ALLEN REGISTER

Maudelayne:-- BW Number 66675: 62ft long:
An early Allen which originally had a wood cabin, came back to yard in early 90's to be re bottomed having just been bought. Some where along the line the Allens virtually re built her by fitting a steel sheathed cabin. An experience that would have been horrendous at some boat builders, but the experience has led to a life time friendship between the owner and the Allens, thus was the way they did business.
Is a much cherished boat, is lived on and is much cruised. Two photo's here to illustrate the fact that boats do change livery even in the smallest of ways.
Further info:- Use this boat as an example of just what we could create in this section:-
Extract from Inland Waterways 'Boat Listings'
Maudelayne Tyne Oldbury:-66675
Narrowboat 62ft: dark blue/pale blue. built 1971 Les Allen & Sons, Oldbury. Fit out Tony Pelayo, Aylesbury. Engine:-Lister SR3.
First owner Capt Kirk? who commission build: original name 'Tyne Oldbury'. Registered with British Register of Shipping No 341496. Blue book has been kept up to date.
New owner re-named boat Maudelayne after the Shipmans barge in Chaucer's Prologue. The Allens were not happy (I cannot believe that) with proposed name change so the three names were added together and Blue Book altered. Name appears to have been shortened again: probably for convenience?, although the full name is recorded in most lists.

Hecla:-- BW Number 500777: 47 ft long:
Built mid 1990's: Engine Fushio Twin diesel : Home waters BCN
A fine example of a modern BCN replicia tug. Les Allen Senior was the boat builder fore man at Spencer Abbott's where they made real tugs, which is why the pedigree is there.
Fit out by owner

Placidus:-- BW Number 50487: 40 ft long:
Built late 1991: Engine Lister LPW3: Home waters BCN. Fit out by owner. A much travelled boat and again a boat that moored at the yard and had to be thrown out when it closed.
Fit out by owner.

White Locks:-- BW Number 72910: 6O ft long:
Built late 1980's: Engine 1.5 BMC: Home waters BCN. Fit out by owner.
This photo taken on an Oldbury Navy trip before the yard closed. Seen in the photo is White Locks in the fore ground with Pasadena (now on the Thames: along side prior to being sold), with Hawthorn behind, and out of shot Ogla May behind Hawthorn.
Name of boat comes from Bratch Locks, today the locks and buildings are natural brick but once used to be rendered and painted white. Again a boat that stayed for years at the yard, its owner becoming friends with the Allens as we all did who moored there.
Owner the source of much info in recognising an Allen. Worked in engineering and produced many gas locker hinges fitted to later Allen boats. Cruise with this boat often, usual CB radio message when meeting an Allen, " Some of my hinges coming towards us"

Hawthorn:-- BW Number 54905: 60 ft long:
Engine Gardner 4LK: Home waters BCN.
Fit out by owner (Still on going on third change of bunk arrangements: Originally designed to take two children who grew up and stopped boating, grand children know require bunks ripped out to add comfort for two retired owners?)
Most of boat built in 1991/2 but has the bows of a very much older boat Nutbrook. Nutbrook was built in the 80's but was lenghten again in the late 80's when a new bow was part of the job, the shape by that time having evolved. The old bows stayed in the yard until the Allens made this owner an offer he could not refuse. Compare with the bows of Placidus above built in the 90's the bow post being flatter and wider on the earlier bows.
Another boat that had to be ripped away from the yard when it closed, I am still looking for another Valencia Wharf.

The Answer:-- BW Number 46623: 60 ft long:
Built late 1980's: Engine, Originally 1.5 BMC. today Isuzu: Home waters BCN. Fitted out believed by previous owner. Is lived on by owners so its a home and is cherished greatly.
Photo taken at Titford in 2003, but I see this boat and her owners nearly every week apart from when they are out cruising which is nearly every summer all summer, lucky people.

Black Pig:-- BW Number 67344:
Probably the oldest boat surving to date, built 1969: well its a toss up between this boat and Ty Twt below. Both have a shape that puts them in a class off there own. Both boats are used regularly just what an Allen boat is all about.
Again the BW number is shown to be important as this boat was orginally called Tranquilty, and was re painted plus changing owners.
Appears to have her original wooden top, as in early days hulls only constructed.

