Black Prince Bases

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A site full of information on the narrowboats built by Black Prince across the decades

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Acton Bridge (1983 to date, with the exception of 1993)
Previously Premier Narrowboats, Black Prince took over in 1983. This fleet named after Prime Ministers were ran by Black Prince from here for a few years along with many new additions before being replaced with all Black Prince classes. Click here for photos

Stoke-on-Trent (1987 to date)
Based at Stoke-on-Trent Marina this is a popular Black Prince base on the Trent & Mersey canal. Centrally located for a number of routes including the nearby Caldon Canal & Four Counties Ring

Chirk (1991 to date)
Black Prince moved from Whixall to the newly constructed Chirk Marina in 1991. A large base on the scenic and ever popular Llangollen Canal.

Falkirk (2003 to date)
Based at the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland for exploring the Forth & Clyde Canal and the Union Canal. The Wheel itself is the World’s first rotating boat lift.

Napton (Wigrams Turn Marina) 2005 to date
Centrally located on the Oxford Canal for a number of popular routes in a newly constructed marina.

Stoke Prior (1980 to date)
Based near the Tardebigge flight on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. This base has also been the head office for Black Prince since the change of ownership in 1987 and where many new Black Prince boats are fitted out. Click for more

Previous bases:
Silsden (1985-2002). Taken over from Pennine Line for 1985, today it is Silsden Boats
Whaley Bridge (1986 only). Taken over from Peak Line
Whixall (1978-1990). Once the head office and home to the original owners of Black Prince. A large marina on off the Llangollen Canal. Today it is an expanding marina owned by British Waterways.
Longport Wharf (1984 only). Taken over from Twinram Boat Company. The boats were kept on a few more years (Minesweeper, Lake, River classes) but the base was short lived! Today the home to Longport Wharf
Oddingley (1978 & 1979). A rural base on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Today it’s the home to Brook Line Narrowboats. Black Prince moved their base to nearby Stoke Prior for 1980.
Welford (Approx 1980 - 1987). Quite a large base at the end of the Welford Arm of the Leicester Section of the Grand Union. Click for more
Blisworth (1978-1982). Formerly Blisworth Tunnel Boats, Fernie Steel Fabrications Sister & Fitout company on the Grand Union Canal The site has been called Blisworth Tunnel Boats again but today is Mill Wharf Boats.
Napton Marina (1988 - 1998? With one year out somewhere inbetween) Ran alongside the Gordon Pleasure Cruisers, later Napton Narrowboats fleet under a franchise agreement. Today still home to Napton Narrowboats.
Lower Heyford (1980 - 1988). Formerly Nelson Narrowboats. Today it’s home to Oxfordshire Narrowboats. A pretty base on the South Oxford Canal.
Stenson (1984 & 1985): Taking over Clayton Line, a fleet built by Mindon Marine
Oxford (1983-1987). This base broke away in 1987 to become Orchard Cruisers, and was ran by Jack Peppiat, a 1980‘s Black Prince hand, and with a fleet of former Black Prince Boats. The fleet was to close some five or six years later and the site fell into rack & ruin.

Stoke Prior base. 2007

Stoke Prior base, 1987 brochure

Lower Heyford today. 2008

Oxford base, 1986 brochure

Stoke-on-Trent. 1998

Whixall, 1981 brochure

The booking office at Whixall, 1986 brochure

Acton Bridge base, September 2008

Ely:
New base for 2012 at Bridge Boatyard, Ely

Paddington/London:
New base for 2011 at Willowtree Marina on the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal.