#339

NOW SOLD

NB Dane Elm and Chrome Fountain Pen

(25% of which will be donated to The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, 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.

After having left the Audlem flight behind us and cruised through the Shropshire countryside to stock up with supplies at the shops in Market Drayton we had to get a bit of a hustle on as we needed to get to the end of the Shropshire Union canal and up the Wolverhampton flight of 21 locks, across Birmingham and down the other side of the hill. A week later, quite a few miles and absolutely loads of locks later we arrived at the bottom of the Lapworth flight of 18. At the bottom it's a jiggle through the Lapworth Link (a short stretch of canal that links together the Grand Union and Stratford on Avon canals which pass close to each other here) and a right turn through a leafy area that is full of canal character, including the British Waterways workshops and maintenance yard; the Lapworth Lock Flight and the distinctive lock cottages of the Stratford on Avon canal, which have unusual barrel-shaped roofs. 

Pen #339 was turned on the 10th July 2015 near Rowington, ironically just past Turners Green. Not a bad spot for a few days.