Invicta:-- BW Number 69170:
Here is a boat that I have known as long as I have known of the Allens, saw it whenever I went to the yard but never got its photo. Whether this boat is an Allen or a Horton matters little as it was a part of the yard, was built at the yard, and moored until only quite recently at the yard on the main line.
Ths was the home of Jim Horton brother of John who built boats with the Allens, the brothers built this boat with the Allens to the spec of an Allen at the yard.
Jim sadly had to come off the boat after a sudden illness a few years ago. Jim was one of the charactors of the yard living there with his wife, he worked for the Allens occasionally and was known to all in the canal scene the Black Country. The boat is presently in November 2008 advertised as for sale on Rugby Boats site, if anyone wants an Allen with bags of history and pedigee this is the boat.
See Allens for Sale for the Link and more details.

Ty Twt:-- BW Number 61203:
If not the oldest certainly very close late 1960's. This boat and her owners have been true stalwarts of the Register having attended every gathering to date.Photographed at Titford in 2003 but I have a photo of her at nearly every gathering, a much traveled boat.

Rainbow:-- BW Number 63238:
Built in 1973 with a 50ft steel hull and a plywood cabin. Her present owner bought her in 1993 and lives on her, nice to see that see is still about and has an actice life. Her engine presently is a Lister SW2 which sounds to us as the original unit. Her present owner is keen to know any history of the boat, and the photograph supplied dates from 1993 in her then livery that may jog someones memories. Her windows are stated to be Bus windows manufactured by Famco.

Ellen:-- BW Number 502869:
After the oldest boats the last boat built at the yard. Photographed at Thrupp in 2006, she has retained her name but has new owners and a new paint job. Her former owners have moved on or up to a Dutch Barge. More photo's of her being lifted onto a lorry on the last day at the yard are in the Gallery section.

Chanterelle:-- BW Number 60275: Fitout by owner who just happened to be carpenter at yard, responsible for many a boatmans cabin built in the yard.
Another early boat but having a very different bow to the two previous boats, indicating the evolving of the shape of an Allen over the years. She has a bow similar to Hawthorn.
Moored at the yard for years but left well before the yard closed. Photograph at the Kings Bromley Rally in 2004.

Albatross No 2:-- BW Number 52274:
Photograph taken of her moored in 2006 at the Bond Warehouse/Stourbridge canal Rally that is held every October. A boat that also moored at the yard, other earlier photo's in Gallery section. Very smart in all the photographs, as she in both the early and latest shots had been recently painted/re-painted and sign written.

Acorn No 5:-- BW Number 500991: Engine Lister
Photograph taken in Brum one very wet October day in 2006. This boat was built in the mid 90's and I know the owner won't mind if we state that this was the boat featured in the gallery section when a lorry rolled down a bank onto a boat. Acorn survived, indeed more damage was caused to the lorry, Acorn's front 'T' stud punching a hole in the trailer of the lorry. Many a rope has been tied to that stud since with out incident.

Ursula:-- BW Number 71645:
Photograph taken at the Kings Bromley Rally in 2004: Outside entrance to Marina. Different to most Allens in having a cruiser styled back deck.Built in 1985, engine a 1.5 BMC, the fit out being completed by Teddesley Marine, Penkridge, who ran a fleet of hire boats many using Allen shells. Supplied into another hire fleet Gailey Marine named Gailey Wayfarer 2 where she worked as a hire boat until the end of 1992. Purchased by present owner in January 1993 and renamed Ursula. BMC engine being well worn was replaced in 2005 with a Nannidiesel.

Intrepid:-- BW Number 54019:--Currently Sept 2008 "UP FOR SALE". For more details see below:Allens For Sale Section:

On to page 7 of the Allen Register     

Eclipse:-- BW Number 79993
Another older boat with a wooden top and a shape of bow with the flatter and wider stem post. Photo taken 2006 at Thrupp gathering with John Allen inspecting work in progress, as she was in the process of having her windows changed.
This boat had a float on part in an 'Morse' murder story, filmed and set around Thrupp. Owner can tell a few tales about the filming process and did not know until then just how many poeple ie crew you could get on his boat without sinking her.

Iberia:-- BW Number 54297
Photograph taken at Thrupp Gathering in 2006. Boat and owners have attended many of the gatherings. Fitted with a 1957 Gardner 4LK Engine (ex Bristol Omnibus Co), installed along with a hydraulic drive by Albert Brookes. Albert also installed the 4 kw generator which is situated under the side bed in the boatmans cabin, the cabin being built at the yard by Arthur East. Built and launched in 1993 at yard. First cruise was in February 1994 just up the cut to Brades Locks.
In April 1994 left the yard and cruised to Blue Haven Marine (Hillmorton) where she was fitted out professionally. Won the Calor Rose bowl at the 1995 IWA National at Chester.

