#331

NOW SOLD

NB Dane Elm, Chrome and 24ct Gold Plated Ballpoint Twist Pen

(25% of the selling price will be gifted to NBHF the custodians of NB Dane) 

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. Unless, of course, it's been kept at the bottom of a canal for an awfully long time.

Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is rebottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate.

Having left Nantwich we arrived at one of our favourite moorings not only on the Shropshire union canal but on all of the inland waterways that we have travelled to date. This rural canal itself is a favourite of many boaters, not for us though. It’s one of the newer ones (at least this part is - the Chester to River Dee part is about 70 years older) the canal from Nantwich to Autherley Junction (near Wolverhampton) received its Act of Parliament in 1826 but was not completed until 1835. 

As a result doesn't have many stretches that follow contours but are of the ‘cut and embankment’ type which was designed to get boats moving much faster in a straight line from A to B. Miles of straight canal, whilst still being amazing that the navvies built by hand, are a bit boring at 3mph. After passing Overwater Marina (on its long straight stretch) the canal scours the hillside before rising through the pretty village of Aldlem up fifteen locks towards open countryside and Market Drayton. Our mooring for a few days had wonderful open views across farmland and lakes to the east. Pen #331 was made at the bottom of Audlem locks on the 28th June 2015.