Brighton - History

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After delivery in 1936, Brighton's path followed much the same one as Nuneaton's. 1948 saw Brighton nationalised into the British Transport Commission (D. & I.W.E.) fleet, and active carrying service through B.T.C. (B.T.W.) and into the ownership of B.W.B. in 1963.

Willow Wren C.T.S. Ltd. hired Brighton from B.W.B. until 1967, when along with 35 other boats she was repossessed and shortly after disposed of. Brighton's new owners, Union Canal Carriers Ltd. of Braunston, operated a number of carrying narrowboats as camping boats where youth parties would holiday in the hold of the boats underneath the cloths. Brighton, usually paired with the motor Bexhill, introduced thousands of youngsters to canals over the next few years.

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1983 saw the next ownership change, when both Bexhill and Brighton were sold to the actor James Warrior. Both boats continued to be operated as camping boats at Rickmansworth, though with limited success, as later the same year both were sold to Threefellows Carrying and based on the River Soar at Thurmaston. Both boats were put back to work carrying deep loads of gravel along a short stretch of the river. Brighton developed a reputation at this time for sinking rather than loading. Threefellows carried out the first steps in her restoration (but only what was essential), and continued to work the boat hard, until selling her in 1990 to Nigel Heath who continued the slow restoration process with structural work being done to the hull as well as replacing the wooden cabin with a slightly extended steel one, built by Roger Farrington (Ivy Bridge Marine) of Braunston. Brighton still did a small amount of carrying, though more recreationally than commercially.

The Narrow Boat Trust Ltd acquired Brighton in 1995, immediately replacing many of the knees (to hold the sides and bottom of the boat together).

Like Nuneaton, Brighton's carrying future has been secured, but there is always some repair or maintence work to be done. he boats in a proper state.