Sunbeam II:-- BW Number 500863: Engine Rushton and Hornsby rebuilt by Albert Brookes: Has very distinctive exhaust sound
Photograph taken at Bonded Warehouse/Stourbridge Rally in October 2006. Boat built in early 90's to replace another boat named Sunbeam. Has a raised gas locker on her bows, boat also seen in the Allens Gallery when a lorry fell on the boat moored next to it.

Bracken:-- BW Number xxx:
Believed to be a very early Allen. First photo taken October 2006 of Bracken having been stripped and lengthened whilst in the dry dock at Stourbridge, work being done by Martin Brookes. Bracken was orginally fitted out as a restaurant based at Braunston, had a wooden top and a Lister engine.
Her shell has now been finished by Martin and her new owners over wintered her at Ashwood, and have since moved her to Essex to be fitted out. Hope to she her when finished at a gathering, her original engine is still fitted having been rebuilt.

Eli:-- BW Number 77789:
Built in 1981 around a Gardner 3LW engine. Originally built as a full lenght boat of 70ft with a 35ft long steel cabin, the rest being sheeted. Later had a full lenght cabin fitted believed not by the Allens. Her first owners tell the story that when she was being built they visited the yard and found the bow section fitted, a visit shortly after found the bow section removed, when they asked the Allens what had happened they just replied " we took it off, we didn't like it". Today she is owned by new owners who treasure her and have joined the register.

Beechcraft:-- BW Number 54759:
Built by the Allens in the early 90's. The boat was built for the family of the Steel stock holders Beechs, of Cradley, the company the Allens had for years bought all the steel from, used in thier boats . Bob used to attend the company and select the steel for each boat, never just relying on just a random delivery. Has an enclosed cruiser rear deck with seating each side, but looks like a normal Allen in profile, engine fitted beneath the floor of the rear deck. Cabin fitted out by Arthur East, stayed at the yard until the retirement of the Allens, recently has been re painted and sign written.

May:-- BW Number 51923:
Built by the Allens in 1990. Engine Russel Newbury DM2.
This boat was built for its 1st owner who before it was fully finished was tragically killed in a motor car accident. Present owner who wanted an Allen acquired the boat from the relatives of the first owner, the boat prior to this never having left the yard. In later years the boat was taken to Pinders and made into a half tug styled boat. The Engine was moved forward to create a full boatmans cabin.
For all would be boat owners or others thinking of changing/upgrading to a vintage styled engine the present owner of May is the man too see. Dave as the smaller sign states, is reponsible for manufacturing all new Russel Newbury engines, that tel no is 01327-700023, whilst the larger one indicates yet further services.

Norwood:-- BW Number 60001:
The last boat to be built by the Allens out in the open, ie not in the covered shed just before the yard closed. The owner of Norwood has had two previous boats built by the Allens all called Norwood, the BW no 60001 has been transferred to each new boat. First boat with a wooden top was Norwood in 1976 when built, had a Lister SR3 engine, we have another BW No for her of 70440 but don't know of her new name or whereabouts any takers.
The second Norwood is know named Hanna No 1 Bw No 500813, is 60ft long would like a photo of her

Albion:-- BW Number 49902
A 55ft Tug styled boat powered by a Russell Newbury DM2, built around 1989. Was built to be a tug, originally built for and owned by a coal and canal contractor Ray Shelley who operated out of the Allens Yard at Oldbury. Time at yard this boat didn't as far as I can recall have a name and was just painted in red primer and referred to as the tug, being used on a number of contracts as a tug.
Was sold on in May 1995 to her present owner who had her fully fitted out and turned into the very smart BCN tug she is today. Sign written in 2005 she bears the name "Albion" with the "Brettell and Company Brewood" mottif on her rear cabin sides. Is today moored on the River Avon.
This boat is briefly glimpsed in her red primer state in the early 1990's at the back of a photograph behind the smoke in the Allens Register Gallery in the Roy Gallery section, re produced here.

Gower:-- BW Number non: Is today Registered as N9346. EA Anglian Region:
How I forget about this boat when compiling the list at the very beginning I don't know, but I did.
Mike Freeman who had her built in the early 80's has only just reminded me of her omission. She was a full 70ft hull with a large canvas covered section forward of a extended cabin/engine room/boatmans cabin arrangement. The only picture of her has always be displayed in the gallery, when her livery was green panels with red surrounds and yellow piping, but I do remember that changed just before she left the midlands to grey and cream. Her BW number in those days was 77775.

Serenity:-- BW Number 53123: Formerly named 'Poppy':
Built in the early 1990's by her former owner Karl who named her Poppy (Karl being one of the many charactors at the yard). Lenght 56ft powered by, as was popular then a KD26 Kingfisher engine, mounted in a traditional engine room. Fitted out by her 1st owner who was a retired wood work teacher. Left the yard for a mooring on the River Avon well before the Allens retired in 1997.
Sold on to her present owner who lives aboard, changed name to Serenity and attended 1st Rally at Tardibigge in 2007.

