am Marine Manager for May Gurney Dredging at Thorpe St. Andrew Norwich Norfolk. We own 2 Bantum tugs nos. 85 & 86. One is still working the other is waiting for repair. I have only been in this dept of our company for 2 years but we do have personnel here that have worked with them for some time.
Construction Date February 1965
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was Hall & Ham, Chertsey.
Construction Date July 1965
Original engine 35 hp.Original owner was W.W. Drinkwater
Construction Date July 1968
Original owner was Butterley Quarries, N. Hykeham
Construction Date November 1968
Original owner was W.J. Lavender, Hersham
Length 38 foot 0 inches (11.58metres) Width 13 foot 6 inches (4.11metres)
Construction Date April 1969
Bantam tug number 91.Original owner was BWB, Nottingham - BWB-NE. Thought to have been purchased for the commercial fleet and then transferred to the Nottingham Area for work on the tidal Trent where it is still in service, the engine is a 6 cylinder Kelvin of approx, 150 BHP.
The following Bantam tugs are known but can't be identified by number. If you have any information that would help in identifying the tugs, or have any additional information on Bantams please let me know.
| Owned by K.B.Mason marine of Newark and bought it as an empty shell about ten years ago when it was nearly scrapped. It was decided instead to rebuild it as a spare time project and over a period of about five years made and fitted a new stern tube and shaft with pitched up 30 Lister prop and re-engined with a 50 hp 4cyl Lister .It is thought that it was once owned by London Brick Co but it's number is not known. It proved to be a very handy unit on various construction works on the Trent and has handled some very heavy loads.In November 2002 it was down the tidal river on route for the Witham with a hopper barge but got stuck at Lincoln due to adverse river levels.The attached photo shows it locking down into the Fossdyke at Torksey lock having split from the pan, it being too long to pen together. Thanks to Les Reid for this information. |
|
In September 2002 John B Toy reported "Land & Water have used 2 tugs in recent years, and as I write they are on a dredging contract in Milton Keynes (Bridge 97-90). These are unidentified as regards their Bantam numbers, but are named TOM THE TUG and NICK and are painted blue and white".
 |
| Taken by Tim Lewis at Bulls Bridge 2003. |
Length 23 foot 6 inches (7.16metres) Width 8 foot 2 inches (2.49metres)
BW-NE acquired 1959, Original Name and Area not known, this was transferred in 1967 to Castleford Area for Dredging fleet work, the original engine was replaced with a Lister HA3 air cooled diesel in 1967, this was sold in 1986 to a Mr Mills of Goole. Bantam number unknown.
| Tim Lewis took a photo at Bow Lock of a Bantam being used by Land & Water on dredging works on the Bow Back Rivers. The name on the side is "Tom The Tug". The craft is fitted with a DEUTZ Air Cooled Engine. |
|
|
Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.
