General Chat

That is really lovley what you did Joy.....

Hi David,
MY Hackett family were boat people, working on the canal's,i have hoping to find out what kind of load's they would have been carrying...they came from the warwickshire/birmingham area.... :-)

Love the interaction guys and guyesses :)
Such a hard life in many ways but these days we pleasure hirers and owners enjoy so much the comradelry of the waterways ... Been planning to take my disabled relatives along to ,,, And yes beam me up any time folks .... send me a personal message on here with contat details or find me on facebook

I used to live along the Grand Union on my canal boat. I did have a mooring at the bottom of a pub garden at Harlseden, London, but could often be found at either Little Venice or Camden Locks.

Sadly when I took management of a pub in Croydon I ended up selling "Peggy T" as I didn't spend enough time on her.

I HAVE ANCESTORS BACK TO THE 1700'S
FREEMEN OF THE RIVER AT OXFORD, AND
BARGEE'S AND ONE WAS AN INN KEEPER
AND OWNED THE ONLY FERRY CROSSING IN OXFORD BACK IN THE 1700'S..AND ITS STILL
THERE

Not the canals as such; I have in my ancestral family some relatives who were watermen and lightermen, working on the Thames. I have seen the outside of the Watermen's Hall in London. And I have found apprenticeship records in the Guildhall in London.

One relative died in 1863 - from his death certificate: in River Thames, Poplar. Cause of death: 'Found dead in the River Thames', he was age 16, Lighterman's Apprentice.
How sad. I visited the area, and said a prayer, at the same time dropping a single flower into the water.

Hope to take a group out next autumn but last biggy was 8 yrs and so missing it badly

A confirmed canalcaholic here .. Over 25 trips on UK canals .. Feels like its in the blood but not come across any of my people who lived on them ..... Just wondering if YOU have some and associated stories ??