Proper Job:-- BW Number 52209:
Recently sent a photograph of this 60ft long boat. Photographed at Lymm in 2008. Nice to see two Allens together.

Rambler:-- BW Number 51610 ( Guess as only Rambler 60ft with no builder listed):
A 60ft long boat built in 1991, believed to have been named 'Goliath' previously, bought by present owner in 2001. Has a vintage engine a circ 1941 Ruston & Hornsby Engine in a seperate engine room.
More info on this boat and the experiences of boat ownership and living with a vintage engine visit the owners own site. http://www.mynarrowboat.me.uk

Bonnie:-- BW Number 67961:
Bonnie was traced following an enquiry after she was put up for sale on the Apollo Duck site. Built in the late 1960's she is 41feet long with a Coventry Diesel engine. Believed previously named Bonnie and Clyde?, have spoken to the owner selling her who has promised to pass on our detals to her new owner as it looks she may be sold. Look forward to her new owner contacting us.

Royal Oak:-- BW Number 51409:
Owner contacted us after finding site, being first owner of the boat, it built at the yard in 1991/92, and who has fond memories of the yard. Originally built as a 56foot long boat and powered by a Russell Newbury D2 circ 1940. The engine was re built by Albert Brookes whilst boat was being built.
In 2003 the boat was lenghten by Simon Wain to 69ft-6ins so this boat has the hands of many a fine boat builder/craftsman on it.
The owner contacted us as he was in the process of selling the boat which we believe will be on the market end of May 2008. Has a owner fitout which if only a fraction of the quality of its shell builders will be worth every penny asked for it. See Allens for sale section for more details.

Windrush:-- BW Number 75373:
For reasons that escape me I have never had a photograph of Windrush and she has been at many of the gatherings from the very start of the Register. Her owners have owned her since new and have travelled most of the canal system in her. She is registered as 50ft long and has a Ford York diesal fitted. Finally caught up with her when she attended Hawne Gathering in 2008, just after she had had a new paint job and was yet to be sign written.

Thornbury:-- BW Number 77458:
Another boat and owner that I have known of for ages but never managed to get a photo of. Similar to Windrush she came to me to have her photo taken at Hawne in 2008. A 59ft long boat with a Lister HR in and engine room, has travelled the system with her owners who are very active in local societies and the IWA.

Romany Rye:-- BW Number 53208:
Built in 1993 this 70ft boat has all the credentials of a 1st division boat. An Allen shell, Gardner 2LW diesel engine circ 1949,in engine room, fitout by Teddesley with a traditional boatmans cabin. What esle more would you want.

Ploddin:-- BW Number 46707
Added to the list in October 2008 when her present owner contacted the register. Today this 55ft boat is named Ploddin but was formly named as Bintang No 5. Appears from the photos to still have Bintang painted on her cabin. Also her owner has stated she is a job not yet finished, her windows seem to have been replaced by port holes prior to the paint job yet to be done?

White Harriet II:-- BW Number 503490
Formerly named 'Furcomall': This boat was bought by her present owners recently having the name 'Furcomail'. Bought as an Allen she exhibited a number of features that threw doubt on that fact. She attended the 2008 gathering and many theories as to her origins took place, but she certainly had a 95% Allen look.
She was thought to be a John Horton boat as she is recorded as being first registered in 1998 a full year after the yard closed. John Horton has since stated that she is not one of his boats.
After much detective work by her present owner and Bob Allen inspecting photos of her, she has been identified as a boat built by the Allens in 1992, she was then called 'My Way'. Her then owner had her transported by road to Poole in Dorset where she stood for about six years in a field being fitted out.
Was finally sold on as an unfinished project and taken to Braunston where she was finally fitted out. Her engine was changed from a BMC unit to her present Lister twin, a removable panel in the engine room roof was fitted. Also at this time a second engine room door was fitted, orginally only having one, many of the features that trouble the purests were added to her at this time. She was then registered in 1998 thus making her probably the last Allen shell to be registered.
A 60ft long boat photographed at Hawne early 2008. Latest photograph of new paint job and know that she is proved to be an Allen, has Valencia Wharf proudly displayed.

Blue Magnolia:-- BW Number 53278: 60 ft long today: Engine 3 cylinder Perkins.
Built by Charlie Cox: Netherton (late 1980's). Brought to yard when Cox's ceased trading before boat finished. Allens finished her off, Later lengthened her to 60ft (Canvas covered section) again cabin lengthened later by Martin Brooke's. Moored for years at Valencia Wharf: Home waters BCN.

