Raising the money

Published: Monday, 30 August 2010

THOUGH more than £20,000 is needed to carry out essential repairs to ensure the future of the historic ex-working narrowboat Sculptor, £12,000 has been raised.

The most urgent work required to safeguard Sculptor is the complete re-planking of the hull, together with replacement of worn rivets in the rubbing strakes on the lower hull and the doubling, or replacement, of hull plating behind the knees.

Stoke Bruerne

Work is being undertaken at Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum on Sculptor that was a motorboat of the Grand Union Canal Carrying Co. Ltd. and was built at Northwich by Yarwoods in 1935. She is of composite construction—a riveted iron hull with elm bottoms, the cabin being riveted steel. During the war, Sculptor operated as a fire-boat with the London Fire Service.

Donations to the Sculptor Appeal can be made via Laura Sturrock, Treasurer of The Friends of The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne, at 39 Church Street, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire NN7 3LH (cheques made payable to Friends of The Canal Museum).