A history of Black Prince

Black Prince Narrowboats was started in the mid 1970‘s by Ed & Gill Rimmer. Operating from a base at Cosgrove on the Grand Union Canal they started with two narrowboats which were bought from Anglo Welsh. Mr Rimmer brought with him his experience in the hotel trade and a new level of professionalism and expertise that was to change the industry for good. With a vision to expand and become a leading figure within just a few seasons the company had become a multi-based operation and looking to grow further, nowhere was this clearer than in their advertising line “Growing bigger by being better”.

Towards the end of the 1970‘s a new head office was created in the companies newly acquired flagship base, at Whixall on the Llangollen canal, and also became the owners home.

Around 1979 Black Prince started building their own craft, out of Lower Heyford and a short spell with a factory in Milton Keynes (which did not produce any craft as it is understood). Although Lower Heyford remained the key production site shells were put together at a number of different places and the main fitout department was based at another of the companies bases at Welford. The design was heavily influenced by their early craft and closest competitor Anglo Welsh, and their ‘Harborough’ design with high sweeping bows and louvered windows. Striking in colour, the blue and yellow colour scheme was both instantly recognisable and memorable, as were their boat and class names, many with military connections and named after Frigates, Bombers, Missiles and Tanks for example!

By the mid 1980‘s Black Prince had in the region of 150 boats operating out of eight bases, having bought out several failing smaller fleets. Disaster was to strike in 1987 when after a tough previous year the company was to briefly enter administration. It was quickly purchased and became Black Prince Holidays Ltd, part of the Harlow Agricultural Merchants (HAM). Fortunately no one lost their holiday. Tim Parker became the Managing Director, until his retirement in 2010. John Lucas who has worked for the company for over thirty years continues to be in charge of operations and his knowledge & memory of the boats is impressive! Although Mr Rimmer had initially stayed on with the new company to handle marketing he and his family moved on to pastures new soon after.

The new ownership saw a move of head office to Stoke Prior and a radical new class rolled out - The QE range, and the blue and yellow fleet was quickly replaced and scaled down, many of the newer craft passing into other hire operators hands. In later years Duchess and Countess designs were also successfully launched and today the company runs one of the youngest fleets of hire craft.