Alison:-- BW Number 62674
Another boat built else where. Brought to yard and found to be too wide for narrow canals being about 7ft-4ins at its widest point. Had a wooden bottom that leaked, so the Allens virtually re built this boat by making the hull narrower and lengthened it from 45ft to 55ft. It is almost an Allen as the main part of the hull and cabin was re-built by them too, the only original bits are the bow and stern. Has a very different bow the product of the first build stated to be based on a BCN tug front..

Olga MAY:-- BW Number 76778
Another boat built else where. Brought to yard in the early 1990's to be lengthened to present length 50ft. Photographed Oct 2006 Bonded Warehouse/Stourbridge Rally. Second photo of Olga May produced from a video hence the poor quality, taken at the yard one foggy autumn morning in 1992, before the work was carried out we think.

Arkwright:-- BW Number 68098: Length 48ft-6ins.
The only Arkwright on file has builder listed as unknown, research finds that this boat is a convert and cut down station boat. Came to Allens yard where the cabin and other associated work was fitted. So she is an Allen by being at the yard her hull indeed being built by unknown?. Photograph taken in July 2006

Artel:-- BW Number 67942
A Springer built boat, a marque of boat that put many people on the water in the early days of the leisure canal market. This Springer came to the yard and had its cabin extended and stern internally altered so that it could be lived on permanently. Has been a home for its present owners for years, having one of the straightest cabins on a Springer.

Rascal No 1:-- BW Number 507241: Length 54ft.
Well here is an interesting boat that is the first in a new caterory of 'Boats influenced by the Allens'. Rascal No 1 was built in Oldbury but not at Valencia Wharf but at Oldbury Boat Services one bridge away. Built after the yard closed in 2001 she looks like an Allen for a very good reason.
John Horton who worked at the yard up until it closed in 1997, built her and having built many Allen boats with the Allens when he started up on his own he only knew one style of boat.
John at first went to Teddesley Boats at Penkidge and built a number of boats for them moving to Oldbury in 2001 after Richard Hurley vacated the boat shed at Oldbury Boat Services. Rascal was his first boat back at Oldury and although John never advertised his boats as Allen replica's anybody in the know knew they were the next best thing after the yard closed.
Rascal is powered by a Lister HR2, with a PRM 2:1 Gearbox, swinging a 22"x22" prop. Draws 2ft 6ins.
Photographed in March 2008 about to be pulled out of the water at Hawne Basin for her regular blacking. Not seen in all her glory: sorry Phil I did not give you chance to put the chimney on.

Bear Squeeze:-- BW Number xxxxxx:
First seen by the editor of this site in July 2008. When she passed me whilst moored at Tixall wide. The owner greeted me having recognised the Allen shape. Quickly informed me that his was a 'Horton' before disappearing.
The next day caught up with her and obtained the photographs and the brief history of the boat.
The boat turned out to be on her maiden trip, ie day two. Ordered nearly two years before thro Ray Bowen of Streethay, Ray bought a number of shells from John as he did with the Allens. Fitted out by Ray, with boatmans cabin having been finished off paint wish by Dusty Miller. Needless to say she looked like a million dollars with a livery/sign writing job to match. Powered by a Nanni Diesal she must be the last shell John ever built as he packed up in 2006.
Must be a story concerning her name? Before she disappeared again informed owner of Register, no BW as yet painted on her.

Lost the Plot:-- BW Number 511568:
Another Horton built boat this time a full lenght boat at 70ft long with a Gardner 4LK engine in a traditional layout of engine room and boatmans cabin.
This boat has come to notice after appearing on the web site Apollo Duck as up for sale. The winner of a number of prizes for its fitout this boat is advertised as a top quality boat, having the Allen touch via John Horton and fitted out by Ray Bowen of Streethay Wharf on the Coventry Canel. Ray had any number of Allen shells for fitouts and continued the pact with John after the yard closed.
See Allens For Sale Section for more details.

Nutwood:-- BW Number 72165
Believed to be an ex hire boat: Has the same rear fender arrangement as a Teddesley Boat. The Allens built hulls for a number of hire fleets, Teddesley at Penridge, Water Travel at Oxley(Wolverhampton). Photograph taken summer 2005 at Hawne Basin. Did speak to owner who gave me his address, yes I lost it, sorry owner if you see this please contact us again!.

Akond of Swat:-- BW Number 69070
Boat passed on the Staffs and Worcs canal in 2007. Known to be an Allen with the wider Bow post. Owner to date not contacted by me. Hope to have more on this boat.